If you are familiar with the Start menu you simply bring up the menu and scroll down to the Run prompt. Once there type "msconfig" at the prompt and press the enter key. That works faster then clicking the ok button believe it or not. This will see a new screen come up with several tabs. The last tab on the right side is the Startup Group. Some programs like antivirus, video and sound card softwares, and others will also have services that will be found in the Services tab. There you put a check mark on the "hide all microsoft services" box to avoid disabling default services needed to run Windows.
If you have to disable any program in general you would first go to the Startup group and simply uncheck one or more items there. The option to select all or disable all either checks off or unchecks all items. Once a change is made you exit and click the apply button. You will then be prompted to restart the system to put those changes into effect.
