How to find out what programs such as spyware, popup blockers, virus, etc, are running in background and how to disable them?

Well, there are many programs to help you out with your problem.
The main issue is that you have to know what you are doing when using these programs.
First use A1Clean and RegVac to clean your registries.
Then use programs like autoruns.exe ( this is a pretty fine program but dont do anything you dont know about or your computer might not start again!!! ) or similar to goto startup and see which programs actually start when you start your computer.
Then there is Adaware.exe which cleans adware and many more programs.
But always a word of warning: when starting to work with registries and programs that are for OS use or similar ... be careful, only do what you are 100% sure of!
Also always use for ex Symantec - Norton Antivirus or some of their other products and always keep the viruscheck database uptodate at least 1-2 times per week!
triuno.

   Windows will show you what is running in the background.  Just press the Alt, Ctrl, and Delete buttons at the same time.  Go to the Task Manager.  The Applications and Processes lists show what is running.  Many of these are needed and it is hard to tell which are spyware or viruses and which are not.
   The only way to disable them is to keep them from starting.  They have to be started in someway and that way is usually through startup items.  Msconfig shows most of these (type msconfig in Run).
   As I have said in a few other posts, I am working on a program which will detect the startup items and advice on whether you should remove them or not.  I hope to have it released by the beginning of June.  I will send out a notice to our newsletter.