Windows computers often appear sluggish when you first turn them on. This is especially so when the computer has been used for some months and, during that time, various software applications have been installed.

You can review the startup items by clicking the Start button on the task bar and choosing the 'Run' option. In the run box, type MSCONFIG.

A list of startup items should appear with tick boxes alongside each item.

Remove the tick alongside applications that you do not require at startup time. The programs are still there, this just stops them automatically starting and slowing things down.