Window startup takes forever!

PrayForDeath

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2004
3,478
1
76
I am having this stupid problem where startup takes ages, it's not in the Windows loading screen where there's a bar on the bottom, it's in the next screen where you see the actual resolution of your desktop, and a blue screen with Windows logo and "Windows is starting up" written below it, first I see the HDD loading then it stops, I can move the mouse cursor, but nothing is loading, the HDD's LED is off, and it stays like that for a minute (maybe more) everytime I restart, this is driving me crazy! It's Windows XP SP2, the problem is not because of SP2 because everything was normal after installing SP2, it occured suddenly 5 days ago and I couldn't find any reason/solution, is it possible that the drive images I created using Alcohol 120% are causing this problem?
 

Zugzwang152

Lifer
Oct 30, 2001
12,134
1
0
Originally posted by: PrayForDeath
I am having this stupid problem where startup takes ages, it's not in the Windows loading screen where there's a bar on the bottom, it's in the next screen where you see the actual resolution of your desktop, and a blue screen with Windows logo and "Windows is starting up" written below it, first I see the HDD loading then it stops, I can move the mouse cursor, but nothing is loading, the HDD's LED is off, and it stays like that for a minute (maybe more) everytime I restart, this is driving me crazy! It's Windows XP SP2, the problem is not because of SP2 because everything was normal after installing SP2, it occured suddenly 5 days ago and I couldn't find any reason/solution, is it possible that the drive images I created using Alcohol 120% are causing this problem?

have you checked your msconfig for any unusual entries?
 

ActuaryTm

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2003
6,858
12
81
Here may prove more useful.

Be certain to state whether this particular case is a fresh install of an integrated SP2, a fresh install of 2600/SP1 then upgraded to SP2, or an upgrade from 2600/SP1 to SP2 over an existing system in place over a long period of time.
 

PrayForDeath

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2004
3,478
1
76
It's a fresh install of an integrated SP2 if that helps, I did a repair using Windows CD, but the problem is still there :(
 

MrChad

Lifer
Aug 22, 2001
13,507
3
81
Do you have a network card? How is your network set up (cable modem, router, etc.)?
 

jgbishop

Senior member
May 29, 2003
521
0
0
Do you have your system set up to automatically log you in? If so, that may be the problem. I had an issue with a laptop and SP2 where auto login would cause it to stall for several minutes at startup.

Try this:
When you get to the place where you are hung up, press Ctrl-Alt-Del. If the desktop immediately appears and logs you in, you have this weird problem. Seems like SP2 caused more problems than it fixed, so I've stayed away from it.
 

Savarak

Platinum Member
Oct 27, 2001
2,718
1
81
Check if your WINDOWS IMAGE ACQUISITION service is running or not, i set mine to MANUAL and that problem went away VERY quickly
 

TSDible

Golden Member
Nov 4, 1999
1,697
0
76
Originally posted by: MrChad
Do you have a network card? How is your network set up (cable modem, router, etc.)?

Network setups have been the cause of this in my experience too.

If you have a NIC and it isn't configured for a network, XP will assume that since you have one, you MUST want to use it... It will spend a long time trying to figure out what is best for you... Then, heaven forbid that it would remember what it figured out for you the last time you booted.

:D
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
0
0
Yes, a live network card that isn't connected to a network can really slow the boot process. Go in to Device Manager and "disable it in current profile" (or disable in ALL profiles if there is more than one user). I generally disable mine in the BIOS unless I'm going to use it. Then I can just remove it from Dev Mgr (or it won't get installed in the first place).

.bh.
 

CVSiN

Diamond Member
Jul 19, 2004
9,289
1
0
Originally posted by: PrayForDeath
I am having this stupid problem where startup takes ages, it's not in the Windows loading screen where there's a bar on the bottom, it's in the next screen where you see the actual resolution of your desktop, and a blue screen with Windows logo and "Windows is starting up" written below it, first I see the HDD loading then it stops, I can move the mouse cursor, but nothing is loading, the HDD's LED is off, and it stays like that for a minute (maybe more) everytime I restart, this is driving me crazy! It's Windows XP SP2, the problem is not because of SP2 because everything was normal after installing SP2, it occured suddenly 5 days ago and I couldn't find any reason/solution, is it possible that the drive images I created using Alcohol 120% are causing this problem?

wow thats a long ass time..
mine takes less than 35 secs to boot to desktop and mines XP2 also..
 

PrayForDeath

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2004
3,478
1
76
I got an integrated lan that's been disabled in the BIOS since I got this PC running, I'll check it anyway. And I have a Dial-up modem card, is there any chance that it's causing this problem? I guess it's a generic card.
Jgbishop, what do you mean by "automatically logging on"? I will try the Alt-Ctrl-Dlt and tell you what happens.
The Windows Image Aquisition service is off along with many other services.
Thanks for your answers guys :)
 

jgbishop

Senior member
May 29, 2003
521
0
0
Originally posted by: PrayForDeath
Jgbishop, what do you mean by "automatically logging on"? I will try the Alt-Ctrl-Dlt and tell you what happens.

I simply mean that you don't have to enter a username or password to get to your desktop. For example, when I power on my computer, I am taken directly to the Windows desktop (I don't have to enter a username and password, nor do I have to click my name on the "Welcome" screen). If your system is like this, you may have the problem I ran into on my mom's laptop.

I am not certain if this problem is related to automatic login, but it's the only condition under which I've seen it. I also don't know if there is a solution. Like I said before, SP2 seemed to cause more problems than it solved (in my testing, at least). Oh well - maybe a future patch will help out.
 

PrayForDeath

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2004
3,478
1
76
Well yeah, I do go straight to the desktop when I power on my PC, so maybe this is my problem, but this is weird because most of the users don't use passwords on their personal machines so this problem should occur on most of the PCs! :confused:
 

jgbishop

Senior member
May 29, 2003
521
0
0
I agree. I'm just surprised more people haven't run into this problem. I did a web search on it a while back, and no one was talking about it. Weird!
 

PrayForDeath

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2004
3,478
1
76
Just tried cntrl-alt-dlt and nothing happened, the task manager didn't show up, and I had to wait for around a minute to see the desktop, this sucks!
 
Dec 27, 2001
11,272
1
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Same problem. Before installing SP2 I would boot cold all the way into Windows in 10 seconds. After SP2, it takes about a minute and is just stuck at that blue welcome screen the entire time. Ctl-Alt-Del does nothing. I also have no startup apps.

Not too late for me to go back to SP1 as I just rebuilt the whole system. *sigh*
 

jgbishop

Senior member
May 29, 2003
521
0
0
Doh! The Ctrl-Alt-Del thing worked in my case. This is really weird. I've never understood why Windows takes so long to start up anyway. Maybe there will be a patch for this problem in the future. We can only hope!
 

JBT

Lifer
Nov 28, 2001
12,094
1
81
Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Same problem. Before installing SP2 I would boot cold all the way into Windows in 10 seconds. After SP2, it takes about a minute and is just stuck at that blue welcome screen the entire time. Ctl-Alt-Del does nothing. I also have no startup apps.

Not too late for me to go back to SP1 as I just rebuilt the whole system. *sigh*

10 seconds?!?!?!? Is that from the second you hit the power button or after the BIOS POST screen? My POST screen practically takes 10 seconds its self. That would be amazing to boot that fast!!!
 

PrayForDeath

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2004
3,478
1
76
Originally posted by: JBT
10 seconds?!?!?!? Is that from the second you hit the power button or after the BIOS POST screen? My POST screen practically takes 10 seconds its self. That would be amazing to boot that fast!!!

I guess it's 10 seconds in the "Windows is starting up" screen.

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Same problem. Before installing SP2 I would boot cold all the way into Windows in 10 seconds. After SP2, it takes about a minute and is just stuck at that blue welcome screen the entire time. Ctl-Alt-Del does nothing. I also have no startup apps.

Not too late for me to go back to SP1 as I just rebuilt the whole system. *sigh*

But my windows was starting up fast after installing SP2, it got fubared only a few days ago so maybe my problem isn't SP2 related.
 

gistech1978

Diamond Member
Aug 30, 2002
5,047
0
0
Originally posted by: Savarak
Check if your WINDOWS IMAGE ACQUISITION service is running or not, i set mine to MANUAL and that problem went away VERY quickly

that cleared up my slow booting problems after installing sp2.