Extremely slow startup

[Guest]

Help! These days XP is taking ages to start. I've got XP Home SP2. It takes a
while to actually open Windows but not too long. It's only when Windows has
started that the problems begin. It can take up to ten minutes sometimes
between me clicking an icon (for example, IE or Outlook. It applies with
anything though.) to the app. actually opening.

Once it's opened it runs well, and other apps. then open with ease, but the
ten minute wait is worrying and obviously annoying.

 

[Sifeba]

I have the same problem and will be interested in finding out the
reason.

Joe

 

[Ron Martell]

Help! These days XP is taking ages to start. I've got XP Home SP2. It takes a
while to actually open Windows but not too long. It's only when Windows has
started that the problems begin. It can take up to ten minutes sometimes
between me clicking an icon (for example, IE or Outlook. It applies with
anything though.) to the app. actually opening.

Once it's opened it runs well, and other apps. then open with ease, but the
ten minute wait is worrying and obviously annoying.

Use Start - Run - MSCONFIG and go to the Startup tab. Compare the
list of items that are loading at startup with the following checklist
web sites to see what can be safely dispensed with:

http://www2.whidbey.com/djdenham/Uncheck.htm
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php
http://www.3feetunder.com/krick/startup/list.html - has trojan related
items listed

Note: Please ensure that you fully understand the purpose of a
startup item, how and why it was put into the startup, and the
consequences (if any) of removing it before you make any changes.
Some items are very important for the proper and safe functioning of
your computer,

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Guest]

I don't think this helps (but I appreciate your help!). If I'm quick I can
open an app. as soon as Windows has started, but the problems begin about 20
seconds in. Click on an icon then and nothing happens for a while. I ran a
check with pcpitstop.com and they suggested the drive had a very slow
response time but I've checked for errors and de-fragged and it's still the
same. Interestingly, this doesn't seem to happen on other user's sign-ons,
just mine. I can't see what's different yet. Any ideas?

 

[Ron Martell]

I don't think this helps (but I appreciate your help!). If I'm quick I can
open an app. as soon as Windows has started, but the problems begin about 20
seconds in. Click on an icon then and nothing happens for a while. I ran a
check with pcpitstop.com and they suggested the drive had a very slow
response time but I've checked for errors and de-fragged and it's still the
same. Interestingly, this doesn't seem to happen on other user's sign-ons,
just mine. I can't see what's different yet. Any ideas?

Some items are extremely slow to load at startup and it may be that
the 20 seconds where you can run things is the time while the
"problem" startup item is loading itself.

Try booting the computer into Safe Mode and see what happens there.

To start Windows XP in Safe Mode turn on the computer and start
tapping the F8 key rapidly just as soon as the first information of
any kind shows on the screen. Keep tapping until the Windows XP
Startup Menu appears and then choose Safe Mode from the menu.

Note that not everything will be available to you in Safe Mode.
However if the performance improves noticeably compared to a normal
startup then the problem is almost certainly something that is being
loaded at startup, as suggested in my original posting.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."