• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Windows XP takes forever to start

T

Thoth093

Member
When I boot my machine, Windows XP takes forever to complete its start-up cycle. I get to the screen where it has the XP pro logo with the cycling bar, and it stays there a long, long, long time.

Eventually, things reconcile, and once everything starts up the computer runs fine. But it's annoying as heck waiting for the thing to get past that initial screen.

I do have a ton, and I mean a ton, of stuff on my machine. So that may figure in. What is is doing, exactly, during that portion of startup?

My specs:

ECS 755-A2
Athlon 64 3200
1 gb pc 3200 (2x512mb sticks)
ATI Radeon 9800pro (Changing to a 6800GT this week)
Two 80 gigabyte hard drives, one SATA, one EIDE 133 (I think). SATA is the C: drive with my windows directory.
Oboard sound.
Onboard LAN.

TIA.

Brian
Also Crossposted in Operating Systems
 
Ton of stuff as in startup programs? Or ton of stuff as in hardware?

I'd look at your startup programs as a big culprit (especially ones that load/run in the background and aren't even visible) and also look at hardware peripherals like attached USB devices.

You could shutdown, then disconnect attached USB, then boot up and see if it makes a difference.

Also, get Mike Lin's freeware "Startup Control Panel". It puts an icon in your Control Panel labeled "Startup" (go figure). By clicking on that, it will show you all the programs you have running from the various start locations in the registry, and give you the option of unchecking them, deleting them, moving them, etc.

http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
 
I would suggest also looking for the program bootvis, which can significantly decrease the time required boot.

If your machine is DHCP from a router, it might also help to assign a fixed IP, so you don't have to wait for the router to give out an IP address.
 
I think it's lots of startups. Spyware scan and virus scan came up nil. I'll run virus scan in safe mode tonight just to make sure.

Brian
 
Is it hanging on the XP screen with the black background? If so, startup programs aren't loaded until later - I would look for a hardware issue/conflict. Check your device manager and see if there are any issues with your hardware...
 
Thanks for the advice with that. Yes, that is where it's hanging up. Takes about 40 seconds to get to the login screen. That may not actually be long, but it sure feels that way.

Brian
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top