Yes mate, you do need more RAM for a start, mine had 256meg and I still have memory problems (well, me puter does anyway!)
Here's a page I use all the time to check what I can sefely removed from startup memory:
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup...artup_full.htm
It's quite a big page, so it might take a while to download if you're on dial-up, but it's worth it.
If you don't fancy running a 3rd party proggy to see what's in your startup memory, do this:
start/run...
enter MSCONFIG and press OK
Now click the 'startup' tab, you can scroll down that list to see what sh*te is running in memory.
Refer to the webpage above to find the programs - what they are, and whether or not it is safe to delete them from startup.
Just 'untick' the ones you don't want.
You'll be asked to re-boot your machine, do it, and a window will come up telling you that you're using selective startup. You can disable this window with the tick box, but I'd recommend leaving it on for a few days to remind you that you've disabled some start-up progs.
You'll be surprised what crap you've got running, but for ****'s sake CHECK THE LIST ON THE WEBSITE, and DON'T DISABLE ANYTHING WHICH YOU AREN'T SURE of...
For example, DON'T disable any of these:
CTFMON
SCANREGISTRY
TASKMONITOR
SYSTEMTRAY
Good luck.
Although it doesn't show on your system resources, disabling any screen savers and windows wallpaper should also free things up a bit - just have 'none' selected for both of these, unless yoiu REALLY need that fake topless Britney on your desktop! :p