Boot up problem on XP - intermittent?

Question

Every now and then (not every day) when I turn on and boot up my HP PC with XP, I get this hourglass with blue lines at each end, and it turns every few seconds. The start up icons never show up in the tray, and the clock doesnt show correct time. Its very annoying, and usually after 10 minutes, I have to shut down and reboot. This happens intermittently ONLY on startup.
What is this hourglass with blue lines, why is it showing up, and what can I do to stop it showing up?
Thanks

Answer 1

Something in your start up folder is causing your system to lockup...try going to START, RUN, type in MSCONFIG, then okay. Click on the start up tab, then remove the check mark out of any item that you do not need to run during system start up. This will not delete the program...it will just stop them from loading at start up. One of these programs is likely causing your lockups.

Answer 2

The best way is to download Ccleaner here http://bitly.com/UrALrK

Or you can go on Windows operating system locate the command prompt and go there to do the following:
Create a Recovery file of system and date it today.

Then begin by;
delete the 'Temp' folders..they have hidden subfolders so you need to set the attributes in order to bypass this. For each subfolder delete all cookies and rubbish left behnd after install-uninstalled programs. Do a 'dir' command to check your progress. Make sure the 'Temp' file is empty.

goto c:\windows\prefetch and delete everything in there..no exceptions

goto c:\windows folder and delete all the '$' files that have been installed by updates. They can all be succesfully deleted and just take up disk space.

Locate the Internet Temporary Files..Check to see how high the saving level is..some have it set at 30 days..but that stores faaaar tooo much data..though it slows down the system overal. Keep this to a minimum..suggest 2 or 5 at most.

Delete all 'cookies' all those you don't need.

Locate the windows directory and go through the folders you know and those you don't need. Check this once a week at least. Some programs will install under XP as NT and older systems where there is no check of systems weight.

Check to see that system files have not changed since last booting. Things like .ini files or .bat are important items.


Check for 'Hidden Directories' all over the disk...do this at the command prompt:

dir *.* /ah wil show these hidden directories

Check the 'dir' command for all parameters

Answer 3

Could be several things. A hang up in one of the Start up files. A problem in the boot.ini path. When did it start?
First I'd go to Start-Run-type in msconfig click ok...check your startup tab and see if any huge program is running on start up or one known to hang up such as Kazaa or something, careful here don't disable sys files and those are ones you won't recognize such as ctmon or something...then click on the Boot ini tab and click on the check all paths button. If not that try to System Restore and restore it to a date before this started. Or when booting tap F8 intermittingly, when the black option screen appears click down until you highlight Last Known Good Configuration.
It could also be a virus, adware, or spyware...update all of these and run them
free virus at www.grisoft.com AVG free edition
Several spywares exisit I like Search and Destroy put that in a search engine to find
Adware I use SE Personal found at www.lavasoft.com
Remember to update before running.

Answer 4

dodgy difficult force should be my best wager, regardless of the reality that it ought to also be the RAM. i ought to do a memory verify on both. no matter if that is decrease than a three hundred and sixty 5 days previous in total, you've voided in spite of warrenty you had. in case you'll get into residing house windows in any respect, again up all of your information then attempt to reformat the difficult-force. attempt booting from CD if it does not artwork from the difficult-force. There are memory assessments availiable that artwork from the bios so no decide on to commence residing house windows. also, sounds user-friendly, purely attempt unpluging the difficult force, verify all connections and re plug again in, that worked for me one time. Failing all of that, it appears like you're screwed i'm afraid, i ought to purchase a clean difficult force and attempt to promote or bin the present one.

Answer 5

Have you run scandisk lately - you should run it once a month.

This should cure your problem.

How - click my computer right click C: then left click properties, then left click tools, then click now on error checking Dont tick any boxes just press Start - if it comes back that it failed then tick bottom box & click Start then click top box & click start.