System Configuration Utility

• 1). Go to the "Start" menu and click on "Run."
  
  
• 2). Type "msconfig" in the search line and then hit "Enter" to launch the Windows System Configuration utility.
  
  
• 3). Click on the "Start-up" tab in the main window.
  
  
• 4). Click to un-check the boxes of the programs you want to remove from the start-up menu on your Dell laptop. Click on "OK" to save the changes.
  
  
• 5). Reboot your computer as prompted by the utility for the changes to take effect right away.
  
  

Windows Defender: XP and Vista

• 1). Go to the "Start" menu and click on "All Programs."
  
  
• 2). Scroll down the list and then select "Windows Defender." This application is built-in with Windows XP and Vista operating systems and functions as an application manager. It also provides basic antivirus and firewall protection.
  
  
• 3). Click on the "Tools" menu in the main window and then click on "Software Explorer."
  
  
• 4). Select "Start-Up" programs from the "Category" drop-down menu and then click on "Show for All Users" button in the bottom of the window.
  
  
• 5). Scroll down the list of programs, click on the ones you want to disable from the start-up menu and click on "Remove."