desktop boots up ok but then freezes for about 15 minutes. CNTL+ALT+DEL doesn't even work to show progs running. after this time all appears ok. i pushased 'regbooster' from uniblue three weeks ago but that wouldn't activate (to sort out any registry probs) and they only send ticket numbers and no other response. i'm running avg anti-virus software. could anyone surgest anything. thanks. it's not a big problem, i just have to anticipate using the desktop and kick it into life early

Freezing in general is a hardware issue but there are some software things to try.

First off go to start Run... msconfig | Startup

Here uncheck or clear all the boxes and reboot. See if this makes a difference.

Upon reboot you will be warned you are in a diagnostic mode. Just check: "Don't show me this again".

I now know why my desktop freezes. By using task manager i've found that the cpu usage is 100% being used by a proccess called svhost.exc. This locks everything up for about 30mins. on boot up. I'm not in anyway computer literate so please be simple. Can anyone help me. Thanks.

That is a generic Service Host. Some are needed and some are not.

I suggest going into msconfig and disable all startup entries there as seen above.