OK: The programs that start on bootup are available just like in Win98: Start/Run type "msconfig" (no quotes) and look at the Startup tab. This is where you stop these programs if you want. If you want to see everything that's running at any given time, perform the three-fingered salute (CTRL-ALT-DEL, remember?) and the "Processes" tab will show you that.
Better yet, go to http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm and download the XPservices.zip file Black Viper provides. Then, print it out and read it - twice - before running services.msc (Start/Run/services.msc). You have been warned; shutting down services without any idea of what you're doing will foul things up rapidly...
Hope this helps, Paul
I am really new to XP, like one day into it. Can someone please tell me, where do I find my programs that are running on start up. Everything that I am putting in is coming up on my taskbar and I really don't want a lot of programs running on start up. I had Windows 98SE and knew where to find everything. But right now I am lost in space. Like starting from scratch. Would really appreciate someones help. Any other quick tips that anyone could provide would also be appreciated before I get into a mess that I can't get out of.

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