This tip should work for Windows 7 or Vista, but if you haven't upgraded yet, you can still clean up your Windows XP boot menu easily.

How to Auto-Run a Program at Startup on Windows 7. Windows 7 comes with the ability to automatically run programs every time you boot your computer.

If you just want to analyze what occurs during the boot process on a Windows 7 machine, Jack Wallen says msconfig is the perfect tool for the job.