S
Shenan Stanley
clr said:Windows XP pro, SP2 here. Concerning the animated progress
Indicator that shows up on the screen while Windows is booting. Talking
about the small one near the center of the screen, not the
one that runs all the way across the bottom of the screen.
Sometimes it runs through smoothly several times and then completes
the boot......other times it stutters and stops during the boot
procedure...........what's up with that?
Given the extensive information you have provided thusfar...
Bad driver.
Bad hardware.
Bad startup software.
Slow machine.
Why Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 instead of Windows XP
Professional with Service Pack 3 by now? Or is this WIndows XP Professional
x64 with Service Pack 2?
Start button --> RUN
(no "RUN"? Press the "Windows Key" + R on your keyboard)
--> type in:
winver
--> Click OK.
The picture at the top of the window that opens will give you the general
(Operating System name and edition) while the line starting with the word
"version" will give you the rest of the story. Post _both_ in response
to this message verbatim. No paraphrasing - instead - ensure
character-for-character copying. That's the edition (in the top picture)
and the exact version number in detail (the 'version' line.)
What version of Internet Explorer are you currently using? Easy to find
out. Open Internet Explorer and while that is in-focus, press and hold
the "ALT" key on your keyboard. With the "ALT" key still pressed, press
(just once, no holding) the "H" key. Now, with the "ALT" key still
pressed, press (just once, no holding) the "A" key. That will bring up
the "About Internet Explorer" window. It will give you the exact version
you are using - repeat what you see there in response to this message.
How to determine whether a computer is running a 32-bit version or
64-bit version of the Windows operating system
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827218
What AntiVirus application are you using? (Name and exact version, please.)
- Was any flavor of "Norton" products ever installed?
- Was any flavor of "McAfee" products ever installed?
Do you have a third party firewall - or are you using the built-in Windows
firewall?
Do you ever run any antimalware applications? If so - which ones and when
did you scan with them last (full scan, not quick)?
Verify your backups are current.
Verify your software (Windows XP and other installed software) are patched
fully (they are not if you have 32-bit Windows XP.)
CHKDSK
Defragment
Verify - from your hardware manufacturer(s) web page(s) you have the latest
version of each of your hardware device drivers. I would concentrate on
motherboard chipset, network device(s), video devices and audio devices
first. You could also check if there is a motherboard BIOS update you could
install - sometimes that can help with reading from the hard disk drive.
There may even be hard disk drive firmware available that might assist.
You might cleanup some space if you are really low - but most people are not
these days.