startup programs and programs running in background

[anorthosis20]

hi, i am using windows xp on a 2ghz mobile pentium
after 2 years of using this pc it has got terribly slow, it compares with my pentium2 350mhz desktop pc which dates back to the 90s
it takes 3-4 minutes to startup and it lags all the time. i am guessing this is because i install a lot of applications and use the internet a lot so the hard drive is loaded with adware and lots of programs that run on the background and lag my computer. can you tell me what i can do to uninstall such programs. is there a software that detects them and uninstalls them ?
i am using ad aware but it doesnt solve the problem of programs running in the background. can you help me please
thanks is advance

 

[tweaker]

Start with some light tweaking here:
http://netsquirrel.com/msconfig/

I also recommend using 'Spybot Search & Destroy' as a complement to Ad-Aware. (Remember to update the definitions before you scan) Grab Spybot here:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

A reg-cleaning wouldn't hurt, grab Jouni Vuoros great cleaner here:
http://www.worldstart.com/weekly-download/archives/reg-cleaner4.3.htm

After all that run a full system online scan for viruses:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

Theres alot more to this but hey it's a start..

 

[houssam_ballout]

also, u could go to the control panel,.inthe add/remove programs,and then uninstall the programs that u don't want,. or remove them from startup.