Computer is slow at start up. What do I need to do? I'm running Windows XP.?

Question

On Monday, we put an older CD drive in my computer to play the disks, and it was working just fine. Yesterday, I turned it on, and it was very slow. I've tried uninstalling programs I didn't need, and even after restarting, it was still slow. I downloaded a program to manage the startup, and that still didn't work. Could it be that we need to take that drive out? Please help.

Answer 1

Start...> Run ---> Type "msconfig" --> New window will pop up

Click startup tab and uncheck everything in this box and allow your computer to re-start.

There also could be Spyware or Ad-ware on your computer. and i suggest the following two programs to remove these

Spybot S&D - Spyware - Site: http://www.safer-networking.org/

Ad-Aware personal - Ad-ware - Site: http://www.adawareresource.com/co/adawareresource/?sid=M2AG0002dGS

Answer 2

1) Hardware
-Yes, try taking out the CD drive to see if it makes a difference.
If need be, replacing it is not a major expense.
-Memory: I've recently found some customers with old RAM sticks that have become defective with age, causing sudden slowdowns.

2) Software
-Run the msconfig utility (Start-Run...type 'msconfig') and click on the Startup tab. Some items listed you might recognize, and are sure you don't need them at startup. Unclick them, then click 'Apply' and re-start.
There should now be fewer icons in the lower-right end of your taskbar.

-Malware: might not be the CD but adware/other that you inadvertedlypicked up online. Run Lavasoft's Ad-aware SE (freeware).

-Bios: this might be set to try booting up from the CD before the hard drive. See if you can get into the black bios screen
after you turn the PC on but
before the Windows logo shows up (it's different key stroke with each computer, try Del or F8 or F5), and find the setting that determines boot order.
Pick a setting that tries the hard dricve (HD) first before anything else.

-Driver: the old CD drive (from a non-XP computer?) may not have the same drivers for Windows XP. The manufacturer's website may have compatible ones you can download. Or hopefully you still have the installation CD that came with the drive, and it has XP drivers for you.

That's all I could think of for now. Hope that helps.

Answer 3

Remove the Startup Programs by typing 'msconfig' and in start Tab Remove all the Programs and Free your OS Build Drive...

Answer 4

Disable the drive in device manager, (Start, right-click on my computer, go to manage, then device manager) by right-clicking on the CD Drive, and choosing disable or uninstall. Then you can tell if it's the drive slowing the system down. If it's not the drive, then it's something else, probably software.

Answer 5

I would take the drive out to see if that helps. If not then do a defrag on the computer and a system check both can be found by right clicking on your hard drive in my computer. Properties.

Answer 6

there's a program called advanced windows care download the free one install it and run it there's a start up section in there check the ones you really don't need to run like the updaters take your time and take your time with it it's amazing what this thing does

Answer 7

Maybe reinsall, it always good to keep documents on a USB HD to avoid loss of important files when formatting, I have all my files on a USB HD and mapped the my Documents folder there: ex:

X:\files\mke [X is the letter of my USB HD]

My PC goes slow and I reinstall and it works like new~!!!!

I reinstall like twice a month!

Answer 8

Try pressing F5 and enter... works great and sometimes fast internet access