PC boot up time taking 5 mins+ ????

danmanchester

OK thanks very much everyone...so software eh!!! hmmmm The only major software changes I've added to this pc in the last month are Norton systemworks/anti virus - and Adobe creative suite...I'll uninstall them one at a time and see if I can find the culprit...if that doesn't improve things then I think a fresh wipe and reinstall of my xp pro is best option. Glad it isn't the HDD, have everything backed up anyway.

T4i

danmanchester wrote:

OK thanks very much everyone...so software eh!!! hmmmm The only major software changes I've added to this pc in the last month are Norton systemworks/anti virus - and Adobe creative suite...

:eek: I'd start with this, like the other user said before, unplug your WAN connection so your offline. If you have tried various anti-virus software some of the uninstalled stuff may still be in your registry etc.

Any particular reason why you went for Norton Systemworks?

danmanchester

Only reason I chose Systemworks was because the anti virus seemed to get a lot of positive comments and I was using Panda platinum but that's now expired...plus all the systemworks tools looked...useful? I have a feeling you're all thinking "OMG Norton!" I had read on another thread that NIS was sluggish but didn't see any bad comments re systemworks :think:.

T4i

If you like Norton software then good for you, lots of people use it and find it works great. However it can be a pain in the !!!!!! due to its 'hungry' nature.

If you type 'slow boot norton system works' into Google look at the feedback from users with exactly that problem. From what I've seen, SystemWorks can defrag/scan-disk/schedule tasks on boot. You should have an option to schedule tasks or something like that.....are there any tasks active at present?

Also, the 'protected recyle bin' seems to cause problems....Before you unistall it you should be able to deactive the real-time protection. May be called something different.

danmanchester

Uninstalled everything to do with Norton...installed Avast Home 4 free edition - it has shaved off some time to about 4 minutes now lol. My running processes in task manager are now 36 whereas before was 45!

Think I've tried just about all suggestions now and hasn't really improved the boot speed...so I can only think that something invisible or corrupt is causing this.

Sunday is reformat day!

Thanks for all your help everyone..this has been the most niggling problem I've had with a pc..so I suppose I should be grateful I haven't lost anything - just annoyed I couldn't pinpoint exactly what the problem is...was! :T

Joe_Bloggs

What about your faffing wireless network? It is probably trying to share your neighbours printer or something else unexpected. Safe mode, as it, is does not use network connections. Give it a try without it.
J_B.

Toxteth_OGrady

Dan,

Difficult to review your bootvis traces as they only show the first 40 seconds. Did you set the dump time to 400 secs? You should be able to scroll right along the x-axis (time) and see which tsk is taking the longest to execute. Hover your mouse over the bars and it will tell you what it is.

The fact you got 90 secs in Safe Mode is helpful. Suggests either a driver or networking problem. Try a boot to Safe Mode with Networking and see how long that takes.

:cool:

TOG

danmanchester

Update:

Uninstalled the wireless pci card and stopped using the wireless router, and went back to a USB ADSL modem. That's solved it - boot time to desktop/using internet is now just under 2 minutes...:money: . Feels like a brand new pc again, didn't have to reformat.

Thanks for everyones help and suggestions, seems the slowness was due to a mixture of too many start up programs AND the wireless card/router...which is now going on ebay for someone who knows what they're doing to make use of!

:j

shrek101

I often find the delay in bootup is either a startup program or network driver. Personnel I woudl get rid of Norton systemworks, yuk. There's far better utilities out there like tuneup utilities http://www.tune-up.com/ (free trial) I swear by this. I used Norton many times before but this is far better and not bloated. I do use Norton for firewall only and AV is AVG.