1. Get rid of start-up programs
Many programs are loaded automatically when Windows starts but very few are important and most can be disabled from the start-up process. With the obvious exceptions of your anti-virus & anti-syware programs, very few need to be running in the background, taking up vital memory, just so they load quicker when you need them. So lets get rid of them.

First click Start, All Programs, Startup and view the items listed. Click and drag any items from the menu to your Desktop or delete them, they're only Shortcuts.

Secondly, click Start, Run, then type in msconfig and click OK. Click the Startup tab and view a list of programs that are loaded at Windows start up. The idea is to clear the tick against any item that's not needed. If you're unsure about any item checkout these sites for lists of what should not be there...
1. www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php
2. www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm

You can always return to msconfig and re-tick any item.
 

2. Stop unnecessary services
Services are programs that are constantly running in the background of your system and by disabling those that you don't need you'll speed up your PC.

First stop Windows Live Messenger from running all the time, unless you are under 20 years of age or called Mick Walley. Click its menu button and go to Tools, Options. Choose the General category and deselect Automatically run Windows Live Messenger when I log on to Windows.

Finally, click Start, Run, then type in services.msc and click OK to view all services. Now be careful here Norman because you could mess up windows good style. Double-click a service and set its Startup type to Disabled to stop it running the next time you start Windows but only do this if you're certain you don't need it. One that should already be Startup Disabled is a service called Messenger (nothing to do with Windows Live Messenger), if it's not already Disabled do it right now. Others that can be Disabled are:
Alerter
ClipBook
Machine Debug Manager
Network DDE
Remote Registry
Uninterruptible Power Supply
 
More info on sevices at www.governmentsecurity.org/archive/t1417.html
 

3. Uninstall old drivers
When you remove any hardware from your system you should uninstall the driver software that came with it, otherwise the drivers will continue to load at start up. Go to the Control Panel and choose Add or Remove Programs and remove any software associated with any obsolete hardware. Back in the Control Panel now choose Printers and Faxes and delete any old printers that are still listed.
 

4. Filter your fonts
Some programs install extra fonts and this can increase the length of time it takes Windows to get going. Check in your fonts folder and remove any that you'll never need. In Control Panel (classic view) select Fonts. Double-click a font to view it then if you decide it's not needed, right-click it's name and select Delete. If you delete a font that a program needs you can restore it later from the Recycle Bin.
 

5. Disable file and printer sharing
Unless you have a network you won't be sharing files or printers with anyone and turning it off will boost your start up speed. In Control Panel (classic view) select Network Connections. Right-click each icon and choose Properties. Clear the tick against File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks.
 

6. Defrag your hard disk
The files needed to run Windows can be scattered all over your hard disk, slowing down the startup process. You need to organise these files for faster access. Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter to begin the Windows utility but remember it could take it a couple of hours.
 

And that's about it...
The PC should now perform pretty well as good as new, if it doesn't then update and run AVG AntiVirus and SpyBot but you've been doing that regularly... haven't you?.

There are a few more issues that may or may not knock a few seconds off your boot time but I don't think it's worth bothering with tinkering with your BIOS settings to change your boot sequence or removing any floppies (I know some of you have them) or CD/DVD's and clearing the Windows Prefetch folder but you can ask me in the pub when you are buying me a beer.