Windows Extremely Slow

[Guest]

I just reloaded my PC with Windows XP (SP2) and I have the latest McAfee
Virus Scan and Windows Defender loaded. When I boot now, it takes FOREVER to
finish booting (roughly three minutes from the splash screen until you get
the completed desktop). Secondly, when I click on the START button, the
system hangs (CPU & HD are @ 100%) for nearly 1 minute or more). Then when
I click on the PROGRAMS option the same thing happens.

What could be creating this issue? I fear that this is the on-demand
scanning of either McAfee or the Windows Defender, but I cannot confirm this.
It is a real annoyance. Any ideas of how I can keep these programs
operational and speed up the availability time so I can use my system once I
login?

Thanks,

 

[Kerry Brown]

As you just reinstalled Windows this could be a driver issue. Did you
install the chipset drivers?

 

[Alias]

I just reloaded my PC with Windows XP (SP2) and I have the latest McAfee
Virus Scan and Windows Defender loaded. When I boot now, it takes FOREVER to
finish booting (roughly three minutes from the splash screen until you get
the completed desktop). Secondly, when I click on the START button, the
system hangs (CPU & HD are @ 100%) for nearly 1 minute or more). Then when
I click on the PROGRAMS option the same thing happens.

What could be creating this issue? I fear that this is the on-demand
scanning of either McAfee or the Windows Defender, but I cannot confirm this.
It is a real annoyance. Any ideas of how I can keep these programs
operational and speed up the availability time so I can use my system once I
login?

Thanks,

Have you done a clean up and a defrag?

Alias

 

[Pop`]

I just reloaded my PC with Windows XP (SP2) and I have the latest
McAfee Virus Scan and Windows Defender loaded. When I boot now, it
takes FOREVER to finish booting (roughly three minutes from the
splash screen until you get the completed desktop).

I assume you installed everything and never did restarts between EVERY
install, right?

Three minutes isn't excessive but it's probably longer than it needs to be.
Give it a couple of days and several Restarts and see if the time doesn't
shorten as XP optimizes a few things.
-- Did you defrag after the install? If not, do so.
-- Have you used Event Viewer to see if there are any serious error
messages?

Secondly, when I

click on the START button, the system hangs (CPU & HD are @ 100%) for
nearly 1 minute or more). Then when I click on the PROGRAMS option
the same thing happens.

How long does that last? Does it happen always or just at first?

The "boot process" may not have actually ended yet. Do these things start
normally after a period of time? Just because you get the screen of icons
does not mean all the background tasks, services etc., have gotten started
yet. Use Task Manager first thing and see if the cpu is busy during those
times and all is OK when the cpu usage drops to near zero.
Microsoft has a tool called bootvis that can help you here.

What could be creating this issue? I fear that this is the on-demand
scanning of either McAfee or the Windows Defender, but I cannot
confirm this. It is a real annoyance.

It's easy enough to figure out; turn them off (or uninstall if you can't
figure out how to turn them off): Do the times correct themselves?
If you have your AV scanning every file access and creation and
modification, the boot time IS going to act a lot like you describe. Turn
those off and see what happens.
Don't like WD so can't speak there. Don't see where it would bother
anything though.

Try doing a little of your own testing so you have some usable data to work
with next time. Be specific as you can. MSConfig can help isolate things,
too.

HTH
Pop`

 

[JS]

First read and perform if necessary Kerry Brown's suggestion.
If that's not the cause then I would try the following:
Use msconfig (Start/run/msconfig) or Try Autoruns from the new Windows
SysInternals (formerly Sysinternals) site:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/ProcessesAndThreads/Autoruns.mspx
This will show all apps/etc. that load/run when you first boot and
selectively allow you to stop any that you don't want.
Note: You may need to highlight an item (right click) and use the Google
option on some entries to get the details for more obscure items in the
list.

In this case you are going to temporarily stop your AV software from loading
during the boot cycle using one of the above tools.
Then disconnect your PC from the internet and do a cold reboot, if this
solved the problem then you know what the culprit is.
Let us know what your results are.

JS

 

[Guest]

The problem is not what was pointed out by Kerry, since I run those steps
right after I process any installation. I have build a great many PCs and
this has never happened. All the drivers and setup are correct and
functioning (Via Chipsets). The problem started when I loaded Windows
Defender. I will be unloading that to see what happens. Once I uninstall
that I will rerun the Cleanup and Defrag (as I always do). I have ran
MSCONFIG, but I do not have the output in front of me, but I will check it.
But I will rerun MSCONFIG after the removal of the Defender product. It was
working good, but then as of this morning it failed to install, so I may have
to go back to my other spyware software(s) until I can figure out what is
going on.

 

[JS]

What version of Defender are you using?

JS

The problem is not what was pointed out by Kerry, since I run those steps
right after I process any installation. I have build a great many PCs and
this has never happened. All the drivers and setup are correct and
functioning (Via Chipsets). The problem started when I loaded Windows
Defender. I will be unloading that to see what happens. Once I uninstall
that I will rerun the Cleanup and Defrag (as I always do). I have ran
MSCONFIG, but I do not have the output in front of me, but I will check
it.
But I will rerun MSCONFIG after the removal of the Defender product. It
was
working good, but then as of this morning it failed to install, so I may
have
to go back to my other spyware software(s) until I can figure out what is
going on.

 

[Guest]

I believe it is the most current verison since I downloaded it about three
days ago from the MS website.

 

[JS]

I'm also using the latest version of Windows Defender without problems, but
there is one product on my PC named CounterSpy that was updated recently and
it has slowed down the boot time on my PC considerably and gobbles up a lot
of memory (about 3 times more than before).

JS