Windows slow to start up

Ebe_Scrooge

Hi,

I've searched this site and many others, and haven't managed to find anything yet to cure my particular problem.

I'm running Windows XP Home edition, and recently it has started to become very slow to start up. More specifically, it gets to the "User Logon" screen OK, then I click on the user ID I want, and the main Windows desktop gets displayed OK, in a reasonable amount of time.

But, I'm unable to click on any of the icons on the desktop, in order to launch an application, for maybe 3 - 4 minutes. That is, I can click on an icon, but it doesn't actually launch the application straight away.

I've checked all the things that various websites advise, and I haven't got an awful lot of things starting automatically. The things I have got running are Avast anti-virus and SuperAntiSpyware. I read somewhere to tell Avast not to run a memory scan on startup, so I've done that. I've also got CCleaner, AdAware and Spybot ( for which I've switched off the TeaTimer background protection ). I update them and scan regularly, and they haven't found anything nasty - neither have Avast or SuperAntiSpyware. I've also run a disk check and defrag, to no avail.

So, any ideas from the combined wisdom of this forum ? It's getting to be a real pain having to wait so long before I can start doing anything when I switch on.

Many Thanks

free4440273

Might be an idea to have a look at this thread also; how old is the pc; how recent a problem is it; if quite recent, you could try a system restore

Ebe_Scrooge

Thanks for that, some useful info there. I'll give it a go and see how I get on.

john_s_2

Edit to the below - I thought the second poster had omitted the link to the other thread, but I see it now. Still, I'll leave what said in any case...

Task Manager will show you which many programs are running on your PC. And more to the point, how much memory they are using up. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to bring it up.

It sounds to me like you could do with upgrading your RAM. If you right click on your My Computer icon, and choose Properties, then the General tab will show you how much RAM you have on your PC. I would wager you have 512MB. I upgraded mine from 512MB to 2GB recently, and my PC flies now :-)

My wife was complaining her laptop was crawling and that also has only 512MB, so I've ordered some more RAM for that.

This is purely a hunch, half-educated guess, but I think XP Service Pack 3 needs a bit more RAM, as do recent upgrades to antivirus programs. (I use AVG free and my wife started complaining not long after we upgraded her antivirus.) This assumes you are using XP of course.

crucial.com check your PC for what memory upgrades are possible and recommends a compatible card. Others will recommend others.

aliEnRIK

Open up CCLEANER
Right at the top it tells you the version number
Underneath that is the service pack
Can you please tell us the service pack information and everything underneath it (cpu speed, ram and graphics card)

Ebe_Scrooge

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Open up CCLEANER
Right at the top it tells you the version number
Underneath that is the service pack
Can you please tell us the service pack information and everything underneath it (cpu speed, ram and graphics card)

Hmm, sounds like you and John S may be onto something here. It is only recently ( after upgrades ) that it seems to be happening. Here are the details from CCleaner :

MS Windows XP SP3
Intel Pentium 4
CPU 2.66 GHz
512MB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 420

Looks like some more RAM may be in order ? Thanks for the advice.

Halloway

Bootvis is a useful application which optimises your start up (driver loading, service starting etc).

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak/BootVis.shtml

aliEnRIK

CPU speeds fine, I would recommend doubling the ram (Even 756 Meg would be a good upgrade)
Whilst were on it though ~ may as well upgrade the graphics card driver (which by the way, is fine for browsing the net, NOT so good for games)
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

aliEnRIK

I know youve already defragged. But 'defraggler' is by far the best defrag program ive used ~
http://www.defraggler.com/

Download HIJACK THIS
http://www.download.com/Trend-Micro-HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10227353.html
SCAN and post the log here (DONT disable/delete anything yet)
It will show us EXACTLY whats running

free4440273

^hi, can u tell me, do u find the above program fairly fast; windows defrag is frustratingly slow. thanks:)

aliEnRIK

VERY fast, give it a go. You can pay me laters

(Of course, if your drives full to bursting ANY defrag is going to be incredibly slow as it needs room to move things about)