Slow Win XP start up

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gene J. Yao
  • Start date Start date
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Gene J. Yao

I've noticed that Windows XP has been taking longer and logner to
start up. I've conducted Adware and Spybot scans to destroy as much
spyware as possible and Norton is not picking up any viruses. I've
also toggled off all non-essential programs on my start-up menu but
there was still no change. Once fully started, the computer runs as
usual so it is not a problem of too many CPUs being used up. Plus,
I'm on dial-up so it is not likely a matter of spyware communication
slowing down the start-up (since I can't get on the net until after I
start up). I've called Sony support (I have a Sony VAIO) and they are
baffled. Any clues as to what may be the problem?
 
archie said:
PC is just plain tired
Click to expand...


Actually it is just a few months old and it was only recently that
this problem of long start-ups occurred. At first I thought it was an
adware infestation since I was getting blasted by adware downloads at
the time but I've swept msot of the adware out and saw no improvement.
 
If you can't find anything obvious, I'd try uninstalling Norton (not just
shutting it down, as it still runs in the background) & see how it goes.
 
If you system is clean, with no infection, no undue fragmentation, no
temporary file baggage, enough free 'elbow room' capacity on your HD, DMA
switched on, paging file auto-adjusted, and Check Disk utility also reported
'clean', then the next thing I would try is a PC Pitstop checkup. It should
point you to the problem area. http://www.pcpitstop.com/

At one time, the MS tool, BootVis, a visualizing utility for monitoring the
bootup process in progress, would be used as a standard device of choice in
this situation. Nothing could be more illuminating. However, its use is
not easy and MS has removed it from its download site.

"BootVis.exe Tool for System Manufacturers"
http://tinyurl.com/cfvg

BootVis (download) - "Performance Trace Visualization Tool" (Line 113)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

You may like to read more about it using "BootVis" as the search term.
Google Newsgroup Archive.
http://www.google.com/advanced_group_search?hl=en

Who knows, herein may contain exactly what you need to pinpoint where the
problem is with your computer, and a cure. Good luck.


Bee.
 
Thanks. I just got done using PC Pitstop and it diagnosed the problem
as being not enough free space on the hard drive. I assume that this
is beacuse the start-up uses up so much RAM that the computer is
forced to resort to virtual memoary. Nevertheless, I find this kind
of odd since the hard drive (while short of free space) is no more
full now than when the computer had a quicker start-up speed and I've
defragmented since then.
Anyway, I'll try the BootVis as well before deleting anything.

Bee said:
If you system is clean, with no infection, no undue fragmentation, no
temporary file baggage, enough free 'elbow room' capacity on your HD, DMA
switched on, paging file auto-adjusted, and Check Disk utility also reported
'clean', then the next thing I would try is a PC Pitstop checkup. It should
point you to the problem area. http://www.pcpitstop.com/

At one time, the MS tool, BootVis, a visualizing utility for monitoring the
bootup process in progress, would be used as a standard device of choice in
this situation. Nothing could be more illuminating. However, its use is
not easy and MS has removed it from its download site.

"BootVis.exe Tool for System Manufacturers"
http://tinyurl.com/cfvg

BootVis (download) - "Performance Trace Visualization Tool" (Line 113)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

You may like to read more about it using "BootVis" as the search term.
Google Newsgroup Archive.
http://www.google.com/advanced_group_search?hl=en

Who knows, herein may contain exactly what you need to pinpoint where the
problem is with your computer, and a cure. Good luck.


Bee.
--
[I have found my Shangri-La in ntlworld.]


--
Gene J. Yao said:
I've noticed that Windows XP has been taking longer and logner to
start up. I've conducted Adware and Spybot scans to destroy as
much spyware as possible and Norton is not picking up any viruses.
I've also toggled off all non-essential programs on my start-up menu
but there was still no change. Once fully started, the computer runs
as usual so it is not a problem of too many CPUs being used up.
Plus, I'm on dial-up so it is not likely a matter of spyware
communication slowing down the start-up (since I can't get on the
net until after I start up). I've called Sony support (I have a Sony
VAIO) and they are baffled. Any clues as to what may be the
problem?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
You may find this helpful, doing it systematically while at the same time
freeing up more space:
How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP
http://tinyurl.com/2cenv
Do make a careful mental note of exactly what you disable, and, of course,
create System Restore Points (even though these take up valuable space
themselves). Work out when you might best benefit from disabling Load
System Services, remembering that for this procedure, as pointed out in the
article, all Restore Points will be deleted.

Have you noticed that PC Pitstops, in commenting your detailed test report,
states that for WinXP to work properly, a free space of 2GB should be made
available?

Bee.
 
Do you have Norton firewall or Norton Antivirus installed? If so what is the version number
There are currently issues with these two products that affect the boot process
 
My XP has recently (1 1/2--2 wks) started slowing on startup, just over 2 minutes. I'm thinking it may be from an update recently installed, either Microsoft or Norton. My Norton is Version 10.0.1.13, could this be slowing my boot ??
 
Deduction by reduction. Take out one at a time.

Bee.
--
[I have found my Shangri-La in ntlworld.]


--
J'sDadEo said:
My XP has recently (1 1/2--2 wks) started slowing on startup, just over 2
Click to expand...
minutes. I'm thinking it may be from an update recently installed, either
Microsoft or Norton. My Norton is Version 10.0.1.13, could this be slowing
my boot ??
 
Try uninstalling Norton products (antivirus and firewall) and reboot a few times. You should also delete everything in your prefetch folder ( c:\windows\prefetch)

I'm running XP Pro with Norton 2003 firewall and antivirus. I'm having the same problem, slow boot, up to 2 minutes. When I removed these products the system booted right up without a delay. I'm not sure how to resolve the problem. It could have been from a windows update or a norton update that created a conflict.

When I reinstalled the Norton products the system slowed down again

Let me know how you make out
 
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