XP Pro starts slow?

dnzn23 · Mar 1, 2003

Hey wondering if there is a tweek or something to fix this annoyance I am having. When XP Pro starts up it kind of "hangs" for about a minute . I can't start my PPOE connection until the desktop "refreshes" Or that is what it looks like it is doing. My programs won't start in a timely manner until it does this mock refresh. Any tweeks? Or maybe a service I can turn off so I don't have to wait for it to initialize? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. I'm very impatient and don't want to wait that long after a start up or reboot to get back onto the internet.

Thanks...

InYearsToCome · Mar 1, 2003

Here are some things you can try,

"Click the Start button then go to "Run" and type in "Regedit". Now follow this string HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> SYSTEM -> CurrentControlSet -> Control -> SessionManager -> MemoryManagement -> PrefetchParameters.

Once inside, find the Prefetch string and change the value from 3 to 5. Since the value's are so low, it doesn't matter if you're using Hexadecimal or Decimal.

With this little tweak, WindowsXP should load up between 5-10 seconds faster"

I am sure there are programs that will do this tweak for you as well. Also try geting a program such as System Mechanic (there are many others) that will let you customize windows startup programs, saving you valuable time.

I'm in a hurry right now, but if you would like some more programs that will help, PM me, or i will come back later and finish this post

hope this helps...

Major Attitude · Mar 1, 2003

Always give system specs. Many simply move on without that information.

Try Bootvis from Microsoft, it helps boot times:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/article.php?sid=664&cat=17

Got a 3com networking card? They usually slow windows boot time down horribly. Great cards, but slow boots, oversized drivers. For simple internet, I will use, and have, anything but.

Good luck.

goldfish · Mar 1, 2003

could also be a Graphics Card problem. I recently installed my Matrox G4 which added 30 seconds to boot time! Make sure you have all updated drivers for everything

CloX-IT · Mar 1, 2003

Originally posted by Major Attitude
Got a 3com networking card? They usually slow windows boot time down horribly. Great cards, but slow boots, oversized drivers. For simple internet, I will use, and have, anything but.
Click to expand...

Is this true of 3com modems too?

dnzn23 · Mar 2, 2003

Sorry guys forgot the system specs. I don't think its that XP is starting slow. It boots up fast. Just after I am at my desktop it hangs for a while. I can't run any programs until it refreshes.

I'm running

P4 1.5ghz
256mb RAMBUS
Phillips Seismic Edge
Power Color Radeon 7500 Evil Master
Lite On 16X10X40 CD-R
IBM Deskstar 40gb 7200rpm

DavidGP · Mar 2, 2003

Humour me as I'm just curious with this phenomenon....

1. Is this a new/fresh install of XP
2. Are you using the NEW fangled start menu

I had this for a while whe I first installed XP it would boot like fast as hell then at the GUI it would hang for about 30secs until I could do anything. NOW its ok no hang but this install has lasted for 7 months ( The re-install was because I got new mobo & stuff so fresh install is always wise ) otherwise it would still be the original install from over 1 year ago!

XP is what you would call a self learning OS it sometimes takes a while to learn what you use the most and adjusts acordingly....

The only thing I can remember stopping is I went back to the classic start menu and unticked Use Personalized Menus

Major Attitude · Mar 2, 2003

Never had one... I would think not, my understanding is its because of the drivers as well as simply slow to get or try and get an ip address, I do know I own about 3 different 3com network cards and wont use them.

30 seconds could be a while, I would still try the BootVis, but look into your startup from there. Start\run\msconfig\startup. Also, you could go through your services and disable any unneeded services.

Originally posted by CloX-IT
Is this true of 3com modems too?
Click to expand...

DavidGP · Mar 2, 2003

Yep I would first of all try what MA said above and give Bootvis a whirl it does help the speedup process by moving the most used features & drives to the best most accessable part of the drive.

BootVis works in 2 steps (no installation is required. Simply run the .exe file):

First BootVis must analyze your system: Terminate all programs running on your computer, since the program must restart your PC.

Select File -> New -> Next Boot + Driver Trace. Then a new window, which you acknowledge unchanged with OK,

A window opens in which a countdown for the restart runs.
In the second step BootVis optimizes the boot process of your computer.

In addition the system must be rebooted again. Therefore terminate all running applications. This process might take up several minutes.

bootvis is available from the main majorgeeks site HERE

but make sure you have not disabled Task Scheduler in services or it will not work it will hang!

dnzn23 · Mar 2, 2003

Its a fresh install. Just did it about 2 months ago. I got that BootVis program and ran it...Not sure if it helped though. Doesn't seem any different. Oh well....

DavidGP · Mar 2, 2003

Have you tried changing the Start menu items I mentioned in 4th post up

It may or will settle down in a few weeks once XP has learned what you use the most.....but I would still see if the Classic Start Menu & turning off the Personalized menus make a difference?

dnzn23 · Mar 2, 2003

Well I think it might be my nic card. Bootvis says it takes 58seconds for \Device\LanManDatagramReceiver to initiate. Wonder if I can tweak that too?

dnzn23 · Mar 2, 2003

Well I think it might be my nic card. Bootvis says it takes 58seconds for \Device\LanManDatagramReceiver to initiate. Wonder if I can tweak that too? Oh and btw its a Netgear FA311 Fast Ethernet Adapter.

Vlad the Impaler · Mar 2, 2003

try these basic things , my xp hung on bootup a couple times before the desktop loaded... try this

remove the desktop picture. don't use it. just put a blank , black screen for your desktop. Believe it or not that desktop picture takes up RAM.

Remove the "quick launch" buttons. Turn off quick launch.

Switch to classic view.

Turn off "Themes" . Disable the "Themes" service.

Lastly, get a registry defrag. I use one and believe it or not, it somehow speeds up my computer when it boots.

You may need more RAM. I have heard that XP uses 200 megs of RAM just to operate. Someone told me to get XP to work SMOOTH all the time, you need 512.

let me know if it helps

InYearsToCome · Mar 3, 2003

Does anyone know how to Un-do a Bootvis "optimize"?

I got greedy and optimized my already fast enough startup...and ADDED about 5-10 seconds

Log in or Sign up

XP Pro starts slow?

dnzn23 Private E-2

InYearsToCome MajorGeek

Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

goldfish Lt. Sushi.DC

CloX-IT Private E-2

dnzn23 Private E-2

DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

dnzn23 Private E-2

DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

dnzn23 Private E-2

dnzn23 Private E-2

Vlad the Impaler F.K.A. Immaculate

InYearsToCome MajorGeek