Problem starting my PC with Windows XP Home

[Guest]

I am having problems starting my PC. Each time I boot up, the PC is very
slow and it can take up to 10 minutes to see desktop icons on the screen. At
first, it displays the Windows Welcome page, and this is displayed for about
3 minutes. Eventually, the desktop is displayed with the background picture,
the cursor is also there, but there are no shortcuts/icons are on the
screen. Then after a long wait they appear.

Since this problem occured, I have done the following:

I have tried two system restores to different dates without success.

I have also been into MSCONFIG and then STARTUP, and unchecked every program
except my Norton Anti-Virus. I re-booted the PC and the problem still exists.

The PC has an Intel 3.2 P4 processor. 1024Mb RAM. 160Gb hard drive which is
only 20% full.

I have also tried to do a disk defragment, but when I choose the
defragmenter, this function just hangs and won't start. When I go to CTR ALT
DEL, I am informed that Defragenter is not responding.

I would appreciate some help please as I don't know what else I can do,
especially as the shop where I bought it has closed for good. (Not suprised
eithner !)

 

[Guest]

http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/AtWork/getstarted/speed.mspx
http://wwwccleaner.com

 

[Chelsea]

Hi do you by any chance have an alternate shell loaded-something like object
dock for example? This sounds like a fairly new PC so it is not likely that
the hard Disk is failing. First thing, presumably this problem has just
appeared and wasn't always there? Download a copy of Raxco Perfect Disk
www.raxco.com this is a alternative defragmenter to the one that comes
with Windows. There is a functional trial version which organises your hard
drive so that boot files used by Windows are arranged for the quickest boot
time possible. Also right click the taskbar and select TaskManager under
Process click on the CPU column and it will order the process' in terms of
CPU usage-which programs are using the CPU? Is any one program using a lot
of CPU capacity?

Chelsea

 

[Guest]

Hi Chelsea,

Thanks for the advice. I will try that in a few minutes. I have used the
links from the previous post and used most of them without success. I have
re-booted and the problem still occurs. It is taking at least 15 minutes for
my PC to work properly. I haven't been able to use the Windows XP disk
defragmentor as it freezes and "is not responding". The PC is about 8 months
old and when I first bought it a similiar thing happened and I had to return
it to the shop. The shop has now gone bankrupt and has closed down. I am
not sure what you mean by

"do you by any chance have an alternate shell loaded-something like object
dock for example?" Could you explain that to me please.

Thanks,

Rob.

 

[Guest]

I have checked and the system idle process is using 98% of the CPU.

 

[Guest]

I have downloaded the disk defragmentor from Raxco and used that. I
re-booted and I still have the problem. Any other ideas please?