Desktop takes hours to load

**birdjaguar** · 05-23-2009, 10:58 AM

Problem:
Upon boot windows seems to start normally, but only until it loads my desktop picture, then it stops/slows and it can take up to an hour or more to complete the load and place all icons etc. on the deskop. During this process nothing else works; afterwards all seems fine. This started a month or so ago and at first it took just a few extra minutes to load. That has gotten progressively longer. I used to be able to launch task manager to break in and open a separate program, but that doesn't work anymore. F8-ing into safemode works fine and the load goes quickly as expected.

Virus scans do not detect anything abnormal.

One interesting note is that once the slow load puts the clock in the lower right corner of the task bar, the clock stops keeping time until things return to normal, then it shows the correct time.

The only major change I've made recently in my system that is timed close to the start of this problem was the installation of Bump Top.

http://bumptop.com/

I have since uninstalled that software.

System:
OS XP pro SP 2
Dell Dimension E520
Zone alarm
Bit Defender
Opera 9

Thanks

**CCT** · 05-23-2009, 11:05 AM

You can check for problems due to things that start in addition to Windows.

BE OFFLINE!

Click start, run, type msconfig and press enter.

Look under Startup - uncheck EVERTHING!

Look under Services, check the box to hide MS Services, and again, uncheck EVERYTHING left.

Reboot.

Is the loading still slow?

**birdjaguar** · 05-23-2009, 11:08 AM

Thanks, I'll do that and repost my results. It will be later this afternoon though.

MhzManiac · 05-23-2009, 11:24 AM

That check will determine if it is a driver conflict.

I thought of that first, but when you say it is taking longer each time, a failing hard disk comes to mind. You may get to the point where the Windows Hive will no longer load and your machine will not boot. Might want to do a back up just in case.

Hopefully it is just drivers fighting for who loads first.

**birdjaguar** · 05-23-2009, 05:19 PM

Ok I unchecked everything in the msconfig startup and rebooted without any network cable conection (to modem and internet). There was no change, so I left it running and went to do errands. When I got back I had a blue screen with the following fatal error message: irql_not_less_or_equal. so i tried it again and watched the process.

rebooted at 3:55
3:59 task bar and clock appear
3 icons appear at 4:10
2 more icons at 4:08
22 total by 4:19 some though have a generic image
4:23 all icons showing many with generic image
Right click on desktop creates hourglass but no menu
5:10 same blue screen appears again
reboot in safe mode to post results

The blue screen was new I have not seen it before. Could it be related to teh unchecking of startup files?

MhzManiac · 05-23-2009, 05:37 PM

Something is definitely killing you're hard drive. That error is common when overclocking and the memory bus can't keep up or a bad memory stick. If writing from bad memory back to the disk, errors can be induced. You could download a dos memory test program.

Besides overclocking, overheating could do this too. Inspect the cpu heatsink and fan for dust build up as well as the north bridge. Also look at your case fans and clean them as well. If the system hive is corrected, you may have to do an repair install if you can't do a earlier system restore.

**birdjaguar** · 05-23-2009, 05:41 PM

Thanks, i will openthe case and check those items. What is 'north bridge'?

**birdjaguar** · 05-23-2009, 05:46 PM

OK, it looks like lots of dust plugging the back screens. I will need to turn it off to get it cleaned up and will be back shortly.

**birdjaguar** · 05-23-2009, 06:10 PM

I blew out the internals so they are crispy clean. When I tried a normal reboot, it appeared to be doing the same slow boot. I rebooted in safe mode to report in.

TJ Belfiore · 05-23-2009, 06:12 PM

Hi -

How much ram does your PC have (available) ?

Uninstall ZoneAlarm, it causes too many BSOD 's.

**birdjaguar** · 05-23-2009, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undocked Windy

Hi -

How much ram does your PC have (available) ?

Uninstall ZoneAlarm, it causes too many BSOD 's.

1 GB of ram

I've had ZA for a while, I installed it because of recommendations from here. I did not get the blue screen until I unchecked all the msconfig startup files.

TJ Belfiore · 05-23-2009, 06:17 PM

CCT was right, you should check them off - but not all at once. Do me a favor, get me a screen grab of when you see "start up" tab on "msconfig".

**birdjaguar** · 05-23-2009, 06:28 PM

OK here they are. Either I missed the top two when i unchecked the first time or they rechecked themselves.

TJ Belfiore · 05-23-2009, 06:30 PM

Could you please do the same for "Services' also?

**birdjaguar** · 05-23-2009, 06:47 PM

9 screen shots coming:

TJ Belfiore · 05-23-2009, 06:54 PM

Okay good; you didn't uncheck everything then reboot?

**birdjaguar** · 05-23-2009, 06:56 PM

2 more: the uploads are taking incredibly long.

**birdjaguar** · 05-23-2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undocked Windy

Okay good; you didn't uncheck everything then reboot?

No. Should I?

**birdjaguar** · 05-23-2009, 06:57 PM

Do you want to see the rest of the services screenshots?

**birdjaguar** · 05-23-2009, 07:02 PM

2 more services:

05-23-2009, 10:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
birdjaguar Quark Habitat Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 248 OS: Win xp sp2	Desktop takes hours to load Problem: Upon boot windows seems to start normally, but only until it loads my desktop picture, then it stops/slows and it can take up to an hour or more to complete the load and place all icons etc. on the deskop. During this process nothing else works; afterwards all seems fine. This started a month or so ago and at first it took just a few extra minutes to load. That has gotten progressively longer. I used to be able to launch task manager to break in and open a separate program, but that doesn't work anymore. F8-ing into safemode works fine and the load goes quickly as expected. Virus scans do not detect anything abnormal. One interesting note is that once the slow load puts the clock in the lower right corner of the task bar, the clock stops keeping time until things return to normal, then it shows the correct time. The only major change I've made recently in my system that is timed close to the start of this problem was the installation of Bump Top. http://bumptop.com/ I have since uninstalled that software. System: OS XP pro SP 2 Dell Dimension E520 Zone alarm Bit Defender Opera 9 Thanks

05-23-2009, 11:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
CCT Helper Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 1,869 OS: XP SP3, XP Pro SP3, Vista Home Basic SP2	Re: Desktop takes hours to load You can check for problems due to things that start in addition to Windows. BE OFFLINE! Click start, run, type msconfig and press enter. Look under Startup - uncheck EVERTHING! Look under Services, check the box to hide MS Services, and again, uncheck EVERYTHING left. Reboot. Is the loading still slow? __________________ ..... caveat utilitor

05-23-2009, 11:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
birdjaguar Quark Habitat Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 248 OS: Win xp sp2	Re: Desktop takes hours to load Thanks, I'll do that and repost my results. It will be later this afternoon though.

05-23-2009, 11:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
MhzManiac Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Posts: 77 OS: Vista Home Premium	Re: Desktop takes hours to load That check will determine if it is a driver conflict. I thought of that first, but when you say it is taking longer each time, a failing hard disk comes to mind. You may get to the point where the Windows Hive will no longer load and your machine will not boot. Might want to do a back up just in case. Hopefully it is just drivers fighting for who loads first. __________________ Asus P5N-D, Intel C2D E6750 @3.4Gig, 2G RAM 2T @ 860Mhz 5-4-4-14, WD300g SataII Raid (0) , video E9600 GT's x2 -SLI , 2 Gig Ready Boost, ePower Tiger 550w, Antec 900 Black Tower

05-23-2009, 05:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
birdjaguar Quark Habitat Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 248 OS: Win xp sp2	Re: Desktop takes hours to load Ok I unchecked everything in the msconfig startup and rebooted without any network cable conection (to modem and internet). There was no change, so I left it running and went to do errands. When I got back I had a blue screen with the following fatal error message: irql_not_less_or_equal. so i tried it again and watched the process. rebooted at 3:55 3:59 task bar and clock appear 3 icons appear at 4:10 2 more icons at 4:08 22 total by 4:19 some though have a generic image 4:23 all icons showing many with generic image Right click on desktop creates hourglass but no menu 5:10 same blue screen appears again reboot in safe mode to post results The blue screen was new I have not seen it before. Could it be related to teh unchecking of startup files? Last edited by birdjaguar; 05-23-2009 at 05:24 PM.

05-23-2009, 05:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
MhzManiac Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Posts: 77 OS: Vista Home Premium	Re: Desktop takes hours to load Something is definitely killing you're hard drive. That error is common when overclocking and the memory bus can't keep up or a bad memory stick. If writing from bad memory back to the disk, errors can be induced. You could download a dos memory test program. Besides overclocking, overheating could do this too. Inspect the cpu heatsink and fan for dust build up as well as the north bridge. Also look at your case fans and clean them as well. If the system hive is corrected, you may have to do an repair install if you can't do a earlier system restore. __________________ Asus P5N-D, Intel C2D E6750 @3.4Gig, 2G RAM 2T @ 860Mhz 5-4-4-14, WD300g SataII Raid (0) , video E9600 GT's x2 -SLI , 2 Gig Ready Boost, ePower Tiger 550w, Antec 900 Black Tower

05-23-2009, 05:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
birdjaguar Quark Habitat Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 248 OS: Win xp sp2	Re: Desktop takes hours to load Thanks, i will openthe case and check those items. What is 'north bridge'?

05-23-2009, 05:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
birdjaguar Quark Habitat Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 248 OS: Win xp sp2	Re: Desktop takes hours to load OK, it looks like lots of dust plugging the back screens. I will need to turn it off to get it cleaned up and will be back shortly.

05-23-2009, 06:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
birdjaguar Quark Habitat Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 248 OS: Win xp sp2	Re: Desktop takes hours to load I blew out the internals so they are crispy clean. When I tried a normal reboot, it appeared to be doing the same slow boot. I rebooted in safe mode to report in.

05-23-2009, 06:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
TJ Belfiore title here Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 530 Posts: 3,515 OS: 7 x64, XP x32	Re: Desktop takes hours to load Hi - How much ram does your PC have (available) ? Uninstall ZoneAlarm, it causes too many BSOD 's. __________________

05-23-2009, 06:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
TJ Belfiore title here Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 530 Posts: 3,515 OS: 7 x64, XP x32	Re: Desktop takes hours to load CCT was right, you should check them off - but not all at once. Do me a favor, get me a screen grab of when you see "start up" tab on "msconfig". __________________

05-23-2009, 06:30 PM	#14 (permalink)
TJ Belfiore title here Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 530 Posts: 3,515 OS: 7 x64, XP x32	Re: Desktop takes hours to load Could you please do the same for "Services' also? __________________

05-23-2009, 06:54 PM	#16 (permalink)
TJ Belfiore title here Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 530 Posts: 3,515 OS: 7 x64, XP x32	Re: Desktop takes hours to load Okay good; you didn't uncheck everything then reboot? __________________

05-23-2009, 06:57 PM	#19 (permalink)
birdjaguar Quark Habitat Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 248 OS: Win xp sp2	Re: Desktop takes hours to load Do you want to see the rest of the services screenshots?