Small Shutdown "Please Wait" screen appears at startup 1

[aussteve]

Just recently my current XP Pro Sp2 build has developed a little quirk for no apparent or definable reason, well by me anyway........
During the startup the desktop icons load, then the trays as per usual, then the quirk appears in the shape of the small shutdown screen that one observes when you shut the machine down. It appears briefly stating Please Wait, then the desktop begins to gray out as when you go through the shutdown process. Then the screen disappears, the desktop color returns and the machine finishes booting normally.
I have removed a couple of recently installed programs and drivers with little effect and wonder if anyone has seen this particular behaviour before.
Any suggestions re the ghost in the machine are appreciated.....Steve

 

[aquias]

I haven't heard of this, first thing I would do is to run a spyware/antivirus check and ensure your machine is clean.

Next up, I would run MSConfig and verify what you have starting up with your system, see if there's anything that you don't want starting up or you don't know what it does and disable it.

 

[gpalmer711]

This message is normally associated when the Desktop Theme is changed in some way. Do you have anykind of software installed that randomises your ScreenSaver/Desktop/Theme at all?

Greg Palmer
Free Software for Adminstrators

http://www.palmersoft.co.uk

 

[aussteve]

Many thanks for your replies. The demon in this case appears to be style XP, a utility for changing the desktop appearance. Just for your info, the hint lies in the small startup screen that appears. The text on this screen is "please wait", which is the display message from style xp before it applies a new desktop theme under normal conditions, as opposed to the normal small shutdown window with the text "windows is shutting down".
I followed both sets of advice from the replies during the process and am appreciative of both your time and efforts.
Cheers guys
Steve (Now with plain desktop........