Computer very slow to boot

Have checked out other threads but none seem to be exactly like my problem, from the time I press the on button to the desktop screen first showing takes 13 minutes, it first started doing it recently, I was trying to access the bios but my computer was going so fast through that part of the boot I couldn't see which button to press for the bios, I read somewhere that pressing 'pause/break' will pause the bootup so you can read the info, but I still couldn't see which button to press, so i guessed and actually enetered the bios setup, so I exited that screen and let the computer bootup but it took a long time to boot and now does it every time, I checked out a sticky on 4 steps to a faster computer and improved the speed once the computer and booted but it still takes 13 minutes to boot.
I have a pent 4 3.0 ghz 2 gig ram 512mb graphics and running xp
hope someone can help very frustrating

 

So you got into BIOS and the problem started after that? Reboot again, tapping the F8 key and get back into the BIOS setup. Once there you will see options: Main/Boot/Power/Advanced

Take a look at Boot. Keep in mind that you will navigate in this environment via the keyboard using the arrow keys, you should see items hilite, then you can press enter to go there or to select an item.

Once in Boot, you will see an option for startup/boot order. This will be the order in which it looks for a bootable device to boot from. Typically the options are; USB, CD ROM, hard drive, network drive. You can use the + key to move items up and down, the device at the top of the list is the one the computer will look at first, if it sees an OS, it will start the boot process.

Remove any CD/DVD from the tray and disconnect any USB storage devices from the machine first.

It could be that you changed this order and the computer is slow to work through the devices looking for an OS to boot to. Make sure you have your hard drive at the top of the list. If it is not, move it up and there will be instructions to Quit and Save settings, typically F10. Do that and let's see how long it takes to boot...

 

My bios is f2 ...safe mode is f8 i do not know if computers are all difference also you can get cc cleaner free and you can find what programs are starting up when you start the computer thensee if you need them at start-up hope that helps

 

Yup F2 or the Escape key is the one he wants. F8 is Safe Mode as you say, sorry for the confusion...

But since the problem started after his visit to BIOS, I would look there first...

 

OK, I just realised this problem may be related to another one I had recently, i recently replaced a IDE DVD rom with a SATA DVD rom but I had to purchase a IDE to SATA converter, but this has not worked out too well, I was advised on MAJOR GEEKS FORUM to forget about the converter and purchase another IDE dvd rom , so I am currently waiting for it to arrive in the mail, this also was about the same time I accessed BIOS, do you think its all related?

 

Yes, it could. i'd still check the boot order tho, can't hurt to see what it is set at...

 

just adding a little information here... can you turn off the Splash screen from in the BIOS so you can see the PC going through the boot routine. As it does this you will see the information displayed for each part of the boot and possibly see the trouble spot.

Example my old presario starts to detect hardware installed and then passes the information along as to what is installed and if its working properly.
It also does other things as explained in this other site called webopedia
http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Hardware_Software/2004/BootProcess.asp

Another thing to do is list all the settings that you have in the Boot section as explained by the other poster named cipher please tell us what options you have in that section..post the information back here. While you are there maybe see if there are any entries that relate to the PCI controller that you mentioned for your CD_DVD drive.
Regards

 

Ok, I think I had better take it ,one step at a time, when I get the new IDE DVD rom I will pull out the IDE to SATA converter and see if that helps first, before I start using all the advice you guys have given me, hopefully the new DVD rom will be in the mail tomorrow