AutoRuns

[Rawkarma]

This utility, which has the most comprehensive knowledge of auto-starting locations of any startup monitor, shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login, and shows you the entries in the order Windows processes them...

Autoruns' Hide Signed Microsoft Entries option helps you to zoom in on third-party auto-starting images that have been added to your system and it has support for looking at the auto-starting images configured for other accounts configured on a system. Also included in the download package is a command-line equivalent that can output in CSV format, Autorunsc.http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/autoruns.mspx

If you have ever wondered what is running on your system, or find your startup extremely painful and slow, I recommend you use this.

[Solus]

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/autoruns.mspx

If you have ever wondered what is running on your system, or find your startup extremely painful and slow, I recommend you use this.

I find process explorer to be extremely useful as well. This lets me know EXACTLY what is running the background and if it's something I don't want I'll know it. Of course you have to be aware of what should be running on your PC in the first place.

Process Explorer (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/ProcessesAndThreads/ProcessExplorer.mspx)