have the same dilemma if its normal or only happening to you. my PC is P3 750Mhz 192mb ADSL. Loading up my pc takes ages and yes i disable most of my app for startup except those included for win98.
One option which could help is Antivirus progs. You should disable some options which you thinks are to demanding .
2nd option: device manager : able DMA for your hardware (drives)

PC is not what i think it should be capable of. Am always blaming it on my win98 ( could it be?)
thanks