How do you make it so programs don't automatically run (like somehow AIM automatically starts) when I boot my machine up... There's several others that I don't want running too. How can I stop these evil things???

Go into their options/configuration and uncheck the "Start automatically when Windows starts" options.

msconfig is another way, but more of a band-aid.

so i guess what you're saying is go into each program specifically and do it... i guess i was just hoping for a more "2 birds with one stone" cure. but thanks, i'll do it then.

I have an old program called RegCleaner that I love. It just has a tab for the startup items, you click them, hit remove, and they're gone. No messing with MSconfig, which for some reason doesn't always seem to stop troublesome programs like RealPlayer and QT.

RegCleaner is also my choice.

thanks all, i'll check it out.

Ender's a smart cookie. I'd take his advice on computerish stuff.

That's what I got in the habit of doing every time I install something.

And are we talking about JV's Regcleaner? Excellent program.

also, an easy way to get rid of that stuff is to go to start > run > then type --> msconfig > then click the start up tab > then remove anything there you dont want starting when windows does

edit* sorry didnt see someone already said about msconfig

thanks all, quite helpful.