Slow WindowsXP Start-up

[Squeeken]

About half the time that I bootup the computer, Windows XP Pro takes about three times longer than normal to start. The delay takes place between the time the Windows XP screen (with the scrolling blue bar appears) and the time it disappears. Everything works fine once I'm booted up; it just takes longer to bootup, and it only happens about half the time.

This computer is a new build. During the build, I flashed my Sapphire X800 GTO2 video card with the TechPowerUp modified bios enabling 16 pipelines. Since I performed the VGA BIOS flash during the initial build, I have no idea if the BIOS flash had any effect on the boot time or not. It's just the only thing I can think of that may be causing the problem. I have also heard that the NVIDIA nForce4 IDE drivers can cause problems. Is there a work around for that problem?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

My other hardware includes...
ECS nForce4-A939 motherboard
AMD Athlon64 3500+ CPU
1GB Corsair Dual Channel Memory (TWINX1024-3200C2PT)
Seagate 300GB SATA Hard drive
Sapphire X800 GTO2 video card

 

[wanderer27]

Check you Hard Drive options.

I believe there's a thread on here somewhere about slow boots.

It's the NCQ setting I believe that causes this problem.

Also, don't install the NForce IDE Drivers - lots of problems caused by that, even disappearing Drives . . . .

 

[Squeeken]

Well, i don't know why, but for some reason the problem just disappeared all by itself. The computer seems to be booting up at normal speed now. My total bootup time is about 60 seconds from power button to desktop with all system tray programs loaded. I'm happy with that. I just wish I knew what was causing my problem before.