WinXP very slow to start, and very very slow starting up programs

  • Thread starter Thread starter jbclem
  • Start date Start date
J

jbclem

I just installed WinXP on a P4 computer (1MB RAM) that runs Win2000 with no problems. WinXP was running normally until
I installed some drivers from the motherboard (ASUS P4PE) CD. After rebooting I discovered that 1) the boot up takes
3+ minutes, and when WinXP finally starts up anytime I click on a program to start it, not only does it take about 3
minutes to start a simple program, but during that time I loose the use of the mouse. That is, the mouse cursor will
show on a spot and if I move it, after 15-30 seconds the cursor will pop up in another location, and so on.

I've looked at the task manager and when this slowdown is occuring (and it takes minutes to get the task manager to open
up) there is no sign of anything hogging the cpu power...the system idle process is usually at 95-98% and whatever
process I've tried to start is only using 2-5%, even though it will take 3 minutes to start up it's program.

Given what I've noted, where would I look to find out what is causing this slowdown? I've turned off some services,
such as Messenger, and some other non essential ones, and I've looked at msconfig but I don't see anything unusual there
(although I'm not as familiar with XP processes as I am with Win2000 ones).

But there's nothing hogging the processor, so how else could this slowdown be occuring. Any suggestions would be very
helpful.

John
 
Since it started after loading drivers, why don't you check and see if there
are newer drivers available?
 
Because the computer kept locking up I reinstalled XP. I also only installed one of the extra drivers, the one for the
built-in Ethernet card. The normal speed is back, but it has locked up a few times...when I've clicked on a program
icon to start it and then quickly clicked on another item to do work while the first program is starting. I'm worried
about this because I don't have that problem with Win2000 on the same computer. In Win2000, if I try to start too many
programs at once, the computer slows down until they are all running, but it is an older computer so I expect that. But
it never locks up in Win2000. Is there a difference with WinXP in this aspect?

John
 
John,

XP "needs" more ram than W2K does but XP should not come to a standstill
with the 1 GB of ram you have installed (assumes you are not running a data
base or heavy duty graphics program). I tried a test on my XP MCE PC (3
GHz P4 CPU with 1 GB of ram) and programs would open before I could get back
to the start menu to try to open another one. So, I put shortcuts on the
desktop to Adobe 7.0, Excel, Windows Explorer and WinZip. I double clicked
each shortcut as fast as I could and the programs almost immediately opened
(I also had OE open when I tried this).

Are you sure that you have the right drivers installed for your hardware?
Any indications of problems in Device Manager? You might want to take a
look with Event Viewer to see if any of the logs give a clue as to what is
going on. If you are not familiar with EV, take a look at the help file.

Maybe someone else can jump in and provide other advice.
--
Regards

Ron Badour
MS MVP
Windows Desktop Experience
 
I'll be watching the Event Viewer if this happens again. I just checked it
for a lockup that occured yesterday, but nothing unusual showing in
Application and System events. This recent lockup happened after I had
created a new user account and clicked to switch back to it. I left the
computer on all night to see if the lockup would release itself but no luck,
had to reboot.

John
 
Hello,

I have a very similar problem, only that XP came with my system (3 years
ago), and it has always taken about 3 minutes for programs to actually open
or start working. Very frustrating. Tried resolving this with manufacturer
Dell, but their support was not very good and am still battling with the
problem. I wonder if you got any resolution with your problem?

My system: XP Media Center Edition, version 2002, Service Pack 3, 1GB RAM.
Have taken as many third party programs off, antivirus is AVG latest edition
(freeware). Thank you for any feedback.

L
 
Check the System log of Event Viewer for Error and Warning Reports.

Please post copies of all Error and Warning Reports appearing in the
System log in Event Viewer for the last boot. No Information Reports or
Duplicates please. Indicate which also appear in a previous boot.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, and Event Viewer.

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Click the button and close Event
Viewer.Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from
Event Viewer.

Are there any yellow question marks in Device Manager? Right click on
the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties,
Hardware,Device Manager. If yes what is the Device Error code?
Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?

You should be able to gather more information from Task Manager. With
the Processes tab open select View, Select, Columns and check the boxes
before Peak Memory Usage and Virtual Memory size. What are the figures
for the 6 processes using the largest amounts?

I would be interested in seeing a Disk Defragmenter report . Open Disk
Defragmenter and click on Analyse. Select View Report and click on Save
As and Save. Now find VolumeC.txt in your My Documents Folder and post a
copy. Do this before running Disk Defragmenter as it is more
informative.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to
Empty your Recycle Bin and Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also
select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,
More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System
Restore point. Run Disk Defragmenter.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Thanks, Gerry, will do so. Will move to new thread, 'Applications take about
3 minutes to start up' (apologies to Kayman for hyjacking this thread, not
very familiar with forums yet).

L
 
Gerry said:
Check the System log of Event Viewer for Error and Warning Reports.

Please post copies of all Error and Warning Reports appearing in the
System log in Event Viewer for the last boot. No Information Reports or
Duplicates please. Indicate which also appear in a previous boot.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, and Event Viewer.

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Click the button and close Event
Viewer.Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from
Event Viewer.

Are there any yellow question marks in Device Manager? Right click on
the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties,
Hardware,Device Manager. If yes what is the Device Error code?
Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?

You should be able to gather more information from Task Manager. With
the Processes tab open select View, Select, Columns and check the boxes
before Peak Memory Usage and Virtual Memory size. What are the figures
for the 6 processes using the largest amounts?

I would be interested in seeing a Disk Defragmenter report . Open Disk
Defragmenter and click on Analyse. Select View Report and click on Save
As and Save. Now find VolumeC.txt in your My Documents Folder and post a
copy. Do this before running Disk Defragmenter as it is more
informative.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to
Empty your Recycle Bin and Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also
select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,
More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System
Restore point. Run Disk Defragmenter.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click to expand...
How do I remove old system restore points?
 
Select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,
More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System
Restore point.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Gerry said:
Select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,
More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System
Restore point.
Click to expand...
When I go to system cleanup it starts cleaning I don't have a more
options, or is that after it checks the disk?
 
When Disk CleanUp loads you should see two tabs. One is headed Disk
CleanUp and the other More Options. System Restore is the third of three
options you will see if you click on the More Options tab.

Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312

See the third picture here:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/disk_cleanup_utility.htm


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
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