Computer Taking Unusually Long Time To Start Up.

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Doctor Varney

New Member
I have an Athlon 64 computer running Windows XP and I reformatted the hard drive not long ago. Since then it's hung up on me once or twice and ever since then, it's been taking an extraordinarily long time to boot up.

I did the reformat to make a fresh start and speed things up so I can't understand this at all. I get the Windows XP splash screen which lingers for an eternity and eventually the blue 'progress bar' graphic stops moving. The only thing I can do is keep restarting it until it finally boots up. When I do this, I get the black screen which says: "Start computer in safe mode/ Last known configuration that worked and start Windows normally... etc" This time I had to go into safe mode and reboot back to normal so I could use the internet - and now I'm here asking this question.

What could be the problem and what can I do about it?

Thanks

Dr. V
 
How old is the hard drive that you used in this machine? Have you ran a hard drive check on it? Have you tried doing a repair install of XP?
 
Thanks for the reply, John.

Well, I suppose the drive is about 3 or 4 years old and is of the SATA type. The reformat of the drive is a couple of weeks ago now but it's been far from perfect in that time. No, I haven't tried a repair install. It never crossed my mind actually, as I'm not sure what's supposed to have happened, in the time since the latest installation, to damage it.

I'm not sure how to carry out a hard drive check. Could you offer any guidance on that please?

When I booted up in safe mode, I saw the words at the top of the screen, which showed some specs, including what version of XP we're running here. I don't recall a whole lot about what it read but I do remember it saying we're on Service Pack 2. Now, could not having Service Pack 3 installed cause these sort of problems?

I don't know if it's worth mentioning - but the only real major change in software this time, that I can pinpoint, is that since AVG has stopped being free, I decided to go with the Virgin Media hub anti-virus & protection suite which now comes free with their internet service. So far it's stopped an installation of my Lexmark printer, which was remedied by temporarily turning off the anti-viral service.

Thanks

Dr. V
 
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Sounds like a faulty drive to me, possibly memory if it's crashing but i'd say the hard drives packed up. When formatting the drive did you do a full format or quick? Would recommended doing a full format as it checks the disk during the process.
Possibly run the windows memory diagnostic tool?
 
I'm pretty sure it's a Maxtor. I'll have to open up the case to find out the model number. Should have that info tomorrow.

Hi, G. Holmes. I'd be very surprised and disappointed if the drive were packing up on me. At least - I hope not! I've only had it a few years, though this would not be the first drive I've had, which has ended up as a doorstop. This could start getting expensive...

I did a full reformat. Only, I seem to recall there was some kind of problem. The machine turned off of it's own accord during the full format proceedure and so I had to redo it. This time, I selected the quick format option. I didn't know what else to do. I assumed if it loaded up Windows that it would be okay. Perhaps something drastic went wrong just then?

Thanks, G. I will try the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool and let you know what shows up.

Dr. V
 
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Diverging somewhat from your main problem:
Doctor Varney said:
.....I don't know if it's worth mentioning - but the only real major change in software this time, that I can pinpoint, is that since AVG has stopped being free, I decided to go with the Virgin Media hub anti-virus & protection suite which now comes free with their internet service....
Click to expand...
AVG is still free as far as I know unless it's some geographic issue. I switched from AVG to Avast but I just checked AVG's site and it's still free. I don't think it matters which AV you use as long as it's one of the better-known brands. I have no idea about Virgin Media. I've never seen it in anyone's top ten.

I didn't backtrack through all your recent posts but if you were reformatting, why didn't you take the opportunity to install SP3?
 
Hi Nanobyte.

Nanobyte said:
Diverging somewhat from your main problem:
Click to expand...

No problem. It could be useful...

Nano said:
AVG is still free as far as I know unless it's some geographic issue. I switched from AVG to Avast but I just checked AVG's site and it's still free. I don't think it matters which AV you use as long as it's one of the better-known brands. I have no idea about Virgin Media. I've never seen it in anyone's top ten.
Click to expand...

Well, I wasn't aware. You see, I kept getting messages from AVG Update Manager, saying that "AVG is no longer free". In my experience so far, it's a product which might be worth paying for but being strapped for cash at the time...

So many conflicting messages. I never can tell if these things are really doing anything or not.

Virgin Media is an ISP provider and phone/ cable TV company in England. They now offer an AV/ security package to all their customers (me), free of charge. Whether it's any good or not, remains to be seen.

Nano said:
I didn't backtrack through all your recent posts but if you were reformatting, why didn't you take the opportunity to install SP3?
Click to expand...

Good question! The answer is - I'm not sure how to! The update process kept stalling the machine and was trying to update every time I switched on. I needed to USE the computer... so I switched off the update manager. Only since this reformat has updating become this problematic. As a result, I have no idea what state of 'updated-ness' my computer is in. Did those updates stick and install properly? Is it updated at all? I have no idea... As for service pack 3 - you can see what I'm up against. I really have no idea where I am or what to do any more.

Dr. V
 
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Doctor Varney said:
Well, I wasn't aware. You see, I kept getting messages from AVG Update Manager, saying that "AVG is no longer free". In my experience so far, it's a product which might be worth paying for but being strapped for cash at the time...
Click to expand...
I checked UK sites that have links to AVG Free and they are still active so it's not a geographic issue. Go to AVG and check them out. Most anti-malware companies are trying to sell their paid versions - sometimes you have to read the small print in the bottom corner that says "Get the free version here"! Their full security suite was never free.

You have a less-common combination, Athlon 64 with XP. Perhaps Virgin are not so good at integrating the full gamut of hardware and software? I have no idea. Anyone else have that combo?
 
Doctor Varney said:
I've only had it a few years, though this would not be the first drive I've had, which has ended up as a doorstop.

I did a full reformat. Only, I seem to recall there was some kind of problem. The machine turned off of it's own accord during the full format proceedure and so I had to redo it. This time, I selected the quick format option. I didn't know what else to do. I assumed if it loaded up Windows that it would be okay. Perhaps something drastic went wrong just then?
Click to expand...

If you've had the drive for a few years then it's actually very possible it's malfunctioned. To explain this a little deeper, it's likely that a cylinder has broke which will cause the drive to not function properly. There's no telling when a drive will malfunction, hell, in my workplace we get a lot of faulty drives come through and some customers claim they've only had their drive for a few months! So it happens.. in terms of the full format not completing it's process, it makes it more likely to be a drive problem as during a full format, it will scan the drive to look for any problems.. so if it's failing/rebooting itself then it seems to me that there's more evidence of a faulty hard drive.

Nanobyte said:
AVG is still free as far as I know unless it's some geographic issue. I switched from AVG to Avast but I just checked AVG's site and it's still free. I don't think it matters which AV you use as long as it's one of the better-known brands. I have no idea about Virgin Media. I've never seen it in anyone's top ten.
Click to expand...

AVG has a full version and a free version, to my knowledge if you use free version they don't really send you many notifications about getting the full paid version, there should just be a banner or two on the main interface.

If your wanting a free virus scanner then i'd recommended Windows Security Essentials. Made by microsoft so it's one you could surely trust. :)

Doctor Varney said:
Okay - but first I need to know what that is and where to find it.
Click to expand...

If you insist on trying out the memory tester you can find it on the windows setup (i can't be completely sure if this also applies to xp, but certainly works for vista and 7).
Insert your windows disk.
Turn on your pc and tap F8.
Boot from disk.
The windows setup should appear, do not click install now, instead, press Repair my pc.
Then to my knowledge a window should pop up and you need to select the Windows Memory Diagnostic option.
Chose to do an extended test or if it's already started scanning then i think you have to press 'T' to do the more advanced test.

G.
 
To check your hard drive for obvious errors download HD Tune. You can view the health data or do an error scan.

If you want to know the SP of Windows you have installed, right-click on My Computer / Properties and it should tell you.
 
Nanobyte said:
To check your hard drive for obvious errors download HD Tune. You can view the health data or do an error scan.

If you want to know the SP of Windows you have installed, right-click on My Computer / Properties and it should tell you.
Click to expand...

I'm not familiar with this software due to using paid software, is it useful/trusted?
 
G.holmes93 said:
I'm not familiar with this software due to using paid software, is it useful/trusted?
Click to expand...
As far as I was aware it is the most common hard drive software in use (at least among those mentioned in forums). You can get some of the (SMART) information with Speedfan and equivalents. In addition to the SMART information HD Tune can benchmark data transfer rates and do error scans plus shows all the details from serial number to UDMA setting. I only run in once in a while. There is also a paid version but the free one seems fine. I have paid system software too but HD Tune is a small app if you are only interested in the HDD.
 
Thanks to you both, Nano and Holmes.

What's happening is, my local computer shop guy (always the gem) who lies less than two minutes away from here on foot, also came to the conclusion it bears the hallmarks of a failing drive, so today we're going to replace it. The time here is 08:23 and I've been told that if I go in at 9, he'll supply me with a used SATA drive, which he will have formatted (which he'll be doing right about now).

Thank you for the info on AVG. I think if I'm going to use this again, it's worth buying. I resent having to buy it when I could have spent the money on something more 'productive' but oh well...

I don't rate the Windows native solution very highly and Norton is something I would never ever consider, after seeing so many hideous results come from it. If Windows managed virii as it says, then we wouldn't need 3rd party AV software... would we?

AVG Free has been consistently effective in all the years I've been using it. The Virgin Media one keeps telling me my computer may have slowed down (and it has!) and to run the Virgin Media diagnostics tool. Which makes me think they know their software will slow me down, because it was much faster before. Seems to me, the more solutions we pour in, the more solutions to solutions we have to follow it with... until the system becomes saturated with solutions - all fighting for precedence, while all we want to do, is use our software to get a job done. I've really had enough of all this. To be honest, I'm beginning to think I need a Mac...

I don't like 3rd party diagnostics, back up-tools, tweaking and tuning-up gadgets. I feel they add more complication and only make the situation worse and are, on the whole, a load of money-spinning bollocks.

Anyway, it's about time to go and get that drive now. At least for just £10, I'm definitely going to find out if the problem was the drive. Please pop back and read later, as I will have updated this thread with my progress.

Again, many thanks to you kind chaps for taking the time to talk me through this problem.

Dr. V
 
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Doctor Varney said:
Thank you for the info on AVG. I think if I'm going to use this again, it's worth buying. I resent having to buy it when I could have spent the money on something more 'productive' but oh well...
Click to expand...
I don't understand why you propose to pay for it if the basic version worked for you. Go to their site, top left of screen!!!!

I don't rate the Windows native solution very highly and Norton is something I would never ever consider, after seeing so many hideous results come from it. If Windows managed virii as it says, then we wouldn't need 3rd party AV software... would we?
Click to expand...
Norton is not what it used to be. In every review of the paid versions I've seen, Norton comes out on top.

BTW HD Tune is purely diagnostic. It tells you if you have HD problems (doesn't advise doing anything)
 
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A computer dealer nearby used to offer Norton to his customers in his computer packages, then had to start withdrawing it because customers were complaining that even with it installed and running, the virii still took hold of their systems. It evidently wasn't doing what it said on the tin. Instead, he encouraged his customers to download AVG Free. The same users reported a great improvement - virus free. This is maybe around 8 years ago so if Norton is no longer what it was, I really dread to think what it's like now.

Of course, one would need to hear the full story from each user, rather than anecdotal evidence of this nature in order to make a fully informed choice - but AVG has never caused me any problems and on the whole, all systems I've installed it on, seem to have benefitted.

Thank you, Nanobyte. I'll download the free version of AVG again and read up on HD-Tune. Many thanks!

Dr. V
 
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It works well now. I have been using Norton for a little over a year, and have gotten no viruses yet. Though, I hate that I have to run the Complete scan to get rid of some of the trackers and such. I have gotten maybe 3 or them, and i run the full scan about once a week.
 
Anti-Malicious software is only as good as the definitions programmed into it. One of the reasons I dislike using Windows for the Internet is you can almost never really know if your operating system is clean. You can increase your chances of detecting malicious software using different Anti-Malicious software to do scans.
 
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