XP stops at welcome screen

[Starvoyager]

Hi, sometimes my computer freezes when starting up. usually at the screen
where the green bar is going across. It just stops there and I have to power
off and then startup again, and then it will startup normally. Any ideas? I
have alienware notebook with XP home. I have scanned with adaware and norton
internet security. No problems found.

Any input would be appreciated.

Greg

 

[db.·.. >]

there are a number
of things happening
at that point so it's
not something to
pinpoint.

what i suggest is to
temporarily disable
all your startups and
see if upon reboot,
windows loads normally.

if so, then the problem
was due to one of those
programs.

click on start>run>msconfig
and look for the startup tab.

also, there is a services tab.
if you click on hide microsoft
services, what is left behind
on the list can be disabled as well.

-------------

what you might also find
helpful are two programs
from microsoft.com

one is called pagedefrag and
set it to run a boot time.

the other is profile hive cleaner.

 

[Starvoyager]

OK, Thanks. Im aware of the startup issue I should have tried that already
but it doesnt always happen so It would be a hit and miss thing.

Apreciate it.

Greg

 

[Michael Faklis]

I'm having a similar problem on start-up, which goes away when I disconnect
my external firewire drives.

- Michael Faklis

 

[Starvoyager]

Imagine that! I have a USB HD that Im using. I will consider that.
Thanks

Greg

 

[Unknown]

What are your external drives used for?

Imagine that! I have a USB HD that Im using. I will consider that.
Thanks

Greg

 

[Starvoyager]

My USB HD is used for backing up files of every kind. And I transfer them
back and forth when going out to work with the notebook and coming home on to
the desktop.
Notebook alienware area 51 with XP home and Emachines desktop with Vista
premium. the external is a WD.

 

[db.·.. >]

perhaps, it would
be a hit the target
thing as well.

its simply a methodical
process of elimination.

by ruling out software,
then hardware would
be something to look
into afterwards.

another tool available
is to check out the
safemodes.

 

[Unknown]

Don't you turn off the power on the externals when not using? Then power on
when wanting to back-up or restore??

 

[Michael Faklis]

I keep my drives spinning. The backups are automatically scheduled.

- Michael Faklis