When is XP ready to go

[Guest]

I am assisting a person who has XP and wants to know when the computer is
ready to go - that the start up process is over. I thought that the icon
arrow for the mouse might show when it is ready - as the hourglass changes to
an arrow, but I am using Vista now and don't remember what XP does. Can I
get help so I can answer this question?

 

[Bob I]

You may Start using it when the Desktop appears, BUT there may be OTHER
user chosen items starting up after that.

 

[Guest]

Bob:

I am looking for changes in the cursor that will tell me when Windows is
ready to go - and that includes all start up programs. Is this possible? Is
there a change in the cursor arrow? Is it documented?

Thanks,

Gary

 

[Bob I]

You get the "hourglass" when the system is busy. The "arrow" cursor is
available when the system may accept input. The "issue" is the various
programs (antivirus, chat windows, quicktime, printer monitor etc) that
the user has configured to start after the "system is ready". Now the
computer is ready BUT the computer is also starting all this other stuff
AFTER the SYSTEM is ready. So the Arrow cursor means "ready", the
hourglass means "busy" and if the user has installed different cursors
than default you will need to see what they are.

 

[dobey]

Sounds like he wants a CPU meter to tell him when PC has finished all of
it's start up tasks.

Mine is a bit sluggish, and usually the task bar takes longer to draw
initially.

Just time it so you have a fair idea of when your desktop appears to when
the PC is "ready" enough for you.