Slow startup and using MSCONFIG

[Don Begezda]

Hello,
I have a new laptop, it has been very slow when booting up. It will get to
the desktop but the toolbar with start button and the desktop icons would
take forever to load up.
I used the msconfig services tab to isolate the problem. I've narrowed it
down to the "workstation" as being the potential cause of the slow-up. I
unchecked it and things seem to start much faster.
Now my question is how do I resolve the "workstation" problem? I used the
help and support pages and they said contact the manufacturer. I looked in
Microsofts Knowledge Base and couldn't find out what to do with workstation
once I've determined it to be a problem.
I don't know what this workstation does and how to cure my issue and would
appreciate some help.
TIA
Don

 

[R. McCarty]

Workstation is a core service for XP. You didn't mention which vendor
notebook it was. However, they (OEM's) load up notebooks with all kinds
of applications & startup/watchdog stuff that most users won't make use of.
Dell is particularly guilty of this. On those, I recommend people go to the
Control Panel Add/Remove Programs and carefully go through the list and
uninstall un-wanted applications.
Afterwards, the Startups & Watchdogs should be fewer in number and
will help the PC boot faster. Also look out for 30-day trial versions of
Anti-Virus & Office applications. If you have your own vendor/brand be
sure to uninstall the trials first. Competing Anti-Virus software will
definitely
bog down a machine.
Isn't a shame that a brand new computer will run like that. It's like
buying
and new car and find the back seat full of the dealer's trash.

 

[Guest]

Spyware/Virus Removal and Prevention:
http://www.fixyourwindows.com/windowsxpsolutions.htm
(Links to online virus scans on the same page)

How to optimize Windows XP, 2000, ME
for the best performance (Step-by-step Visual Guide):
http://www.fixyourwindows.com

Hope this helps!

 

[Don Begezda]

Thanks,
Yes, you're right it sure is a shame that a new product doesn't perform.You
expect something new to be perfect.

BTW it is a notorious Gateway computer.
I've dropped all unwanted programs via Add/Remove.
I do have a trial version of Norton anti virus. I shut it down at start up,
that didn't help.

There are no competing anti-virus programs.

Any ideas on the workstation causing the slowdown?
TIA
Don

 

[Don Begezda]

Thanks,
I'll look into those sites.
I don't have any spyware. I've checked that. Also no viruses.
I'll look into editing the registry as suggested in the second web site, but
my tinkering with the Sevices tab in msconfig seemed to isolate the problem
to the "workstation".
Does regediting and other optimization methods address the "workstation"
issue?
TIA
Don

 

[Rock]

Thanks,
Yes, you're right it sure is a shame that a new product doesn't perform.You
expect something new to be perfect.

BTW it is a notorious Gateway computer.
I've dropped all unwanted programs via Add/Remove.
I do have a trial version of Norton anti virus. I shut it down at start up,
that didn't help.

There are no competing anti-virus programs.

Any ideas on the workstation causing the slowdown?
TIA
Don

Sorry you are having problems with your Gateway. I have had several
including my current desktop box which runs great. We use Gateway
laptops at work in a very rugged environment and they perform well.