Try running "msconfig". You can run this by going to Start > Search Programs And Files > and type in "msconfig" (without the quotes) and press Enter.
This will bring up the System Configuration utility for Windows.
Under the General tab, choose "Selective Startup". This will allow you to choose what programs and services load during startup.
Next go to the Services tab and at the bottom, check the box that says "Hide all Microsoft Services". Now you can uncheck any remaining services you aren't sure about.
Next go to the Startup tab and uncheck all items you are unsure about.
Once you click OK, allow the system to reboot.
If you find you turned something off that you wanted, just rerun the "msconfig" utility and re-enable that service or program.
It's a hidden feature in Windows that can be quite helpful to stop unwanted programs and services from loading. It is available in almost every version of windows and has been around for many, many years.
I use this all the time to remove unwanted services and programs that install themselves without my knowledge. I also use it to get my system running faster again when too many programs and services have bogged down my computer.
If you ever get one of those viruses that takes over your computer as soon as it boots up and doesn't allow you to load any programs, this is often the only way to stop it from loading. You will need to get into this utility as soon as the systems load before the virus has a chance to start up and keep you from opening any else.
