Problem finishing Windows loading.

[Proplus]

This is a weird one, and I can't figure it out.

The system I got in my flat has been working fine for well over a year now, the last hardware change must have been well over 2 months ago, and software-wise about a month ago.

During this week, when the PC boots up, it will load into WinXP fine, but once it gets to the Desktop, certain things don't work:

- Windows Explorer - keeps on searching for drives
- the View Network Connections - just hangs the window
- clicking on the dial-up icon does nothing - it doesn't bring up the dialling up window
- Control Panel will open, but Systems won't


Reboot of the PC doesn't fix the problem. Tried unplugging all unnecessary hardware but still the same.

....and then once in about 20 reboots, the same thing will happen, but after 5 mins wait, everything I clicked that didn't open wil suddenly all pop up and system will be back to normal!!!!

Does anyone have a clue why it's doing this?

[daniel_owen_uk]

Might be a little obvious but you done av check and spyware/adaware updates etc?

[Proplus]

Done on a regular basis....

[r1zeek]

Have you tried a format?

Also, is it Sp1a or Sp2?

[Proplus]

Here's an update. I've found out that everything does work, about only after about 15mins after Windows desktop has loaded, and then I get the problem with my Nortons firewall not enabling at all (even manually). Whilst it is stuck, everything will be all quiet and then a mass of HDD activity and then explorer and all the rest (like the dial-up connection window) will all pop up.

I've eliminated a hardware problem by removing everything except the CPU, ram, GFX card and boot HDD.

Software-wise, I uninstall the AV and the firewall but still the same.

I've tried the 'sfc /scannow' thing and repairing the installation.

What could be causing all this?? Don't really want to format the HDD and reinstall XP...

[johnnyjohn2004]

Why didnt you do a repair installation, you might have already cant be bothered to ready it all again lol

[Shogun]

Can you take a screenie of run> msconfig > startup for me?

[Proplus]

No need to bother now, the system died 2 nights ago. The mobo was aged...

Anyway, I did locate part of the problem, looks like Symantec AV Corporate suddenly liked to scan every little bit of the PC all the time, disabling it worked. Strange really, never messed around with the settings, and all the other PCs running this AV don't have a problem with it at all.....