Long Pause when Starting Windows XP Home Edition

The time prior to this happening was over a month ago. I don't want to lose
anything that has been done during the month's time frame. Any other
suggestions?

Thanks

"Michael Solomon (MS-MVP)" wrote:

> What did you do just before this began? Have you tried using System Restore
> to take you back to a time prior to when this began; Start\All
> Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore.
>
> --
> In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.
>
> Michael Solomon MS-MVP
> Windows Shell/User
> https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
> Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
> DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>
>
> "Bob S." <Bob S.@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:F0042784-3A8C-4075-AB54-071F715AA2DC@microsoft.com...

> > Everytime I turn on my computer, after the Dell screen the cusror stays in
> > the upper right hand side of the screen for over a minute then windows
> > starts
> > up. This started happening a few weeks ago. In the past, this would only
> > happen when installing new software. Any suggestions?

>
>
>

Not really as I have no idea what might have been done just prior to when
this began? Is there anything you can put your finger on that you might
have installed, removed or something else you might have done in the period
just prior to the appearance of this event.

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.

Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/


"Bob S." <BobS@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F5E63747-D583-42A0-9B8C-F9846A7E0CA7@microsoft.com...

> The time prior to this happening was over a month ago. I don't want to
> lose
> anything that has been done during the month's time frame. Any other
> suggestions?
>
> Thanks
>
> "Michael Solomon (MS-MVP)" wrote:
>

>> What did you do just before this began? Have you tried using System
>> Restore
>> to take you back to a time prior to when this began; Start\All
>> Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore.
>>
>> --
>> In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.
>>
>> Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>> Windows Shell/User
>> https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
>> Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>> DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>>
>>
>> "Bob S." <Bob S.@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:F0042784-3A8C-4075-AB54-071F715AA2DC@microsoft.com...

>> > Everytime I turn on my computer, after the Dell screen the cusror stays
>> > in
>> > the upper right hand side of the screen for over a minute then windows
>> > starts
>> > up. This started happening a few weeks ago. In the past, this would
>> > only
>> > happen when installing new software. Any suggestions?

>>
>>
>>

Bob S. <Bob S.@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Everytime I turn on my computer, after the Dell screen the cusror stays in
>the upper right hand side of the screen for over a minute then windows starts
>up. This started happening a few weeks ago. In the past, this would only
>happen when installing new software. Any suggestions?

A pause at that stage of the startup process is usually caused by some
delay in the Power On Self Test (POST) routines that are part of the
system BIOS.

Dell support should be able to tell you how to check this out further.
My initial reaction would be to suspect some hardware component that
is malfunctioning or is at least slow to respond. The hard drive
would be at the top of my suspect list, not only because they are the
component that is most likely to fail, but also because a hard drive
failure is usually the worst possible single component to have fail.

You might want to go into the BIOS setup and look at the detailed
settings for the hard drive to see if S.M.A.R.T. monitoring is enabled
for the drive. If it is not, and if the option to do so is present,
then you should enable it.

Failing this you should identify the actual manufacturer of the hard
drive, go to their website, and download their drive diagnostic
software. Run this to check out the drive.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

In the last month or so when I turn on my computer after the microsoft screen
everything goes blank for a second or so, and that the screen comes back up
but it goes blank again 2-3 times"tell me what to do about that,Thanks,Willie
G.
"Ron Martell" wrote:

> Bob S. <Bob S.@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>

> >Everytime I turn on my computer, after the Dell screen the cusror stays in
> >the upper right hand side of the screen for over a minute then windows starts
> >up. This started happening a few weeks ago. In the past, this would only
> >happen when installing new software. Any suggestions?

>
> A pause at that stage of the startup process is usually caused by some
> delay in the Power On Self Test (POST) routines that are part of the
> system BIOS.
>
> Dell support should be able to tell you how to check this out further.
> My initial reaction would be to suspect some hardware component that
> is malfunctioning or is at least slow to respond. The hard drive
> would be at the top of my suspect list, not only because they are the
> component that is most likely to fail, but also because a hard drive
> failure is usually the worst possible single component to have fail.
>
> You might want to go into the BIOS setup and look at the detailed
> settings for the hard drive to see if S.M.A.R.T. monitoring is enabled
> for the drive. If it is not, and if the option to do so is present,
> then you should enable it.
>
> Failing this you should identify the actual manufacturer of the hard
> drive, go to their website, and download their drive diagnostic
> software. Run this to check out the drive.
>
> Good luck
>
>
> Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
> --
> Microsoft MVP
> On-Line Help Computer Service
> http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
>
> In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
> http://aumha.org/alex.htm
>