I know I've read about this in the last month or so but I couldn't find the answer in the forums, so I'll ask it again, I've gone into msconfig and unchecked "QuickTime" to not startup when I reboot, but it has a mind of its own, it wants to start up, I don't use it as far as I know, so would it be wise to delete it out of ADD/REMOVE Programs or is it an essential program??? When I click on it in the ADD/REMOVE Programs list it says that I use it rarely "Last used XX/2005, thats the age of my puter...

Not essential. go ahead and delete it. Its easy to download and reinstall if you ever need it. If you use itunes just make sure that you uncheck it when updating itunes since apple tries ti sneak it in.

HELLO SNAKEYES, YOU KNOW I WENT AHEAD AND DELETED IT AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE DARN THING SHOWED UP THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I BOOTED UP, WHAT'S UP WITH THAT....

Apple is sneaky.
Use Add/Remove in Control Panel to remove QuickTime.
Restart your computer.
After the computer restarts, open Local Disk (C in Computer or whichever disk programs are installed on.
Open the Program Files folder.
Right-click the QuickTime folder and select Delete and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion.
Delete the QuickTime and QuicktimeVR files located in the C:\Windows\system32\ folder. Click Continue if Windows needs confirmation or permission to continue.
Right-click on the Recycle Bin and on the shortcut menu, click Empty Recycle Bin.
Restart your computer.

THANKS AGAIN SNAKEYES, I WENT INTO WINDOWS EXPLORER AND DELETED IT OUT OF THERE ALSO, SO FAR SO GOOD...

I have a totally different experience. When I tried to download podcasts I would always get quick time going which made it difficult for me (or at least I didn't know how to use my podcasts receiver (juice) to put it on my mp3. SO I deleted it. But I can't download many sites that don't give me any other choices than  quick time. like the N.Y. Times. Is there a way to download at sites that by default use quick time but use an alternative program. thanks

Checkout the Quicktime Alternative Codec.

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/quicktime_alternative.htm

thanks for such a knowledgable reply. The podcasat recceiver I use is JUICE and it offers only Windows MP and I-tunes,and winamp, not the alternative media player. any hints?  thanks, bill