XP extrmely slow startup - blue progress bar takes over 5 mins

here's a good article for troubleshooting windows xp startup problems. it's very detailed and should be of help to you.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308041

another:

http://www.jsifaq.com/SUBL/tip5500/rh5523.htm

also, based off of the delay you mentioned with the ide check, something may be misconfigured in the bios, or you may be having hard disk (controller) troubles. unless of course, you've already gotten past the post when you're noticing the delay.

check your device manager, as well, paying special attention to your ide controllers. you're looking for a yellow ! or ?

thanks for the info, I have a feeling the problem is IDE related, weather it be the bios settings (have got the defaults loaded) or something else.

would it be the config of the ide channels, I am only using a 40wire ide cable for the 2 cd drives on IDE2

and have an 80pin for IDE1 (only 1 HD)

I am going to run boot logging at next boot to see if I can pick something up.

again thanks for the prompt help.

regards
Dave

Hi Dave

Did you load the ASUS A7V266-E Mobo drivers ??
You have the 2 CD ROM Drives on one cable right ?
An the 80 GB on a separate IDE ribbon correct ?

It wouldn't hurt to run Manufacture diags on the
HD to see if you're passing all the tests.

Bootlogging should show up a software problem
if it exists, but I doubt it will show up much anything
hardware related as you suspect in that direction..

Tell us what happens

Take Care
./Donny

Donny....

>>Did you load the ASUS A7V266-E Mobo drivers ??
yes unfortunately my house got broken into and the original drivers were stolen so I downloaded the 4in1 drivers from the site...

>>You have the 2 CD ROM Drives on one cable right ?
correct, albeit a 40wire one

>>An the 80 GB on a separate IDE ribbon correct ?
yes, on an 80 wire ribbon

>>It wouldn't hurt to run Manufacture diags on the
>>HD to see if you're passing all the tests.
done this, passed including the surface scan

>>Bootlogging should show up a software problem
>>if it exists, but I doubt it will show up much anything
>>hardware related as you suspect in that direction..
I am going to run it as I am running out of options!

thanks again for your help.  - I will report back!
Dave

Fast Boot / Fast Resume Design
Customer research shows a frequently requested feature that users want from their PCs is fast system startup, whether from cold boot or when resuming from standby or hibernation. The Windows development team at Microsoft has taken bold steps in making fast startup PCs a reality with the Microsoft Windows XP operating system.

http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/platform/performance/fastboot/default.asp
BootVis
http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/platform/performance/fastboot/BootVis.asp 

Correcting System Hang at Startup
http://www.windowsxpatoz.com/cgi-bin/performance/index.cgi?answer=1036282950&id=1036282433

If your system hangs about 2 or 3 minutes at startup, where you can't access the Start button or the Taskbar, it may be due to one specific service (Background Intelligent Transfer) running in the background. Microsoft put out a patch for this but it didn't work for me. Here's what you do:

1. Click on Start/Run, type 'msconfig', then click 'OK'.
2. Go to the 'Services' tab, find the 'Background Intelligent Transfer' service, disable it, apply the changes & reboot.
-------------------------

Increase system loading time by changing network settings
http://www.windowsxpatoz.com/cgi-bin/performance/index.cgi?answer=1036283526&id=1036282433

Click Start and click on Run.
Type command in the text box and click OK.
In DOS, type ipconfig and hit enter.
This will show you your current IPs that your NIC and PPPoE adapters have. Only pay attention to your Ethernet Card Adapter, not to the PPP adapter.
Next, right click My Network Places and select Properties from the drop down menu. This will open up the Network Connections window. In here, locate your Local Area Network connection and right click it, select Properties from the drop down menu.
When the next Window that opens up, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties at the bottom.
In the next window, click 'Use the following IP Address'. This is where that DOS window comes in handy. Copy the same exact IP Address from your Ethernet card (in the dos window) and place it where it says IP Address. Same goes for the Subnet Mask and Default Gateway. If your Default Gateway is blank, then just leave it blank. Click Ok, then Ok again.
In the DOS window type exit dos then enter. Reboot your machine.
-------------------------

I would strongly suggest using the following link to learn which Services can be disabled and why and to learn what each Service does.
Service Configurations (Which Ones to Disable)
http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

To set the Services listed in the above link

Start > Run services.msc
Double Click on the service
In the box labeled Startup Type select Disable


The Crazy One

I've just been to the local store and bought a 80wire IDE cable, I plan to replace the ide cable on the second channel.

If that doesnt work I will be going through all the above in detail.

thanks for all your help!

I'm sure I will have more problems!

kind regards
Dave Wheeler

You may use bootvis and perform a boot trace. Download bootvis from the following URL:

http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/platform/performance/fastboot/BootVis.asp

You may also optimize the system using bootvis

sathishkumar_sri

I already mentione BootVis. :>)

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