Explorer slow to load at startup

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steve
  • Start date Start date
S

Steve

When I switch on my pc, the desktop can take a while to fully load. It
seems like some app (that is part of the startup) is having a problem. I
can't do much with the pc until all systray icons have a appeared (a
normal sign that everything is loaded) and even trying to get the Task
Manager to appear is a struggle. When I can open the Task Manager, it
has loaded 26 processes. The pc 'pauses' for about 10 seconds and then
the rest load up (about another 10 processes) and then I can use the pc
normally. I recently added a CD drive, some RAM (1Gb of new Crucial) but
no software. I have done a repair of XP to no avail. I have done a hard
drive test which passes ok. I have done a RAM test which passes ok. My
pc is a Dell Dimension 4500.
 
Alan said:
Hello Steve,

That's a great expository statement. Now, do you have a question? :>

Alan
Click to expand...
I apologize for not using any question marks.

My question, then, is this: Any suggestions to remedy this delayed
startup problem?
 
It depends on what you have installed and automatically started at startup
for the system and user.
Any Anti-Virus apps (McAfee, ....)
Firewalls?
Dell Support and Crap programs?

I have a Dell computer and the first thing I did was:

1. Renamed the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run to
Run-Archive.
2. Created a new
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run key.
3. Placed needed Values from Run-Archive back in Run (e.g., Video apps,
basically was the only one I could think of)
3. Rebooted

Then I gauged how fast it came up compared to when they were all installed.
If it zipped ... which mine did ... I then put each one back one-at-a-time,
and regauged.

There is also a Registry you can set that will log what is going on at login
time for a user:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system

verbosestatus DWORD 1

will show status messages as system comes up and you can see what is causing
a delay.

Read this article for more info:

http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1136/
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1021/
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/221833/

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

If you set the UsrEnvDebugLevel, set it to 0x30002, per the Microsoft
Article

The log file is written to the %SystemRoot%\Debug\UserMode\Userenv.log
 
Hi Steve,

We may start the problematic computer in safe mode to see if this issue
occurs.The steps to boot into safe mode are as below:

Safe Mode loads a minimally protected-mode configuration, disabling Windows
device drivers and using the standard VGA display adapter.

1. Restart the computer.
2. Keep pressing F8 key until the Windows Startup menu appears.
3. Choose the Safe Mode with Network, and press Enter.

Note: Some third party applications and some hardware device cannot be used
during Safe Mode. You will temporarily be unable to connect to the Internet
temporarily while in Safe Mode.

If this issue disappears in safe mode, I suspect that it is related to some
third-party services or programs. We may use Clean Boot to eliminate third
party interference. To boot into Clean Boot environment:

1. Click Start, click Run, type "msconfig" (without the quotation marks) in
the Open box, and then click OK.
2. In the Startup tab, click the "Disable All" button.
3. In the Services tab, check the "Hide All Microsoft Services" checkbox,
and then click the "Disable All" button.
4. Click OK and restart your computer.

310560: How to troubleshoot by using the System Configuration utility in
Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560


Best regards,

Vincent Xu
Microsoft Online Partner Support

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--------------------
 
Ok guys. Thanks for all your suggestions. After much trial and error,
reading debug logs, etc, the problem turned out to be my network card. I
pulled it out from the machine, and voila! Everything is fine. Must of
been faulty (even though Windows said it was ok). I don't need one
presently, so I won't bother replacing it.

Thanks again.
 
Hi ,

It is glad to hear the problem was resolved. If you have any other
problems, feel free to post in newsgroup.We are glad to provide assistance.


Best regards,

Vincent Xu
Microsoft Online Partner Support

======================================================
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
======================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others
may learn and benefit from this issue.
======================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties,and confers no rights.
======================================================



--------------------
 
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