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1.Loading too many startup programs will definitely slow your PC at startup. Can you post a hijackthis log file, for further evaluation?

2.Using many softwares would not, unless they load something during startup. Many programs have update services which load at startup and they use some amount of system resources.

3.Since you have a lot of programs installed, I am assuming you might have uninstalled a few too. The registry might not be very clean. Do you use a registry cleaner / error fixer. Try TuneUp Utilities 2007, you can manage the startup programs, defrag your registry, fix errors on it and drink coffee from it too - he he!

4.Since you defrag your Hard drive every 15 days, I do not think it should pose any start up sluggishness.