Computer cleanup isn’t so simple anymore. Don’t think your spyware
or virus checker will do it for you. This tip (below) is something I
used to know but forgot about. It’s just what you need to get some
pests out of your startup menu.

Make a fresh start. Accelerate your Windows startup by disabling
programs that automatically start with Windows. Go to Start, Run, type
msconfig, press Enter, and select the Startup tab; uncheck the box for
anything you don’t want starting up with Windows. Recheck the box to
change it back again.

Keep in mind not to get rid of something just ’cause you’ve never seen
it before or don’t know what it does. Windows has a lot of programs
keeping it running which you will never see. They run in the
background. It’s only when they stop running (or are removed by
accident) that you find out what they are and how much you need them.
So, just get rid of programs you know you have already deleted from
your hard drive – those uninvited guests who have outstayed their
welcome.

Don’t forget the most basic computer cleaning tip: your mouse. Unscrew
the poor thing and clean the gunk off the rollers now and then.
Banging it on the desk won’t help, really. Treat it to a cleaning, instead. [Laura]