Slow boot up time

[sparka]

Hi guys

First off let me say that i've been having a slow boot up problem pretty much ever since I built my own computer.

Windows loads almost perfectly normal and hangs just before all the icons, taskbar, start menu or anything loads (I have autologin enabled), so the only thing I can see on the desktop is the wallpaper. During this time, I notice that the hard drive light is not on or blinking, nor can I actually hear it. After about 1-2 minutes, windows plays the startup sound, all the icons appear, and my hard drive light starts blinking and loading all the startup programs.

One thing I did notice, however is that my DVD-RW drive's (NEC 2500A) green light is shining the entire time during the hang, after which it turns off.

-I've defragged
-Runned registry repairs
-Disabled many startup programs and services

Any ideas??

Thanks!!

 

[wpshooter]

Are you sure you have the latest version of all drivers for all of your hardware components installed ?

 

[Boyo]

I have the same deal with my rig. I timed my entire start up from the moment I see the Asus logo until all of my start-up apps load (Bitdefender, ZoneAlarm Pro, etc.) it takes exactly 2:00 minutes. I'm not sure what range that puts me in as fast, average or slow.

 

[wpshooter]

Originally posted by: Boyo
I have the same deal with my rig. I timed my entire start up from the moment I see the Asus logo until all of my start-up apps load (Bitdefender, ZoneAlarm Pro, etc.) it takes exactly 2:00 minutes. I'm not sure what range that puts me in as fast, average or slow.

What O/S is this ? If it is XP, I would not use Zone Alarm.

Try uninstalling Zone Alarm ? See if that makes a difference.

 

[River Side]

I second the removal of all firewalls and antivirus spyware crap.. they're more trouble than they are of help..

I think the most time windows spends is getting networks in order.. are u sure u don't have any network mapped drives you forgot to unmap and the system is still searching for them?

 

[Boyo]

I'm running WinXP SP2 with all updates. My rig is literally brand new as I just built it in June. So it was a clean install on a brand new 74GB Raptor.

I am running ZoneAlarm Pro as my firewall and BitDefender 9 as my antivirus. I'm not quite clear why you both recommend not using these. Don't you guys run firewalls and anti-virus apps? I thought the Windows firewall was considered a dud.....Maybe you could help me out though. Does 2:00 minutes sound like a long boot up time to you? It sure feels like it to me.

River Side, are you talking about my BIOS boot up selection? It is set so that my Lite-On DVD/CD boots first, then my 74GB Raptor then my 320GB Caviar. That's it, just the three. I have no floppy enabled either.

 

[wpshooter]

No, I don't think that is what Riverside was referring to.

He was talking about if you had actual network mapped drives, say on a LAN, which it does not sound like to me that you have.

If I were running XP, which I am not (I use Ubuntu/Linux on all my machines), I would run the stock firewall that comes with XP. In my experience you are much better using the software that was designed by the builders of the O/S you are using. But that's not to say that I am recommending that you NOT use a firewall or other security type software. When I was a Windows 2000 user, I used the free, Zone Alarm software and I believe that it did a very good job, but I only used that because Win2000 did not have a built-in firewall. But I must say that I noted that it took a fairly long time to load especially if I had a system with some older components in it.

Why don't you give Utuntu/Linux (Dapper Drake) a try and you won't have to worry about firewalls and anti-virus and anti-spyware software.

Good luck.

Sorry, make that Ubuntu/Linux !!!, try it.

 

[furballi]

You should not experience any hangup with a clean HDD and fresh install of windows. Add one program, reboot, and check for hangup.

Remove ALL items in MSCONFIG's startup tab. Reboot and check for problem if you don't want to format the HDD.

A wireless network card can also cause similar delay. Disable this device if you have one and retest.

With most modern rigs, the boot time should be around 22 to 30 seconds from the time you hit the power switch to the desktop. Experienced PC users can get away with a hardware firewall. Noobs should add a software firewall if you don't have a hardware firewall and a free AV program, like Avast Home. I would not load anymore stuffs at startup.

 

[Boyo]

22 seconds?!!! Are you joking?! I have some serious issues if I am booting at 2 minutes with a new HD. I am not on a LAN, no wireless card and no hardware firewall for me as I am a noob. Yikes, what a mess.

Not to mention that I totally hijacked this thread. My apologies to you, Sparka. Poor forum ettiquette and I should know better. Please ignore me and feel free to post for help again.

Guys, can anyone lend Sparka a hand?

 

[River Side]

Originally posted by: Boyo
Don't you guys run firewalls and anti-virus apps?

don't know about others but I personally don't.. i've found them to be worthless resource hogs.. I try and run processes that are helping me work.. not heping my computer work. (i think Apple has a point there).

River Side, are you talking about my BIOS boot up selection? It is set so that my Lite-On DVD/CD boots first, then my 74GB Raptor then my 320GB Caviar. That's it, just the three. I have no floppy enabled either.

Check the Event Log.. it has timed entries for everything that's happening in the background while you're waiting those two minutes

 

[furballi]

You need to disable all items in MSCONFIG's STARTUP TAB (type MSCONFIG in RUN box and hit OK) and reboot. If boot time does not improve, then go to Administrative Tools\Services and list all items that STARTED after you reboot the PC.

 

[Boyo]

Thank you so much, guys. Sparka this may help you too. I disabled all the items in my MSConfig and I just cut my boot time from 2 minutes to 26 seconds. I'll tell you the truth. I think IT IS my ZoneAlarm that is messing my rig up so badly. It is a resource hog and it messes up a lot of my running programs. I think I'll be taking a look for a new firewall. In the meantime, thanks again for helping me get this mess straightened out guys.

Sparka, try disabling your firewall and anti-virus at startup. I think that may be your problem too. It was for me.

 

[furballi]

I still use the old version of ZA Pro 4.5.5.594. Very fast and stable. Newer versions can be troublesome. You PC is safe if your modem or router has a hardware FW. The built-in windows FW is also effective.

 

[sparka]

All right I'll try that Boyo, thanks everybody!!

 

[l Thomas l]

My boot up is way too slow BEFORE log in screen. I have ZoneAlarm too. Last time I tried disabling all start up entries, it didn't help. My boot order is HDD, floppy, CD. I have /noguiboot but that just hides the XP logo/loading doesn't really help boot time.

 

[acegazda]

Originally posted by: furballi
You should not experience any hangup with a clean HDD and fresh install of windows. Add one program, reboot, and check for hangup.

Remove ALL items in MSCONFIG's startup tab. Reboot and check for problem if you don't want to format the HDD.

A wireless network card can also cause similar delay. Disable this device if you have one and retest.

With most modern rigs, the boot time should be around 22 to 30 seconds from the time you hit the power switch to the desktop. Experienced PC users can get away with a hardware firewall. Noobs should add a software firewall if you don't have a hardware firewall and a free AV program, like Avast Home. I would not load anymore stuffs at startup.

Yeah, you want only the essential local and system programs running at startup

 

[Lemon law]

My wife has an older slower computer---and sure I could reduce the time from start up to the desk top also---but even when my wife's computer gets to the desk top, you can't do much with it as programs not on the msconfig startup list continue to load.---so to a certain extent--where is the time saving--what does not load prior to the desktop loads after the desktop---and meanwhile your computer will be slow until everything loads.---so someone recommends you just chuck your firewall?????????

But her computer is loaded with various anti-malware apps---and we keep it free of pests. But can't say I'd ever run on the internet without a firewaLL and layers of protection.

I just bought a very modern computer dirt cheap---because it was a basket case---and the previous owner was running around the internet with no protection---I cleaned out over 2000 pieces of various malware out of a system less than a year old.---and now the system no longer crawls----it does get to the desk top quite fast and is ready to go--but if you want a slow running system--just play around the internet with no AV, anti-spyware, firewall, or process control---and slow boots will be the least of your worries.---best have the reinstall disk handy---go format C:---and begin that slow process of reinstalling everything.

Or you could try the strategy of my computers previous owner---buy expensive moden computer---sell dirt cheap when it becomes infested and slow--buy modern expensive new computer. Repeat every 9 months or so.---that way you have a fast computer most of the time.

But I do agree that many modern apps are resource hogs---and older zone alarm firewalls may be equally good---and load in a fraction of the time---with an utility like bootvis you can see what the load time of each app is---and then mix and match to keep protection up and boot time down---and with apps you seldom need---something like startcop is ideal to keep it from starting up ---when you do need that app---it will take longer to be ready to go when you call for it---but thats the cost of not having it load at boot time. But you save that load time every time you boot and don't need it.

Maybe a linux user can run around without protection---not because its that more safe---but because few target Linux machines---but if you run windows---everybody and their brother in law will target you.---don't skimp on protection.---and don't use internet explorer---use firefox, mozilla or Opera.

 

[furballi]

Reason is that you lack the expertise to stop junk programs from loading. Some programs will not show up in the startup box. Need to access the program's configuration screen, or kill it via SERVICES.

No layered defense is going to stop a stupid user from accumulating PC bugs. The best defense against PC bugs is the USER. I don't even run a full-time AV program. Just a hardware and sotware firewall. I update the AV definition and run a full system scan two times per year. Never come across a PC bug.

 

[Lemon law]

You don't have a bad set up Furballi--most of your bases are covered---but you are real weak in the spyware area---and AV scans don't do spyware---you might download and up date
something basic and free in the spyware area---somethat like spybot or adaware---and then do a system scan---you might be surprised to see how many PC bugs are spying on you. If you are clean---you may partly prove your case---feel free to remove those programs---what can the experiment hurt?

Another layer of protection you lack is any process control---that will warn you before an application can install---some are very sneaky---and once installed---are very difficult to detect.

And if you don't scan for it---you won't find many of the spyware types. But you are right---if the user is determined to be stupid---no amount of software protection will save them from everything---the point is I bought a used computer from someone who was both determined to be stupid and not use any software protections---and THEY got infested fast----0n the other hand I am far less likely to invite malware in and also do have layers of protection you lack----and get zero viruses on my other computers---and have totally cleaned this one that was infested---but still a few tracking cookies get through---but they don't last long---because I scan often---you may well have dozens and maybe hundreds of at least tracking cookies you don't even know about.---and they may well have been there for years because you don't scan for them.---and without an active AV program---if a virus or a worm does somehow sneak past your firewalls--or comes in from a direction your firewalls fail to protect you from---its likely to fatally damage your computer system before you become aware of it.

Never assume malware writers are stupid---they invest huge efforts towards getting on a users machine---and then the smarter ones try to hide.---and then you NEVER scan for the most prevalent type of malware which are things in the spyware class????????---something a AV scanner does not bother to touch.

 

[JM Aggie08]

either drivers or an angry antivirus. bit-defender ftw!