Title I wanted to use: Windows XP SP3: Slow Startup / Boot: Black Screen Delay & Delay after logging in
For some reason I can't preview my post when I use this title: I have tried removing all the punctuation, including the &, which doesn't work and have tried other titles with the same character length, which does work.
When I turn on or restart my computer, the boot up time from the time I press the power button to the time the final icon on my desktop loads is slow. I am not too concerned about the time after my desktop is shown since I have several items to run at startup.
The two areas of concern are:
1) After the XP logo is shown, my screen goes black. This lasts for about 17 to 19 seconds. I don't know when this started as I rarely restart my computer. The problem is worse if I startup in Safe Mode. It's about 1 minute and 10 seconds before I see anything on the screen, and another 40 seconds before something else is shown on screen. Note: In order to not to have to waste time pressing F8 and choosing Safe Mode, I enter safe mode by specifying so in msconfig. The options I chose were /SAFEBOOT and Minimal.
2) After I login, there is a delay of about 30 to 45 seconds before the desktop is shown. Windows stays at the login confirmation screen during that time. This I feel has happened recently.
Boot Time Results tested using a stopwatch:
Normal Boot (i.e. Not Safe Mode):
Time shown next to event is for when that event begins.
Black Screen: 0:43 seconds
Asked to Login: 1:02 (1 minute & 2 seconds; Black screen lasted 19 sec.)
Logged In: 1:11
Desktop Visible: 1:54 (so, 43 seconds after I logged in)
Taskbar Visible (all blue gaps filled in): 2:40
Final Desktop Icon Loaded: 3:24
2nd Boot up Time: (Done way after the one above):
Black Screen: 0:47
Asked to Login: 1:04 (Black screen lasted 17 seconds)
Logged In: 1:15
Desktop Visible: 1:43 (so, 28 seconds after I logged in)
Taskbar Visible: 2:37
Final Desktop Icon Loaded: 3:10
Boot time via Safe Mode:
Black Screen: 0:23
Ask to Login: 2:14 (but letters are shown earlier at 1:33, in Normal Mode I am taken this immediately after the black screen event is over)
Logged In: 2:34
Desktop Visible: 2:48
Taskbar Visible: 3:03
Final Desktop Icon Loaded: 3:22
Steps Taken to Resolve the Problem and Results:
Some Background Info first:
These first two I did not do to solve the problem but because I was trying to leave the computer in good shape before I start using it less. So, I was deleting lots of items, installing two year old Windows Updates, installing different tune up programs to see what they would report (no, I didn't have any of them do anything like clean the registry or change settings. I only observed what they reported. The most I had done was to have "junk files" deleted) and doing the first two steps below.
Steps:
1) I ran a chkdsk command. Don't know the results. The first two phases started through a program I was using and the final one Windows XP did when I restarted the computer.
2) I have defragged the hard drive.
3) I ran sfc.exe /scannow I believe everything went well because I was monitoring the progress window until very close to the end, but did not see what happened at the end. When I returned to the computer, the window was closed.
4) Since I know for most problems people like to say check if you have a virus, I ran a virus scan. No viruses found. Also, I have the latest version of my BIOS installed.
5) I have also disabled every single startup item and every single non-Microsoft service via msconfig. That did not make a difference in the areas of delay I mentioned above. I have re-enabled what I disabled. (Well most, since I couldn't exactly remember which ones were enabled.)
6) I have enabled bootlog and checked Event Viewer.
Normal Startup:
I see this solution offered here: Windows XP - Slow Boot Up Problem. [SOLUTION] - Resolve Support with regards to the black screen, but I am afraid to try it out. Plus, that mentions longer wait times at the black screen. Mine is only a few seconds.
My Computer Specs:
Brand and Model: Dell Inspiron E1505
OS: Windows XP SP3
RAM: 4 GB
O.k. I think that covers everything. I have seen other posts with lots of great help. Hopefully I receive the same. Thanks in advance.
For some reason I can't preview my post when I use this title: I have tried removing all the punctuation, including the &, which doesn't work and have tried other titles with the same character length, which does work.
Problem Begins Here:
When I turn on or restart my computer, the boot up time from the time I press the power button to the time the final icon on my desktop loads is slow. I am not too concerned about the time after my desktop is shown since I have several items to run at startup.
The two areas of concern are:
1) After the XP logo is shown, my screen goes black. This lasts for about 17 to 19 seconds. I don't know when this started as I rarely restart my computer. The problem is worse if I startup in Safe Mode. It's about 1 minute and 10 seconds before I see anything on the screen, and another 40 seconds before something else is shown on screen. Note: In order to not to have to waste time pressing F8 and choosing Safe Mode, I enter safe mode by specifying so in msconfig. The options I chose were /SAFEBOOT and Minimal.
2) After I login, there is a delay of about 30 to 45 seconds before the desktop is shown. Windows stays at the login confirmation screen during that time. This I feel has happened recently.
Boot Time Results tested using a stopwatch:
Normal Boot (i.e. Not Safe Mode):
Time shown next to event is for when that event begins.
Black Screen: 0:43 seconds
Asked to Login: 1:02 (1 minute & 2 seconds; Black screen lasted 19 sec.)
Logged In: 1:11
Desktop Visible: 1:54 (so, 43 seconds after I logged in)
Taskbar Visible (all blue gaps filled in): 2:40
Final Desktop Icon Loaded: 3:24
2nd Boot up Time: (Done way after the one above):
Black Screen: 0:47
Asked to Login: 1:04 (Black screen lasted 17 seconds)
Logged In: 1:15
Desktop Visible: 1:43 (so, 28 seconds after I logged in)
Taskbar Visible: 2:37
Final Desktop Icon Loaded: 3:10
Boot time via Safe Mode:
Black Screen: 0:23
Ask to Login: 2:14 (but letters are shown earlier at 1:33, in Normal Mode I am taken this immediately after the black screen event is over)
Logged In: 2:34
Desktop Visible: 2:48
Taskbar Visible: 3:03
Final Desktop Icon Loaded: 3:22
Steps Taken to Resolve the Problem and Results:
Some Background Info first:
These first two I did not do to solve the problem but because I was trying to leave the computer in good shape before I start using it less. So, I was deleting lots of items, installing two year old Windows Updates, installing different tune up programs to see what they would report (no, I didn't have any of them do anything like clean the registry or change settings. I only observed what they reported. The most I had done was to have "junk files" deleted) and doing the first two steps below.
Steps:
1) I ran a chkdsk command. Don't know the results. The first two phases started through a program I was using and the final one Windows XP did when I restarted the computer.
2) I have defragged the hard drive.
3) I ran sfc.exe /scannow I believe everything went well because I was monitoring the progress window until very close to the end, but did not see what happened at the end. When I returned to the computer, the window was closed.
4) Since I know for most problems people like to say check if you have a virus, I ran a virus scan. No viruses found. Also, I have the latest version of my BIOS installed.
5) I have also disabled every single startup item and every single non-Microsoft service via msconfig. That did not make a difference in the areas of delay I mentioned above. I have re-enabled what I disabled. (Well most, since I couldn't exactly remember which ones were enabled.)
6) I have enabled bootlog and checked Event Viewer.
Normal Startup:
- Bootlog: See file Bootlog-Normal Statup.txtSome drivers are reported as not being loaded.
- Event Viewer: No errors or warnings. Just Information.
- Bootlog: See file Bootlog-Safe Mode.txt
VERY long list. Lots of drivers not loaded and the same ones repeated multiple times. - Event Viewer: Several errors about things not starting because they depend on the TCP/IP Protocol Driver or items that cannot start in Safe Mode. I believe this is probably because I didn't choose Network option for Safe Mode.
I see this solution offered here: Windows XP - Slow Boot Up Problem. [SOLUTION] - Resolve Support with regards to the black screen, but I am afraid to try it out. Plus, that mentions longer wait times at the black screen. Mine is only a few seconds.
My Computer Specs:
Brand and Model: Dell Inspiron E1505
OS: Windows XP SP3
RAM: 4 GB
O.k. I think that covers everything. I have seen other posts with lots of great help. Hopefully I receive the same. Thanks in advance.