Use Windows Defender

For those of us still using Windows Vista, this utility is a great tool with lots of options.  Too bad it wasn't carried over into Windows 7.  To open it navigate to 'Start'  then type windows defender in the search bar.  Click on the 'Tools' and in that menu a really great utility is the 'Software Explorer'.  With this open you're able to de-select programs running at startup to speed up your system start up.  Also via the 'category' you can disable programs running in the background.  The right half of the window describes much about each program selected.  If the button on the lower right is greyed out for the feature you want right click the program and select 'startup type' rather than 'Publisher' or 'No Grouping'.  Once disabled the program name stays there so you can go back and change the selection if you want.  All in all a great and very useful utility.  AND it will scan for virus infections!  See the included graphic.