Startup sits at blank desktop screen -- continues when I press ESC

[ahof]

On my home PC when I startup XP, right before the desktop loads and the icons
populate my computer just sits there for over a minute on a blank desktop
background. There is little to no HD activity while it's sitting there.
I've found that if I press ESC while it's sitting there, it continues
immediately and loads windows normally. I cannot even bring up the task mgr
with Ctrl+Shift+ESC while it's hanging there. I have not noticed any unusual
startup programs. Any idea what could be causing this or how I can
troubleshoot it?

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

What do you mean "unusual startup programs"? Try a Clean Boot diagnostic
startup.

Start>Run>MSCONFIG <enter>

Choose Selective Startup. Uncheck Load Startup Items, then click on services
tab, put a check mark in the box at lower left that "Hides Microsoft
Services", then click the Disable all button, click OK and restart when
prompted. While it restarts, physically disconnect the system from the
network you're on or otherwise make certain you have no internet connection.

Does the problem still exist when you boot up? If so, use MSCONFIG to
restore a Normal startup and reboot, reconnect, etc., and report back.

 

[Plato]

On my home PC when I startup XP, right before the desktop loads and the icons
populate my computer just sits there for over a minute on a blank desktop
background. There is little to no HD activity while it's sitting there.
I've found that if I press ESC while it's sitting there, it continues
immediately and loads windows normally. I cannot even bring up the task mgr
with Ctrl+Shift+ESC while it's hanging there. I have not noticed any unusual
startup programs. Any idea what could be causing this or how I can
troubleshoot it?

Disconnect any usb device you are not using, and/or once it boots,
uninstall any usb device you no longer use. As win may be looking for
it, eg, even an old printer you no longer have.