Startup Inspector for Windows

A useful utility I recommend to install on your PC is Startup Inspector for Windows. When you buy a new PC or install some new software often the software automatically configures itself to start the software when the PC restarts.

This is fine for programs you use often, it allows the PC to load that program more quickly which is a good thing. Unfortunately junk software installed by the PC manufacturer and other programs you install but never use also are loaded into memory where they stay resident, eating up your processes cycles and if you have enough of them, slow down your PC.

An easy way to manage what gets loaded is using Startup Inspector for Windows. Install the software and it'll bring up a list of programs and identify those automatically installing simply un-select the ones you don't want. This doesn't uninstall the software, just the automatic startup feature, which is good for software you use but only infrequently.

Minimising the amount of resident programs running will have a positive effect on your PC start-up times and speed by lowering processor usage. 

Another good Utility is Advanced SystemCare which helps protect, repair, clean and optimize your PC which you can downlaod and try for free.