Booting Up

I use Windows XP and i am having 2 problems when i boot up.

1. When it boots up it goes into the blue welcome screen and stays in there for about a minute . It is even there when the opening music starts and ends.
Is there anyway that i can speed this up and to stop the delay.

2.When i have my desktop i always have to sign in Microsoft Messenger.
How can i set it that i am automatically sign in.