Recently my computer has become very slow to start up & quite noisy too,I've been advised that it may be that it is trying to start too many applications at once, if this is so how do I confirm that this is the problem & how do I go about resolving it? Where do I check which applications are stating up? Cheers Terry1 person needs an answerI do too

The first thing to do is always to make sure the computer is virus/malware-free: http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware If the machine is clean, then manage your Startup: It is always better to stop programs from starting with Windows from within the programs themselves, so look in their Options before changing anything with msconfig - you're just examining things at this stage. If a program doesn't offer any way to control startup from its Preferences, then use msconfig to uncheck the box next to its name, Apply and OK out. For XP: Start>Run>msconfig [enter] This brings up the System Configuration Utility. Look on the Startup tab and find the probable culprit. Uncheck the box next to its name, Apply and OK out. You don't need to restart immediately, but the next time you do you'll get a dialog saying you've used the Utility. Just tick the box that says in effect, "don't bother me about this again". Important - Do not use the System Configuration Utility to stop processes. Instead, use Start>Run>services.msc [enter] and do not stop any services unless you really, really know what you're doing. How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560 The free Autoruns program is very useful for managing your Startup - http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/default.mspx It is also good to look in your Start Menu>Startup folder and the Start Menu>Startup folder for All Users to see if there is an entry there, too.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!