My windows XP takes too long to start. what can I do?

Question

My windows XP takes too long to start. it is very good for all softwares. only the start up is long. what can I do?

I have a compaq laptop.

Answer 1

Normally Windows XP is very quick with it's startup process.
However, many Daemons which are called apon the starting
of your systems can actualy clash.

I would try to recall when you started to notice this problem. Usualy
when software clashes with your system, It's the last think that
you installed.

Another thing, you might be infected with spyware which can
lead to a virus. Spyware usualy slows down the computer
when the Desktop is visible, or is soposed to be. They are
part of the 5th step of your startup process and can usualy
take a while to load.

Viruses can begin from when your systems loads the BIOS,
all the way until your computer is fully loaded.

Solution:
- Run a spyware scan first using a program called
spybot search and destroy. Just google the name and
find the website to download it.

- Run a adware scan using a program called Ad-ware, it's
by Lavasoft. Just google the name and you will find it.

- Run a virus scan on your main system drive (Default is C:\)
using preferably Norton Anti-Virus 2006, or Norton Anti-Virus 2004 Corporate Edition. Just make sure your Anti-Virus is up to date.

If you have any more questions, or if your still experincing problems please E-mail me at [e-mail] and I will
be happy to go into better detail.

-Void

Answer 2

1.) Run an anti-spyware program such as Ad-aware (lavasoft.com). It is free.

2.) Click the start button, then run, and type in> msconfig
In the window that opens click the startup tab
You will see a list of all the programs that are preloading themselves everytime you start Windows. Uncheck all the ones you don't really need (which for most people is everything). Reboot. If you find something is not working right afterwards, you just go back and recheck it.

3.) Make sure that you have at least 10% of your hard drive free. Windows needs that much space for temporary files when starting and running. Click on My Computer, and right-click on the icon or listing for the Local Drive (C:). Select Properties. The free space is listed by the pie chart. If not, you will need to delete some files, or move them to a CD or DVD. Uninstall any programs you can live without.

4.) Defrag the hard drive. Click on My Computer, and right-click on the icon or listing for the Local Drive (C:). Select Properties. Click on the Tools tab. Click the Defragment now button. If your hard drive us badly fragmented, it may take several hours for the program to complete.

Answer 3

Many times on the compaq they are performing a memory scan as well as the diskscan. There are many other small apps that windows can be running as well. Because this is a highly individual customized item it would have to be viewed by a professional to see exactly all that is being loaded. Some items such as the menory and disk scans are not worth the risk of losing the items being held therefore they cannot be removed ... but Win XP has a builtin delay that can be removed and speed some up. Try scanning for WIN XP Bootup and research.

Answer 4

First of all Windows XP with 128MB RAM is too low. The machine should be upgraded to atleast 256 MB Ram and to enjoy a good speed and reduce the start time consumed by the machine upgrade the RAM to 512 MB. Alternatively, Using msconfig (via Start --> Run --> msconfig) and switch off (sacrifice) a few programs that run on startup. Switch off the theme service using Contorl Panel --> Administrative Tools --> Services. Switch off any such additional services that are not required. This might bring some improvement.

Answer 5

Go to Start; Run; Type in "msconfig" (without the quotes); go to "Startup" tab; select the items on there you need and uncheck the things you never use so that the programs do not load on start up; go the the first tab and select selective start up; click apply, reboot; this should increase your start up speed quite a bit depending on how many programs you feel ya have to load on start up, you can still use the programs, they just dont pop up on start up. If this doesnt work upgrade your computer :)

Answer 6

Click start, go to run, type in msconfig- click on the startup tab- uncheck programs, that you do not use, don't uncheck any anti-virus, firewall, or anti-spyware programs. If you are not sure, about which ones to uncheck, type the name into the google search engine, and it will tell you, what it is used for..Also do a defrag, scandisk, and a disk cleanup..good luck..

Answer 7

Open internet explorer. Click options. Manage add-ons. Check if you have realplayer to go on startup. Or a file-sharing program like bearshare; limewire.

Or, check your registry: Start, Run, type "regedit" on the command line. Look for spyware like "Hotbar."

Answer 8

Probably lots of programs starting up when it starts, when almost nothing needs to start up then.

Get yourself Mike Lin's Startup Control Panel and uncheck everything except your antivirus software.

Answer 9

download tuneup 2006, and use the 30 free trial to clean and give maintenance to your computer. I recommend you to run the registry cleaner, registry cleaner, startup editor, etc.

http://www.tune-up.com/

also, download a spyware/adware removal tool. This one is free:
http://www.lavasoft.com/
just download the personal edition.

After using them, defragment your hardrive with the program included in windows XP.

I am sure you will see a huge difference after using these programs.

Answer 10

Hit start, then control panel, then Performance and Mainanence, then do pretty much all of what is says to do under Pick A Task. Like deFragging. that always works well.