Booting into Windows take 10mins help

mr_vampy

Hi,
Hoping someone on here can help me out. My pc is an Athlon XP 2000+ with 768 DDR Ram, running XP with service pack 3. Last night i upgraded my Internet explorer from version 6 to version 8. When it asked me to restart my computer, it took 10 minutes for it to go from the POST screen to my Windows desktop. I found that for me, IE8 was alot slower than 6, so decided to uninstall it. Unfortunately, it is still taking 10 minutes or so to boot up. I have tried booting up into safe mode and choosing last known configuration, but no joy. Please help. Would really appreciate it.
Thank you in advance

mr_vampy

[Deleted User]

What version does IE now report back?

1. Uninstall all unnecessary programs from Control Panel then restart your computer.
2. Run Windows Update: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ then restart your computer.
3. Run CCleaner: http://www.ccleaner.com
4. Run an anti-virus scan: http://www.free-av.com/
5. Run an anti-spyware scan: http://www.superantispyware.com/
6, Run an anti-malware scan: http://www.malwarebytes.org/
7. Check the VRAM settings i.e.:

- Click Start, then open the Control Panel.
- Click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System.
- Click the Advanced tab.
- Under Performance, click Settings.
- Click the Advanced tab.
- Under Virtual memory, click Change.
- Under Drive [Volume Label], click the drive that contains the paging file (virtual memory) settings that you want to change. In almost every case, this will be your C: drive.
- Click to select the "System managed size" option, then click Set.
- Click OK three times and restart your computer.

8. Run a defrag: http://www.defraggler.com/
9. Investigate msconfig: http://netsquirrel.com/msconfig/

mr_vampy

Thanks for your reply. I'm not at my computer right now, but this morning I've done the first 6 suggestions already that you recommended. Everything came back good. No viruses, etc. When i go back home tonight, i will check the VRAM settings, do the defrag and investigate the msconfig.
Internet Explorer has been reverted back to version 6 now. The computer works fine once its in Windows, it's just the booting up process takes 10 mins or so. Wish I had left it alone now.
Will report back to let you know how i get on.
Thanks again

mr_vampy

Hi davidmt83,
Have tried everything that you recommended but still doesn't work. Someone suggested a system restore to an earlier date, but it won't allow me. Do you have any other ideas? Thanks in advance. Much appreciated.

[Deleted User]

As detailed here (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318378) I'd try the following:

Method 2: Repair Internet Explorer 6 by using the System File Checker in Windows XP

If you already have Windows XP Service Pack 2 installed, and you do not want to install Internet Explorer 8, you may be able to resolve problems with Internet Explorer 6 by running the System File Checker.

To run the System File Checker, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run type sfc /scannow, and then press ENTER.
2. Follow the prompts throughout the System File Checker process.
3. Restart the computer when System File Checker process is complete.

Reboot then test.

If it's not resolved then:

Method 3: Reinstall Internet Explorer 6 by using the Ie.inf file

If you already have Windows XP Service Pack 2 installed, and you do not want to install Internet Explorer 8, you may be able to resolve problems with Internet Explorer 6 by using the Ie.inf file to reinstall Internet Explorer 6. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type %systemroot%\inf, and then press ENTER.
2. Find the Ie.inf file that is located in Windows\Inf folder.
3. Right-click the Ie.inf file, and then click Install.
4. Restart the computer when the file copy process is complete.

I'd then suggest reading the following:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308041/
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326841/
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654/

And finally...

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341/

mr_vampy

Hi davidmt83, thanks for your suggestion. I have tried both repairing and reinstalling Internet Explorer 6, and it's still the same. I don't feel too confident in doing the other things you have suggested on the MS site. I think I'll take the pc to a computer repair shop tomorrow and see what they can do. Anyway, better back up all the files I need onto the external hard drive.
Thank you so much for your help

Antispam

Have you tried bootvis MS application for faster bootup

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

mr_vampy

I think I've just fixed it!!!! I was doing a search on google, and someone had a similar problem. Apparently they had a problem with their hardware. So I check Device Manager, and there were 2 exclamation marks showing, one on an old PCI Parallel port card and the other on a USB controller for my external hard drive. I changed the USB cable for the external hd and that removed the exclamation mark, and since I was no longer using the Parallel Port card, I removed it completely. I've restarted the computer 3 or 4 times now, and it works fine. No more exclamation marks on any of the devices, and more importantly, no more waiting for 10 minutes.
Thank you all for your suggestions and help.

GunJack

just a thought, might be an idea to get IE 7, which gives tabbed browsing but is much quicker than IE 8.....