Using autorun.exe should empty entries be deleted ?

Boot is very slow (> 4 minutes) so trying 'autorun.exe' to check out 'entries' that may be causing slowdown.(msconfig has been used to reduce grossly unwanted items from starting.)

Under the Scheduled Tasks tab there are many 'entries' that have no Description or Publisher and in the Image Path field has 'File not found'.

Can (or should) these 'entries' be deleted?

Have checked my Scheduled Tasks. There are just four entries other than Windows entries. I am deleting them.

I think deleting the entries in Scheduled Tasks would not put the Computer in jeopardy except that the task deleted shall not get performed. If you don't want these tasks to get carried out on schedule then you might as well delete their entries.

To be on the safe side you may delete entries one by one between reboots.

Removed all entries with 'file not found' in the Image Path - and also removed all the entries referring to win live mail (am using Thunderbird now) ... boot time reduced to 2.48 minutes.

Still suspect time can be reduced more .... but will open another thread.

The specific issue addressed for this topic seems resolved.

Have you tried removing file detritus and defragmenting ?

yes - no detritus (use CCleaner weekly) and check defrag monthly

Try running a malware scan with Malwarebytes: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - Download.com