Clicking desktop icon after i turn on comp takes longer than usual

Did a clean reinstall format on my computer today.
Installed some garbage on it and even system restore didn't help, so fresh install.
Now before when i would hit my desktop after logging in, i was able to open my internet logon icon and BOOM i'd be ready to go, now for some reason it takes about 12-15 seconds before it actually opens.
I have very little showing up in MS' Antispyware tools area controlling the "startup programs" and to double check, i looked at msconfig and there wasn't much there.
Any ideas?
Could it have been the order in which I installed the programs, after the clean format/reinstall?
Even cleaned out the prefetch folder, and still nothing. My Primary Master is my C: HD, which is the first to boot, then the DVD burner.
So I'm lost, anyone got any ideas?

 

What kind of connection do you have?

Assuming cable or other-highspeed, do you have the latest NIC drivers installed?

Not sure if this is it, just tossing some quick suggestions your way.

 

what programs do you have set to autostart?

Norton is notorious for slowing systems down, but there are many other autostarting programs, real player for example that can cause these problems.

When you did the clean reinstall, did you reinstall all the chipset. video and sound drivers?

You could also try a program called autoruns http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4686

Run the program and let it work for a few minutes, it will tell you exactly what is set to autoload when you boot your computer and you can list them here.

 

gecks im on dsl. NIC?

Majinbuu, i have eTrust's AV (probably NOT AS BAD, but does seem to be a juice pig a bit)
I did install all the drivers mobo/audio, with V/card separate.

 

So, we are talking fresh build of XP, and a few other security programs installed.

Have you tried running msconfig and turning everything off?

 

Network Interface Card. Basically making sure your network card/modem (if USB) driver was up to date.

If it is a USB modem, it could also be drivers relating to the USB devices (basically, chipset drivers), but not having the latest Windows XP updates can also impact USB speed.

Have you tried going to Internet options from the IE tools menu, going to advanced, and unchecking 3rd party browser extenstions, rebooting, and trying again? It might just be a damaged active X control or something.

 

re: NIC gotcha and ya,everything seems to be fine in terms of drivers.
Btw it's not a USB modem.

theefool, As for msconfig, I don't touch anything in there, because it actually slows down startup if you tinker with that. Hence I use MS-AS, and control startup of programs there.
I'm gonna give all this another shot later, if not, I'll just have to live with it, but really do appreciate the help & suggestions guys... ... hate being so picky

 

try autoruns as I mentioned earlier, it has a function where you can save the results to a text file. Post the contents of the text file here and we can see what is set to autorun

 

Okay, well just got in and here's the log...seems fine.
Wonder if there's a way to control the order in which they load?
Thanks again

 

for starters you can get rid of the Free Ram XP software, XP doesnt need memory management software. I'll check the rest of the log when I get a chance

 

Also, you seem to have both Spyware guard and MS antispyware set to autostart, they could be the cause of slowdown too.

It looks like you have Stardock Windowblinds installed as well, this could also slow your computer startup time.

Maybe someone else can see something else in the log

 

Majin, i had these very exact things on before as well.
FreeRAM works well, you just have to use the "autofree" feature every so often.
By itself running, I agree, it's not that good.

 

ah well, just throwing some ideas out there, maybe someone else can come up with something