Workstation Service takes 60 seconds to start

[windsurfing_stew]

Hi Group,

I have a strange issue. I've installed the Windows XP SP2 dvd on a
clean hard drive. I've installed a number of pieces of software
including Office 2003, Visual Studio 2005, Virtual PC, SQL Dev Edn
2005.

Consider the following. I start my computer and I get to the login
screen. I give it some time to ensure all of the necessary services
have started. Then when I login (even when stand alone) I find it
takes about a minute to get a task bar and hence operatable screen.

Now I've used msconfig to systematically turn off start up items and
services until I found the culprit. Basically when I disable the
Workstation Service my machine logs in and is usable straight away.
When enabled it hangs for a minute.

Now services generally fire up before login so my theory is that it is
something that depends on workstation that is causing this hang. If
after booting I manually stop and start the workstation service I find
it takes only 5-10 seconds to start and 1-2 seconds to stop.

Addtionally I have installed a MS hotfix to fix a bug in Virtual PC
2004 at SP1. Details at the following address. But I doubt this is
related.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;899525&sd=rss&spid=2957

So, why does enabling the workstation service slow my machine's startup
so much and how do I fix it?

Regards,

Stewart

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Have you checked the dependency tab to look at the services that rely on the
workstation? Things like the computer browser service (are you on a
network?), alerter (domain?), messenger, and RPC locater all rely on this
service running. Your theory is sound in that it is likely to be a dependent
service that is causing the delay. It could simply be a time-out for a
non-essential or unneeded service.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[windsurfing_stew]

Rick,

Thank you for your response. You are correct, I had mis-diagnosed
which service was taking the time. It's actually 'Computer Browser'.

Now a couple of bits of relevant information -

1) When I use msconfig to disable only Computer Browser it no longer
hangs for a minute after login.

2) Starting and stopping computer browser once windows has come up
only takes about 10 seconds to start and a 2 seconds to stop.

3) My computer is configured as part of a workgroup. Half the time it
is at home and half the time in the office where it has mappings to
both a workgroup printer and some network shares. The minute of
hanging occurs whether in the office or at home.

Any clues?

Stewart

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

No specific recommendation, but I'm wondering if the network connection
isn't fully initialized at that point. If not, then the browser service is
unable to complete its function until it is.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[windsurfing_stew]

Sounds feasible. Any ideas on how to fix it?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Driver update perhaps?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org