Yes, run msconfig but that's not all. You can review all
of the programs listed on the startup tab and uncheck any
that you don't want to run. This is really only a short
fix and you may find that programs that you need to run
no longer function properly as a result. The best thing
is to look in the bottom right-hand corner or tray to
determine what programs that you might not need. Then go
to your Control Panel, click on Add/Remove and uninstall
those programs you don't want. The items listed on the
startup tab in msconfig can also help you determine what
those programs might be as it will show a more complete
list of the programs being loaded at startup.
My suspicions are that if you have that many programs
running, then you likely have spyware and/or adware on
your machine. Particularly if you are experiencing a
large number of pop-up ads and unexpected toolbars on
your Internet Explorer. You should download a free copy
of Ad-Aware or Spybot Search and Destroy, scan your
system, and then quarantine what it finds. You can
download Ad-Aware at
www.lavasoftusa.com. Be sure and
click on Check for updates before each new day that you
scan your system as new updates are posted often.
Repeatedly scan your system until it finds zero items.
If you have questions or difficulties getting rid of the
Spyware, you can get help through their forums at
www.lavasoftsupport.com
Good Luck
