XP Pro takes 3 minutes to boot

[Denis54]

I have a PIII 1 Ghz with 512 mb memory. I use XP Pro and am connected to the internet with a cable modem.

When my NIC (Realtek 8139) is in my computer, it needs 3 minutes 20 seconds to boot.

When I remove the NIC it needs 1 minute 5 seconds to boot.

I have very little technical background and would appreciate if someone could help understand what I should do to make my computer start faster.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Sounds like your NIC is having a hard time getting an IP from the DHCP server or something.

 

[Boscoh]

Define "boot".

Do you mean it takes 3 minutes to get to the "Enter your username and password" screen of Windows XP, or 3 minutes to go from power on, to "Enter your username and password" to the desktop?

Getting an IP address from your provider shouldnt make your PC start up any faster or slower, if you were on a LAN and part of a domain, that would make Windows take longer to load after you entered in your username and password to log into your companies domain.

Try updating the drivers for your network card.

There could also be a ton of network traffic coming into it, which would tie up your processor and make windows load slower. Try unplugging the cable from NIC and see if that helps.

 

[JackMDS]

Update the drivers as suggested above.

Link to: RTL8139(A/B/C/D/8130)/810X series.

Check the System Properties that the Installation is OK and there is no Ghost adapter. (Ghost adapter is the ?ugly? yellow exclamation mark).

Go over network Settings.

Log to this page it has a lot of links to instructions to Windows Network setting and Sharing.

Link to: Installing & Sharing

If you do not find any thing significant get another NIC.

They come free (aftre rebate) or $5 in these glorious days.

 

[Denis54]

I am the only user and do not have a password. 3 minutes is the time it takes from the moment I push the power button to the moment I can start Internet Explorer or Outlook Express.

I just tried to disconnect the cable from my NIC and started the computer. It took just above 1 minute to boot. I then connected the cable to my NIC and can access the internet.

When I start in safe mode, if I go to control panel - system - hardware - device manager - networrk adapters, I have 4 or 5 different Realtek 8139 listed even tough I only have one in the computer. Should I uninstall them all and let windows find the card the next time I start my system.

I have updated the driver as suggested in another post. I did not shorten the boot process. I have no "ugly" yellow exclamation mark.

 

[dexter333]

Find out what your ip/subnet mask/gateway/dns servers are currently (start, run, cmd, ipconfig.) Then manually specify them in your network card properties.

 

[Boscoh]

So when the cable is plugged in....where does the delay happen? Does it take longer once the computer actually displays the Windows XP splash screen?

Are you behind a router, or directly connected to your cable modem?

I have seen this happen because of bad drivers, the computer was infected with a virus that spreads over an active network connection (if theres no connection, the virus doesnt attempt to spread) and because there was so much traffic coming in on the NIC (a broadcast storm, packet flood, etc) that the cpu was either at 100% or high enough to cause a big slow down.

If you've updated your drivers, that eliminates one problem....if you're behind a router that would probably eliminate the third problem. Do you have anti-virus software that you keep current?

 

[martind1]

yes uninstall them all and get only 1 in there. then find the updated driver.



but of course, there may be some delay in getting an ip form the provider, depending on many factors. 3 minutes is not an extremely long time to go from power on to into windows.

of course since youa re adding 2 minutes when the nic is in i woudl say its an issue. but uninstall all of them and get a new driver first and foremost.

 

[Denis54]

dexter333, I have found my IP address as you suggested, but I cannot find the properties of my network card. Where do I have to go to find them?

Boscoh, I do not have a router. I am connected directly to my cable modem. I have installed the latest driver. I have Norton anti-virus 2004 and update and run it every week.

martind1, my next step will be to uninstall all NIC cards that I see when I boot in safe mode.