Windows XP takes a VERY LONG time to load

[Devhux]

I'm working on a friend's system, and for some reason, Windows XP takes an extremely long time to load (3-4 minutes). Here's basically what happens:

- Computer boots up and does its POST test (no problems)

- The Windows startup menu occurs (I enabled the Recovery Console, so it offers a choice to boot into XP or the Recovery Console).

- After selecting to boot Windows XP, the computer hangs for about 60-90 seconds.

- Then it goes to a black screen for about 60-90 seconds, and then brings up the Windows XP loading screen.

- After another 30 seconds or so, it finally loads the desktop.

Any idea what could be causing this? (System was running SP1, and it has since been upgraded to SP2 with the same results).

[OC]

Spyware, unsigned device drivers, etc. Use msconfig to disable all startup items, then run it again after startup to see if any of the disabled items have been duplicated and started anyway - this is a very good sign the system has spyware.

[Devhux]

Virus and spyware scan didn't reveal anything amiss. :(

I'm just hoping there is a fix here before I decide to reformat this machine.

Also, for some reason, that loading screen just says "Windows XP" (and has the other info -- it does not say "Home Edition" or "Professional Edition") It is Professional Edition that's installed though according to System Properties.

[DarkFury]

just because the scans didn't catch it... doesn't mean that it is not there.

Current spyware is VERY VERY sneaky nowadays... and some of it seems to be able to defeat most spyware programs.

I know this for a fact, because right now I have a nagging "valuead" program that has infected my PC and it keeps giving me all kinds of popups... yet none of my spyware programs or virus programs can get rid of it.

In about a week or two, I'm just gonna revert back to an older Ghost copy of my system to get rid of it... and try to protect myself better in the future.

[sho.gun]

I don't think it's spyware, windows hasn't even loaded yet...

virus maybe? Is it a legit copy of windows?

[zippyjuan]

Also, for some reason, that loading screen just says "Windows XP" (and has the other info -- it does not say "Home Edition" or "Professional Edition") It is Professional Edition that's installed though according to System Properties.

If you have installed Service Pack 2, the designations do not show up on the startup page anymore- just says Windows XP. The dots that show it is loading also went from green to blue.

[bbrian]

Do an f8 boot and chose the option that creates a bootlog.txt. bootlog.txt is time stamped. In it you should be able to see what is taking so long to load.

[Devhux]

Do an f8 boot and chose the option that creates a bootlog.txt. bootlog.txt is time stamped. In it you should be able to see what is taking so long to load.

Good idea -- and I'm shocked that I never thought of that one. :)

This copy of Windows XP is legit, and I guess you guys can tell I've never used SP2 before (seeing as I didn't know that it gets rid of the "Home" or "Professional" tag in the loading screen.

[Devhux]

Sorry to bring this topic up again, but I've finally gotten back to this PC, and have discovered that ntbtlog.txt (the file that's created when you enable boot logging) is not time-stamped.

I'm thinking the only thing left on this system is to do a complete reformat (heck, it's been a year now).

[LivninSC]

Just format his drive and reinstall everything. I find that after a year or two of usage if I don't do this my computers run real slow...

[bachviet]

Just format his drive and reinstall everything. I find that after a year or two of usage if I don't do this my computers run real slow...
Back it up with Ghost, which makes reinstalling a lot easier. :D

[shocky123]

I seem to recall there being an option in the system bios on most computers that controls how the devices are recognized by the system.
It has something to do with "PnP OS" options. Inside this option (if available) there may be an option to tell the computer to use bios to remember device settings vs. letting the OS assign IRQ, etc.
There also is another option to Reset Configurations at boot. This is useful when all else fails, it just resets the device settings. If you do this each time you reboot windoes(i.e. it's enabled).. then windows will have to reinstall all the device settings each boot. This may or may not help, and I've honestly never used it, but I've noticed it as an option if nothing else works for ya.

good luck.