PC taking ages on start-up

[flump1]

Hi guys, my trusty old pc , (windows xp) takes ages ( about ten minutes) ! from start-up until it logs in to my home page. It chunters on for ever ,and what I would like to know is how can I find out what I am asking it to do on start up ? I am sure half the things the poor little thing chunters away for are unnecessary and therefore I could move them maybe. I have a sub account ( I don't know if that makes any difference) and Norton is installed. When it has made it , further applications are quite speedy, and I can surf or work well without waiting too long. Anybody got any ideas please ?

[LostSheep]

I use Winpatrol to monitor the things that startup when Windows loads -

http://www.winpatrol.com/

[flump1]

Thank you , LostSheep, I will give it a go.

[badlad.biz]

Ctrl/Alt/Delete > Task Manager > Processes show just what is using your resourses.
Chances are you have too many programs running at startup. Empty the Startup file in Programs.
Start > Run > Type MSCONFIG to get to the Startup Files. Uncheck the boxes you think might be causing the slow pace and reboot to see if it any better.

[naz_nomad]

Norton will drag your PC to a crawl ... get rid of it.

[flump1]

Naz, I have heard that about Norton but it does not slow the other sub account or the main account up !!! Just mine.! I am the main user however, and I am sure I have bunged it up with unnecessary tasks. Trouble is, I don't know which ones ARE unnecessary !!! Doh !! But thanks anyway I will try anything ! x

[flump1]

badlad, thanks for that I will have a go later when my husband is home to make sure I don't do any damage !!

[justwilliam]

There is a download called Start up Inspector which shows you not only the programmes you have in your start up but tells you what they are for and whether or not they are needed there. you can then uncheck them and Hey Presto!!

[flump1]

thanks justwilliam, I will try that too. Between all of the advice I have been given something is going to work !!! Thanks again.