xp hangs after choosing user...

[colincliff]

I have a problem with loadin XP in that every few times i log on to any area (maybe once in avery 4 log-ons) the computer hangs for up to five minutes before it finally brings up the desktop. There seems to be no hard disk activity in this time, and then it suddenly loads everything.

Is there any software that will record the boot processes every time i log in so that when it is slow i can check the log and see which processes were holding it up?

My problem is that it doesnt always happen and so i am unsure of what is slowing it down...

Any advice appreciated!

Thanks

[BeoWulf]

start -> run -> msconfig
That will tell you most of what is running on your comp Doesnt show the registry entries though if I remember correctly. i think www.sysinternals.com has a tool that can find most if not all entries.

[colincliff]

Thanks, I've got process Explorer from sysinternals.com but I was hoping for something which would let me know which processes were used in the boot/start up and give me the time they took so i could locate which was slowing it down on the times its slow.

I seem to remember something called bootvis.exe from microsoft but i'm not sure if this will do what i want...

[BeoWulf]

They have a different tool called autoruns. Nab that.

[Paul Adams]

Got a wireles adapter on this machine?
Does it have more than one network interface?

At what point does the pause occur, after you have entered your credentials and a message is displayed but before the desktop loads?
If so, what is the message - applying personal settings, or network settings?

Got any 3rd party personal firewall software installed?

[colincliff]

I dont have a wireless adaptor but it do have two ethernet interfaces - one 1394 connection and one gigabit. I have a DFI lanparty NF4 Ultra-d mobo. i have disabled the enthernet port that i am not using (i'm using the gigabit one)

When my system hangs it is after clicking on the user area i want on the boot screen and is whilst the 'applying personal settings' message is being displayed.

I am only using windows firewall

[Nox]

bootvis will time all activity on boot up, and then reorganise it if you want to make it more efficient - think this is what you are after. Oh, its a free microsoft tool, that they don't support anymore.

Nox

[scottxxx]

If you have multiple users, does it happen on only one of the user accounts? Could be worth trying to create another account when you log in ok, then see if it ever happens on the new account.

My sister had a similar problem but Windows came up and said it was a corrupt profile, so I created a new account, copied her files over and it worked ok.