How would I find out what programs start when I turn on my computer? Alot of the time I wait forever w/that *censored* hourglass sitting there & then my computer freezes & won't LET me do anything, have to shut it off manually. SOMETHING is running a long time. thanksGo to Start --> Run --> type msconfig and press enter.
You can see what starts with your PC there, and a lot of it will be safe to untick.
Just don't untick anything vital to system operation, or your AV or firewall etc.
If in doubt, leave it ticked.
When finished, click apply, then OK, and reboot to see the difference.
A box will come up on reboot - tick the box and press OK.

This assumes you are using XP, by the way - you didn't say.In addition to Calum's post...here is some useful info:

http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/startup.htmThanks alot for helpboth of you, it gets so confusing! I did the msconf thing but so many microsoft not sure which ones to do. Lately it freezes up on me get program not responding & nothing. Also getting a box that says runner error. Gonna look at the site you gave. By the way its win XP.on reading this post, made me think of the situation we are having here at work. We use all pc Windows XP professional. 3 computer are behaving strangely, They are all the same model one and purchased around the same time. Make IBM Netvista. Initially these machines were on Windows 2K but for about 3 years now we are using windows XP.
This is going to be a long one,I am not sure if i am posting this in the right section of the fourm whether it is a virus problem or a windows problem.
at start one of these computers started hanging up when the person was working on it. Then at that time even using ctr+Alt+Delete did not work to bring up the TASK manager to end the programme. Then we noticed the problem became more when we tried to use outlook or connect to the internet. Then windows would never start up.the Window XP screen with the little blue dots running across up but we don't see the dots moving as when windows is loading. It is just stuck and would remain like that for hours. Now two other computer as i mentioned earlier are having the same problem.
These machines are connected to the Corporate network. and are on line all the time. AV being used is Symantec Corporate edition version 9 with updates being sent via the corporate server also Windows updates come that way.
Occasionally we manage to get one of the machines started up and can do some work, but it stall in between and remains that way. The people who are using that machine are also stupid they are in such a hurry and switch off the machine manually without waiting, I am wondering if they could have corrupted the windows system by doing that. Or could their be a virus problem. I am very sure that one of the computers was well protected with the antispyware programmes like spybotS&D and Adaware, also had windows defender RUNING in the backround. But I feel these were not being updated and run routinely.
the possiblity of downloading any patches is out as these computer will lock up when connected to the NET
Any suggestions or helpfull ideas. By the way my systems adminstrator has looked at them and says that some one has installed some new hardware. But we know very well that nothing has been done as such.

cheers
The Saint.Although the topics may seem similar, they probably have very different solutions.
It's always better to start your own thread for your own problems.
Thanks.