Some Windows tips need specialist software if you're to come out of the process alive. Others can be done with the tools Windows gives you but are made easier with specialist tools such as a registry cleaner or better yet a Windows error checker that checks lots more than just the registry for about the same price as a simple registry cleaner.

Before you begin anything in this list, you'll want to make sure you can go back to where you currently are. Just in case anything goes horribly wrong.

So you need to set a "System Restore Point". Just type that phrase into Windows Help and follow the instructions.

Now let's start with the easy stuff:

Do you really need all those fonts that the various programs you use have installed? If not, get rid of the fonts you don't use. Get hold of a free font manager to help you perform this task.

Now things get a little bit trickier.

Every time your computer starts, other programs start up with it. Some of them are welcome - your firewall, antivirus software, that kind of thing.

Other programs fall into the "our software designer thinks you might always want these programs available without having to start them up yourself category". Programs like Skype, iTunes, an instant messenger service of some sort, your webcam software, the update service for Adobe Acrobat reader, the keylogger you installed to check your children aren't doing naughty things, etc. all fall into this category. You may agree that they're convenient to have always available. Chances are you missed the tick box that allowed you not to have them autostart when you loaded the latest versions.

Some of these programs will show up at the bottom of your screen, near your clock. Others will hide away and only show when you check Task Manager.

You can get check them and get rid of them by using the Msconfig program that comes with Windows. In XP, select Start, Run, type msconfig, and press Enter. In Vista, select Start, type msconfig into the Search box, and press Enter. The Startup tab will show you the complete list of autoloading programs that currently start every time your computer boots up.

The big trouble with Msconfig is that it doesn't tell you very much. So you have to do lots of research to find out whether the programs it lists are ones your computer needs to have running or whether they're just "nice to have" programs.

Then there's the Windows Registry. Programs everywhere use this as a storage area and dumping ground. Everything seems to get stored in the Windows Registry. It's usually where the "last opened" files on your menus are stored. It keeps the startup position and size of your favorite programs. And lots more. In the same way as having too many fonts slows down your computer from loading, so does having too much stuff in your registry that was once useful but no longer serves a purpose.

Whilst it is possible to clean up the Windows registry using the built-in Regedit program (start it the same way you start Msconfig), you need nerves of steel and a degree in geek. If you do something wrong, you can mess up Windows or even stop it from working altogether.

It's far better to let software sort it out for you.

Far and away the easiest and most thorough tool I've found to do this and to fix all sorts of other weird and wonderful Windows start up problems is this tool. If you think your computer is already fine, download this tool for free.

It also analyzes your Startup programs although it doesn't tell you which programs they are - you only get the same list as you would with Msconfig, albeit in a slightly friendlier format.

Personally, I now use Error Sweeper instead of the various programs I used previously. It works fast and reliably and is well supported. Add in the free trial and you can't go wrong!

One other way that will not only make Windows startup faster but will also help you with all the other things you do on your computer is to give it more memory.

If your machine has less than 2GB of RAM then it's time for an upgrade.

Modern programs need memory. Lots and lots and lots of it.

If your machine "only" has 1Gb of memory, Windows Vista will use most of that for itself.

Adding more computer memory is simple to do yourself or your local computer shop will be able to do the upgrade for you.

Either way, treat yourself to a faster machine by upgrading its memory chips.