slow xp home boot ( over 2 hours) 1

[zoltar7]

sony vaio used for movie editing has suddently started to exhibit boot problem

startup disc works fine and c drive file system is in tact

removed everything in startup using msconf

believe that H/W os OK and that this is a S/W issue but can't find a way to step thru the boot files step by step like you could with windows 98 & Me

seems like the scandisk to preventing the boot, I have several large drives attached to the computer


any suggestions would be appreciated

thx
Al

 

[linney]

Download the free BootVis.exe Tool from Microsoft and improve your bootup times.

http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/platform/performance/fastboot/BootVis.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/platform/performance/fastboot/default.asp

It also has options and graphs to show how the bootup is loading so you may be able to diagnose what is causing the delay.


To know if you've got a file system error, you can type the following command at the command prompt:

fsutil dirty query c: (replace c: with your drive letter)

If the response is that the volume is dirty, then a file system error has occurred, and Chkdsk should run automatically at startup to fix the errors.


Might be an idea to load the Recovery Console and run Chkdsk from there.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console for Windows XP (Q307654)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q307/6/54.asp

Some general things to try.

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp

If they don't work you could try repairing windows itself by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[zoltar7]

Hi
Thanks for the prompt reply. I have tried bootvis but was unaware of the the options & graphs.

I'll try the fsutil idea -- sounds good

When I remove everything from startup in msconfig , I can boot & quickly. When I starting putting items back into startup I hang -- so maybe I should just put them in one at time till I find the culprit.

Not familiar with recovery console but will follow up

Tried winrescue but the boot disk did not work, although when I generated it, I had the diagnostic option selected in msconf.

I'll also try system file checker

I have about 80 unsigned device files but they seem OK

Also have an image copy about 3 weeks old that I'm considering using.


Thanks again
Al

 

[linney]

"When I remove everything from startup in msconfig , I can boot & quickly. When I starting putting items back into startup I hang -- so maybe I should just put them in one at time till I find the culprit."

I think what you said above is the best option to try first.

 

[zoltar7]

Ok just an update, still not much luck with this problem
the boots are requiring overnight (many many hours)

the fsutil came up clean on all 3 drives

the sfc came up clean

the sigverif came up clean (2014 signed) not scanned 891(not installed)

installed the recovery console but can't get past the admin password

ran chkdsk from msdos prompt and comes up clean

when it does boot , can access the internet but networking is all fouled up -- can see other computers on the network but can not see its own c drive ???

really reluctant to try restoring the image from May 5 as it is new software and I've never tried it

any suggestions are appreciated

thx
al

 

[linney]

Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - Q308402
Cannot Log On to Recovery Console After Running Sysprep in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/4/02.asp

"As a workaround, the following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center. These floppy disks are required only if the hotfix discussed in this article has not yet been applied, you cannot boot the computer, and you need to use the Recovery Console to make repairs.

Windows XP Home Edition:
Download WinXP_en_hom_bf.exe now
Windows XP Professional:
Download WinXP_en_pro_bf.exe now

Q305595 - HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q305/5/95.asp

Boot Record problem w/ Win XP Pro, won't start.
thread779-558168

 

[zoltar7]

Yo

Just discovered what is causing the system to run soooo slowly -- it is a process called system which is using 98/99 percent of the CPU.

Any idea what might be causing that ?? Possibly a virus ??

Trying to run a virus check on the computer, but it might take days at this rate



Thx
Al

 

[zoltar7]

Yo

One other interesting piece of information. I tried a system recovery rollback using rstrui.exe and only had one rollback date (5/30/2003). The rstrui.exe could not find any other rollback files even though I have continuous monitoring checked off in system recovery.

Looking more and more like a some sort of a virus ??


Thx
Al

 

[bullhlms]

zoltar7 , It is perfectly normal for the "system idle process" to show a high percentage use; it is just a loop the CPU does while waiting for a task to perform.

 

[linney]

Assuming you do mean System and not System Idle Process have a look at this thread.

Windows XP too Slow when I open IE
thread779-561037

 

[zoltar7]

Yo

Just to close the loop. I generated some boot discs (6) and borrowed a windows home xp CD (which was not included in my purchase since it was imaged) and reloaded XP. System was often hung at 100% cpu usage -- could not get norton antivirus to finish, would have taken days. Then I restored the image which included the registry from my external hard drive which was one month old but at least working. Several phone calls to microsoft to activate the xp's but in general they were quite accomodating. Still think that it acted like a virus.

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions and just having someone to bounce ideas off does wonders for one's mind as feeble as it may be.

Thanks again
Al

 

[toolman59]

Linney

Just to let you know that your replies are helpful and much appreciated for the amount of effort that you must put into them.


Brian

 

[linney]

I'm just one of many here who like to help, as they too, learn. Thankyou for your comments.

 

[zoltar7]

Continuation of XP home problem

The only mishap in this procedure of restoring windows XP , is that now the control panel has 2 icons for many of the entries. I suspect that there is no way to delete the extra icons other than a complete start from scratch approach. Doesn't seem to hurt anything but I can't figure if the extra entries came from the restore of the windows xp cd-rom or more probable when I restored the hard drive image from the dantz sofware (retrospect) on the external Maxtor hard drive. Which points to an error in the Dantz restore software. Wondering if you have encountered this problem elsewhere and possibly have a fix for it??

Thx
Al

 

[linney]

Playing around with this might do something.

Duplicate Desktop Items
thread779-563573

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...te%2Bcontrol%2Bpanel%2Bapplets%2Bwindows%2Bxp

 

[TerrySr]

If your system log files are at capacity, I believe 512k, and not set to overwrite as needed, this to can cause your system to lag and take forever to boot. Right click my computer, go to manage, event viewer. Check properties of logs, set to overwrite as needed and then click on clear logs, and reboot.

I had a system do this and this was the cure..