how to remove not start up items in system configuration

From: Jagjeet (Jagjeet_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 03/01/05 

Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 02:51:03 -0800

Many a times many not so helpfull software place them selves in start up
files which may affect the fast opening of a specific prog ,like adobe reader
7 or Google desktop search utitlty.i think removing unneccesary items from
start up frees the processor cycles & decreases Ram usage ,effectively making
computer faster

Can you please guide me how to remove some of them with out putting windows
XP pro at Risk.
Regards
Jagjeet Paul