If you want Windows to boot up faster without programs bootin by themselves & slowin your system,then run the system configuration utlility. click on > click run > type msconfig > click ok. [COLOR="Red"]warning[/COLOR]: do not change anything else other than what you were insructed to do. Once the system configuration utiliy is open,click on the "startup" tab & uncheck all the programs & other items that you dont want to boot at start up. Only uncheck the ones you recognize or you might not boot the PC right.
After you have unchecked all the programs or items, click apply & ok. Then you may be asked to restart your system. Once your system has booted,You will get a message reminding everytime that you have used the utilitly & that your're on selective boot. Just check the box indicating to check if you dont want this message to appear everytime you boot your system.

I find it really odd how aim is up there... I'm running aim 5.9 fine and dandy. Never have had problems with aim before. Opens up almost instantly and closes fine.

EDIT: Some of those programs shouldn't be up there.. another one is utorrent, thats probably the best Bittorrent client available as it was written with efficiency in mind, it takes up very little system resources. This can run even on the most oldest of computers. Heck, NO installation is necessary to even use it!!!

Yeah, it may open and close fast (do you quit it completely, making sure its processes aren't running?), but anything that loads when Windows starts slows the initial starting down.

I boot Windows machines so rarely that the boot time doesn't really annoy me - but of course it would be nice to have it like Commodore 64...

Yeah, I have stopped using Norton for quite a while. I don't know how good it is, or how to configure it in order to make it totally effective. I no longer use it because it slows down the computer like a motherf*cker. After that I have looked for free antivirus programs, I ended up using AVG, several people recommended it. So, that's what I'm using now... along with Spybot, Adaware and Windows Defender.

Dunno if I'm missing something... lol...

Still, the new LapTop I have right now came with McAfee pre-installed... 30 day trial... yada yada, that period expired and I no longer use it and I don't plan to purchase it... however, I haven't uninstalled it from my system... I want to do it, but I wonder if you people recommend doing it... and what's the best way to get rid of it without any possible trouble...

wow Norton took the first spot huh. good thing im not using, i have here MCAfee Enterprise Edition 8.0i. hhhmmm think i made the right choice.

thanks for the sharing.

Adaware and AVG are quite good. Not as protective but they can be easily shut off from startup using msconfig.

Stupid Norton... Always had a grudge against it.

Don't you think its a bit strange that a whole codec pack is less an obstacle than a font library? Though it depends what is booted with this codec pack?

most delays could be stopped by not letting them autoload in the first place. Use mike lin's startup editor. FREE

Speaking of Antivirus, it's been a while since I stopped using Norton, so I use McAfee but right now newest version 2007 it's bugging me up with many automated options and sucking up a lot of resources, so I get rid of it but I'm afraid of virus and spyware, I remember some of you recommended pretty good stuff for antivirus that was freeware, but I forgot, could you remind me which ones are the best options, Thanks!

AVG Free is what I use, works great for me. Go here: http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic58138.html

My husband, daughter & granddaughter all have Avast & they really like it. When my Mcaffee runs out, I too am going to it.

can someone link me to the best guide for getting rid of the unnecessary services running in the background
thnx

and the start-up stuff would be nice also
thnx again

Start > Run > msconfig or services.msc

Well id be with you there rik mate lol

LAN (league against Norton)

Regards Jase

Lol, i had forgotten about this thread. Perhaps I should adjust my sig.

we will start one rik lool

We should make a thread.

Regards Jase

Done it mate, check my sig below.

Black Viper gives some pretty comprehensive advice here: http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

You don't need a league against Norton, they do a perfectly good job of messing up all by themselves.

Aint that the truth.

I hate norton, all my Pc life, iv'e lived with that laggy problem.Had Norton the whole time and now that i uninstalled it my pc runs perfectly. HURRAY!