Download from: http://www.windowsstartup.com/startupinspector.phpTo identify programs running in the background and taking up CPU.
Press Alt + Ctrl + Del and close any programs you don't require.
For XP click on the Applications to view the programs, if there is nothing unusual click on the Processes tab
and then click on the CPU heading twice to sort out CPU usage.
Look at the top processes when the system is slow to find out what is causing the problem.
After identifying the program process click on Start, Run and type MSCONFIG
and look in the Startup tab to remove the tick for that item.
There is a great freeware program, Startup Inspector, which accomplishes this task much better than MSCONFIG.
You can then untick items you don't want to run at windows startup.
It has the advantage of a key stating which ones are not recommended and should be removed, not required.
Pressing the Consult button will interrogate their database for information
on commonly used files and a description of what the file is and what it is used for.
Startup Inspector for Windows is a Windows® platform software that helps both novice and expert user manage Windows® startup applications. On http://www.windowsstartup.com, there are more than 4,900 known programs in the database. Startup Inspector for Windows can thus provide a consultative information on the programs that are running at your Windows startup process. Whether a program is necessary to the system, or is the program a spyware.
* Scans all programs that are in the Windows Startup Folder, Registry and provide you with a background information of the program.
* Remove harmful programs like spyware, virus, diallers, make your system healthier.
* Remove unnecessary programs like reminders, monitors, improve your system performance.
