Hi there!

I've already posted on the HJT forum and done all the spyware and cleaning up stuff.

My problem is that after a new install of XP Pro SP2 after formating C:, my PC takes ages to boot when it never used to. I dont get the "login" screen any more and it gets to displaying the desktop wall paper and it just pauses for *ages* during this pause the prcessor is at 0% usage and memory usage remains static at 93MB (of 512 available). Once it gets past this pause it busts into life in the speedy way it always used to.

any suggestions? or do i have to make a cup of tea each time i boot?

Thanks,
Spuddy

Check your event viewer: rt. click My Computer then click Manage then Event Viewer.
Open the system as well as the application tabs & look for X errors. Click error line for details. Post back the source & event id especially of errors that seem to coincide with a boot.

Thanks for the advice.

I regret to report that I cant find any errors in the event log associated with booting. I still dont have any idea. is it possible that the computer is being instructed to wait for some reason?

hope you can help.

Spuddy

Try check disk:

start > run > cmd
in the new window type chkdsk/f
when prompted to run on boot choose Y & reboot
this will check for & fix any disk errors

Windows XP includes a boot defrag feature that speeds up the start-up process by placing boot files next to each other on the hard drive . By default this option is on, but there have been instances where Windows XP has been installed with the option turned off. To make sure boot defrag is enabled, go to the Registry Editor and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOpt imizeFunction.

With this key highlighted, look in the Name column on the right side of the window for Enable, and check that the Data value for Enable is set to Y. If it is, the feature is on, and you can close the Registry Editor. If it's not on, right-click on Enable and choose Modify. Change the value to Y, choose OK, and close the Registry Editor.

jephree: thanks, ran chkdsk but no errors found.
Bad Karma[CORE]: Checked the parameter here but it was entered as Y so all looks ok.

Still got the problem though. i'm on the point of giving up. any last gasp suggestions?

thanks guys, much apprechated,

Spuddy

Are you using the built-in Administrator account?

Perhaps try to setup another Admin Account & then check this setting:

Control Panel | User Accounts | Change the way users log on or off | Use the Welcome Screen

Thanks! Hurrah, that seems to have cracked it :-) *dance* Adding an extra acount has fixed it. i dont understand why, and it takes a little while to establish the network connection/load Norton IS but all seems a lot speedier than it was.

Much obliged.

Spuddy