[dano_61]

I am running Vista on a Gateway laptop, 3g RAM

i am having a issue at startup after it gets to the blue welcome screen , the screen goes black for about three minutes, i have minimal programs at start up, not sure if is Windows defender, i have read the CD DVD filter can cause slow start up ?

Dan

[Rollin' Rog]

Could be a display driver issue.

When did this problem begin, and have you tried doing a "System Restore" to a date prior?

Once it does load, is everything then copacetic? No slow performance issues?

You can try testing in a "Clean Boot" >>

CLEAN BOOT TROUBLESHOOTING technique

First, restart in Safe Mode if necessary -- (tap the f8 key promptly on startup and choose the Safe Mode option from the boot menu) or Normal mode

Then:

Run msconfig and select the "Services" tab. Check "Hide Microsoft Services" and then disable the rest. Also uncheck "load startup items" on the general page.


Now restart and test the issue at hand

If no problems, run msconfig and recheck half the disabled items on the Services tab. Test again. If the problem recurs, UNcheck half the items you just checked to narrow down the culprit.

If the problem didn't occur, check the other half, so all the Services are enabled -- proceed to do this on the startup tab as well.

Get the idea? You want to isolate the problem to a specific startup if possible.

Note: if you already have items unchecked under msconfig > startups and are in “selective” startup mode – you should note what these are before beginning. They will need to be de-selected again.


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135/en-us >> writen for Vista but applies just as well to XP

[dano_61]

i ma using my friends laptop so unsure when it started, yes i did a restore no better

There have been some not responding issues lately

i will try the safe mode method and see if there are any issues

Originally Posted by Rollin' Rog

Could be a display driver issue.

When did this problem begin, and have you tried doing a "System Restore" to a date prior?

Once it does load, is everything then copacetic? No slow performance issues?

You can try testing in a "Clean Boot" >>

CLEAN BOOT TROUBLESHOOTING technique

First, restart in Safe Mode if necessary -- (tap the f8 key promptly on startup and choose the Safe Mode option from the boot menu) or Normal mode

Then:

Run msconfig and select the "Services" tab. Check "Hide Microsoft Services" and then disable the rest. Also uncheck "load startup items" on the general page.


Now restart and test the issue at hand

If no problems, run msconfig and recheck half the disabled items on the Services tab. Test again. If the problem recurs, UNcheck half the items you just checked to narrow down the culprit.

If the problem didn't occur, check the other half, so all the Services are enabled -- proceed to do this on the startup tab as well.

Get the idea? You want to isolate the problem to a specific startup if possible.

Note: if you already have items unchecked under msconfig > startups and are in “selective” startup mode – you should note what these are before beginning. They will need to be de-selected again.


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135/en-us >> writen for Vista but applies just as well to XP

[dano_61]

Thanks Rollin

[dano_61]

I rebooted in safe mode and unchecked all you said rollin and rebooted, same problem

[DeLorean]

Then it's not likely to be a service, but an actual program delaying startup. Load msconfig again and this time go to the programs tab - no need to use safe mode this time - and do the same as you did with the services. Untick them all and reboot, if the 3-minute delay is gone then tick half the boxes and reboot again, etc, etc. Narrowing down the possible culprit as Rollin' suggested.

EDIT: Seeing as the problem persisted with the services unticked you may aswell re-tick them if you wish otherwise leaving them disabled may hinder some features of Windows.

[dano_61]

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Then it's not likely to be a service, but an actual program delaying startup. Load msconfig again and this time go to the programs tab - no need to use safe mode this time - and do the same as you did with the services. Untick them all and reboot, if the 3-minute delay is gone then tick half the boxes and reboot again, etc, etc. Narrowing down the possible culprit as Rollin' suggested.

EDIT: Seeing as the problem persisted with the services unticked you may aswell re-tick them if you wish otherwise leaving them disabled may hinder some features of Windows.

i dont see program tab, do i have to be logged in as administrator

[DeLorean]

Sorry, my error, the tab is called 'Startup', not actually programs. They are the programs that start with windows, most of which are small and will sit in the system tray next to the clock.

If it's not a service causing your delay then there's a good chance it may be one of these little fellas.

[dano_61]

I only have six programs a
t start up, windows operating systems, AVG , Bluetooth and
three NIDIA

I disabled all programs at start up and still same problem

I think its Windows defender but there is no option to disable it

[Rollin' Rog]

I don't think Windows Defender would start in Safe Mode, but it can be disabled ( I do it). There is both a startup for it in msconfig > Startups, and a service for it in the services tab. (I disable that by running services.msc, locate "Windows Defender", set the service to disabled and restart)

And I don't think the DVD filters are the issue, but if you want to give this a shot, you can >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929461/en-us

However I have some more questions. Ignore the ones you have obviously answered.

Pay special attention to Item 6 in this list, there is a link to an article there, download and run the script you see linked to on that site anyway. To download it you must right click and use the "save target as" method. You must see a VBS script, not a text file.

PERFORMANCE QUESTIONS:

0 > when did the problem seem to be begin?
1 > is it very slow to boot up?
2 > do programs open slowly?
3 > does the same behavior occur both on and off the internet. Or with no connection at all?
4 > does it matter how long the system has been on, and does a restart improve things?

Slow performance issues can often be due to overheating, so if the system is faster after it has been shutdown for a while and then restarted -- that would be especially suspect. To check for possible problems here, shutdown, open the case and blow out any accumulated dust. Then turn it
on and check to see that the fan is working. Sometimes it helps to physically clean the fan.

If a laptop, check to see that the vent is clear of dust and verify the fan is working. Temps and fan speed can usually be monitored with SpeedFan (except on Dell desktops), a free utility.

5 > if you do a ctrl-alt-del, do any processes show excess cpu usage, other than System Idle Process?

6 > If you open the Device Manager (run devmgmt.msc) and select the entry for IDE ATA/Atapi and select the Primary IDE > Advanced Settings, does it say the "current transfer mode" is Ultra DMA or PIO?

If it says PIO or even just DMA (rather than “ULTRA” DMA, first ensure "Use DMA if Available” is selected, then select the driver tab and uninstall the driver and reboot. Then check again.

Alternately you can run the script on this page >> http://winhlp.com/node/10

*note that the above will not apply to RAID drive configurations.

===================

For Vista Users:

With the Task Manager "Performance" tab open, report figure for

Total: (under Physical Memory) this is your total installed ram -- "physical" memory
CPU Usage variable over all processor usage.
Memory variable with current use, expressed as a percent of total at the bottom

Page File -- under the "System" column

>> Also go to the Control Panel > Performance Information and Tools.

What is your "Windows Experience Index"? Run a fresh test of this.What property showed the lowest score?

Open the "Advanced Tools". Do you see anything here flagged as problem performance issues?

[dano_61]

Rollin

here are ssome of the things i checked for

ULTRA mode DMA 2
It happens hot or cold, after the log in and after Microsoft Logo appears the screen goes black
I have disabled Defender
ultra DMA mode 2
when i click on Speedfan download it is giving me driver download

ill check the rest later on my lunch

[Rollin' Rog]

Have you tried reloading or updating your Display drivers? The point at which the problem occurs is generally where installed display drivers kick in. The screen will go black, but normally not for long, then your installed driver configuration is loaded.

Ultra DMA 2 would normally be for a CD/DVD drive not the Primary IDE, so I am not sure if you looked at the right IDE.

Try running that script anyway, and see if anything changes.

In the link for Speedfan given, you want to click on the highlighted part here >>

DownloadThe latest version is SpeedFan 4.39.

Or you can download it from here >> http://www.majorgeeks.com/download337.html

[dano_61]

Hey rollin

i found the problem i was a dirty fan, all good now thanks

[Rollin' Rog]

Great, and of course you are most welcome for the suggestions.