SLOOOOwww startup

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riverman

It seems like my computer takes longer and longer to start up. I assume
that this is because there are a bunch of applications that are
starting up when I start up the computer, and are running (needlessly?)
in the background.

Is there some simple way to see why the computer takes so long to get
started, and to determine what background programs are necessary, and
which are just clogging up the arteries?

--riverman
 
riverman said:
It seems like my computer takes longer and longer to start up. I
assume that this is because there are a bunch of applications that are
starting up when I start up the computer, and are running
(needlessly?) in the background.

Is there some simple way to see why the computer takes so long to get
started, and to determine what background programs are necessary, and
which are just clogging up the arteries?
Click to expand...

Simple? I don't know; it depends on what you mean by "simple". For slow
startups, the normal troubleshooting path is to first make sure the
computer is completely virus/malware-free and then if it is, do
clean-boot troubleshooting to determine what is running at startup.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

Clean boot in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353
Clean-boot advanced troubleshooting in Windows XP -

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434

Malke
 
Malke said:
Simple? I don't know; it depends on what you mean by "simple". For slow
startups, the normal troubleshooting path is to first make sure the
computer is completely virus/malware-free and then if it is, do
clean-boot troubleshooting to determine what is running at startup.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

Clean boot in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353
Clean-boot advanced troubleshooting in Windows XP -

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434

Malke
Click to expand...

Thanks, Malke: the msconfig utility is just what I was looking for. How
do I know which services and startup programs (and drivers) I
want/need? Some of them I can tell...like I don't want Skype to
initialize on startup. But there are others that I am not at all
certain what they are, or what impact they have, like all those VAIO
integrated servers and schedulers. I remember seeing somewhere once
that I want to keep the Acrobat Gamma loader in the startup folder, but
how do I know about everything else? Trial and error? I'd hate to
dismantle something that would let my virus protection down or
something, and cause more trouble than help.

--riverman
 
Use services.msc *NOT* msconfig.exe!

Start | Run | Type: services.msc | Click OK
---

<quote>
Why can't I use msconfig to change my services?

The reason is because with msconfig and Hardware Profiles, you can disable
services that may be vital to boot your system. With the management console
(services.msc) you cannot. Also, msconfig, while unchecking the box, is
disabling the service.

The "Disable All" button also scares me. It should not even be there as no
reason exists to justify disabling "everything."
<quote>
from...
Why can't I use msconfig to change my services?
http://web.archive.org/web/20041128011231/www.blackviper.com/AskBV/XP25.htm

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
riverman said:
Thanks, Malke: the msconfig utility is just what I was looking for. How
do I know which services and startup programs (and drivers) I
want/need? Some of them I can tell...like I don't want Skype to
initialize on startup. But there are others that I am not at all
certain what they are, or what impact they have, like all those VAIO
integrated servers and schedulers. I remember seeing somewhere once
that I want to keep the Acrobat Gamma loader in the startup folder, but
how do I know about everything else? Trial and error? I'd hate to
dismantle something that would let my virus protection down or
something, and cause more trouble than help.

--riverman
Click to expand...

You don't need any of them. Windows will work without them. If you turn
one off and something that you want quits working turn it back on.
 
In msconfig you are only looking at part of the story.

Autoruns is a freeware programme, which list everything starting and
where it starts from.Try downloading and installing:
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Autoruns.html

You can save the output of the Everything tab to a txt file.
Place the cursor on any item in the list and it gives a save
as option on the File drop down. Post a copy of suspect
entries giving details of the start location.

You will find further information on Services here:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm

Please check Event Viewer for Warning / Error Reports in the System and
Application logs and post copies.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Administrative Tools, and
Event Viewer. When researching the meaning of the error, information
regarding Event ID, Source and Description are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308427&sd=tech

Part of the Description of the error will include a link, which you should
double click for further information. You can copy using copy and paste.
Often the link will, however, say there is no further information.
http://go.microsoft.com/fw.link/events.asp
(Please note the hyperlink above is for illustration purposes only)

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double click
on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a button
resembling two pages. Double click the button and close Event Viewer. Now
start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of the message. This
will paste the info from the Event Viewer Error Report complete with links
into the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from Event
Viewer.

Are there any yellow question marks in Device Manager? Right click on
the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties. Hardware,
Device Manager. If yes what is the Device Error code?

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
riverman said:
Thanks, Malke: the msconfig utility is just what I was looking for.
How do I know which services and startup programs (and drivers) I
want/need? Some of them I can tell...like I don't want Skype to
initialize on startup. But there are others that I am not at all
certain what they are, or what impact they have, like all those VAIO
integrated servers and schedulers. I remember seeing somewhere once
that I want to keep the Acrobat Gamma loader in the startup folder,
but how do I know about everything else? Trial and error? I'd hate to
dismantle something that would let my virus protection down or
something, and cause more trouble than help.
Click to expand...

Do not disable services from msconfig! Use Run>services.msc and then
only when you are absolutely sure of what you're doing.

You find out what things are by Googling their names and/or looking
here:

http://aumha.org/a/loads.htm - What loads at Startup?
http://castlecops.com/StartupList.html
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm
http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm
http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/
http://www.windowsstartup.com/wso/search.php

Malke
 
79g2000cws.googlegroups.com:

Thanks, Malke: the msconfig utility is just what I was looking for. How
do I know which services and startup programs (and drivers) I
want/need? Some of them I can tell...like I don't want Skype to
initialize on startup. But there are others that I am not at all
certain what they are, or what impact they have, like all those VAIO
integrated servers and schedulers. I remember seeing somewhere once
that I want to keep the Acrobat Gamma loader in the startup folder, but
how do I know about everything else? Trial and error? I'd hate to
dismantle something that would let my virus protection down or
something, and cause more trouble than help.

--riverman
Click to expand...

The correct way to disable programs (not services) that load at startup
should be in this order...

1) In the programs actual 'Options' or 'Preferences' or whatever they
call it. Most of the time there's an option to 'Start when Windows
starts', or similar.

2) The start menu 'Startup' group, if an app places a startup entry
there.

3) Then MSCONFIG.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The first thing I do when I help someone out with a new computer, and
mostly this will be a Dell, will be to uninstall almost everything that
comes pre-loaded and make it so there is NOTHING loading at startup. I
then set up some AV program, sometimes Windows defender, and that would
be the only startup programs at that time.

You certainly don't need Acrobat Gamma Loader starting, or anything else
that you don't use everyday. Don't need QuickTime starting, or
Realplayer, etc.
 
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