Slow Start up

[Guest]

My problem is the length of time it takes for system to become "operational".
It takes some time from when the window logo appears to when desktop
appears but takes even longer (1 minute or more) from desktop appearance to
operational use.

I've run all usual utitiities (Hive cleanup, msconfig start items, etc etc)
but still the same.

Whilst most tray icons appear very quickly the delay occurs in showing
icons for network connection (I'm on home LAN) amd my AV (Panda Platinum).

Any help appreciated

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

Hello,

There's likely a number of areas for you to look at.
How fast is the micro-processor, how much physical RAM, condition of file system on HD, size of virtual memory paging file, etc.

Begin by using 2 tools to look at the programs set to auto-load:

One useful tool to have & run is Silentrunners at http://www.silentrunners.org

Autoruns (checks & shows what's set to auto-load at Windows startup)
http://www.sysinternals.com/nt­w2k/freeware/autoruns.shtml

Run each one, and review the results.

As to "hive cleanup", those should only be used very selectively & by those that know the consequences.


Some suggested housekeeping:

Set Win Explorer to show all files and folders:

Bring up Windows Explorer / Tools / Folder Options/ select VIEW Tab and look at all of settings listed.

"CHECK" (turn on) Display the contents of system folders.

Under column, Hidden files and folders----choose ( *select* ) Show hidden files and folders.
Next, un-check Hide extensions for known file types.
Next un-check Hide protected operating system files.

+ +
Consider getting and running CCleaner (freeware) from http://www.ccleaner.com/

Download it, save it, set it up and run it.

When started, select the Windows tab:

Select these options:

Under Internet Explorer: select Temporary Internet Files, Delete Index.dat files

Under System: select Empty Recycle Bin, temporary Files, memory dumps, Chkdsk file fragments

+ +
Do a Disk Defrag on this system, but first close & exit all programs. And at end of defrag, restart the system.

++
See "Computer Health"
http://aumha.org/a/health.htm

 

[Malke]

My problem is the length of time it takes for system to become
"operational".
It takes some time from when the window logo appears to when desktop
appears but takes even longer (1 minute or more) from desktop appearance
to operational use.

I've run all usual utitiities (Hive cleanup, msconfig start items, etc
etc) but still the same.

Whilst most tray icons appear very quickly the delay occurs in showing
icons for network connection (I'm on home LAN) amd my AV (Panda Platinum).

Any help appreciated

Is the machine slow in Safe Mode? Is the machine virus/malware-free? Have
you tried the formal clean-boot troubleshooting process?

If the answers to all three are "yes", then here are a few things to check:

1. Hard drive - using PIO mode instead of DMA?
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxDMA.htm

2. Machine searching for a non-existent network resource?

3. If this is a member of a domain, check the DNS settings which are
probably wrong; i.e., server looks only to itself for DNS with forward and
reverse lookups set and workstations look only to the server.

If the machine is not slow in Safe Mode, then something that is starting
with Windows is the culprit and you just haven't found it.

Clean boot in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353
Clean-boot advanced troubleshooting in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434

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

And finally, if you are talking about a 1 or 2-minute bootup time, this is
not unacceptable. How fast is the processor? How much RAM?

Malke

 

[meherlahashbaz]

My problem is the length of time it takes for system to become "operational".
It takes some time from when the window logo appears to when desktop
appears but takes even longer (1 minute or more) from desktop appearance to
operational use.

I've run all usual utitiities (Hive cleanup, msconfig start items, etc etc)
but still the same.

Whilst most tray icons appear very quickly the delay occurs in showing
icons for network connection (I'm on home LAN) amd my AV (Panda Platinum).

Any help appreciated

This is not uncommon, due largely to the "proxy driver" in
most Anitivirus/Firewall/Utility software. Mine takes up to
5 minutes before i can use it. I have other problem due to
failure to detect a live hardware connection thats on all
the time.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply.

I thought the the firewall/AV could be a/the problem. However, a friend has
new PC running same processor (3.2 P4), memory (1GB) and firewall/AV as me.
Admittedly is is directly connected to internet via cable modem whereas I'm
ICS via cable. Whilst his PC doesn't have as may programs installed on it
compared to mine, it it loads and restarts very quicKly. Believe it or not,
he has more programs running on startup than I do!

 

[Guest]

Maurice,

Thanks for your reply...

System is 3.2 Ghz P4 with 1GB ram. HDD is 16OGB recently defragged (and
jsut checked again). 1.5GB paging file.

I regularly run..........Adware, Spybot Search & Destroy, Webroot Window
Washer (for CCleaner etc ) and Ashampoo WinOptomizer. Apart from this
startup problem, system runs quickly (opening and closing of programs etc)
and without problems.

I use msconfig to ensure stsrtup items are as required and the
corressponding cleanup utility to remove unwanted (unchecked) items.

I think I cover PC maintenance aspects quite well. Tell me if I missing
somrthing.

I've downloaded and installed Autoruns.....very "busy" program. What am I
looking for in particular with this program??? Can you tell me what
Silentrunners will show before I switch on firewall option to run script files

 

[Guest]

Malke,

Thanks for your reply....last first...PC is 3.2GHz P4 with 1GB RAM.

Machine does appear to be slow(er) (to start) in safe mode. Machine is
virus and malware free see other replies). No not done clean boot

1. DMA and not PIO
2. ?? How would I check for this?
3. Machine not a member of a Domain