Removing programs from start-up problem

I have Windows XP-Home - Dell Inspiron 2500 laptop (1 year old) 56K - dial-up ISP. We have been noticing that it is running a lot slower than when we first purchased it.

I talked with Dell and they told me to remove quite a few programs at start up - which I did. I then restarted the computer and a box came up saying that I had changed the way the computer starts. Instead of it starting in "normal mode" it is starting in "selective start-up". It said if I want to have the computer start in "normal mode" it would put back in all the programs I had just unchecked to be running in the background.

What do I do now? How can I get it to start in "normal mode" and not put all those programs back in at start-up?

 

1. You could just check the box that says 'Don't show me this message'. Doesn't matter if Selective Startup.

2. (Better). Find what's starting them - often this is a registry key, usually in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
Delete the key.

Or it may be in your Documents and Settings\All Users\Startup Menu\Programs\Startup folder - if its shortcut is there, delete it.
Also check same for particular user(s).