Slow Boot

[G8_Summit]

I've got an Acer desktop PC running XP and up until yesterday, bootup time was quite good.
Now, the Acer splash screen appears after a couple of secs with the "DEL:Enter Setup, F12: Boot menu" options and this stays for about 4 minutes now instead of barely any time at all before yesterday.

Any ideas ???

[cojak]

The obvious answers are a registry change or a virus.

Once it's up run the Window's System Restore (found under Programs/Accessories/System Tools) on it and take it back to a system checkpoint before the cack startup times.

If that doesn't work start it up in safe-mode and run your anti-virus on it...

[Clippy]

Does your BIOS support booting from USB HDD's.

If so, and you have a USB memory stick or HDD plugged in, this may be the cause.

I inadvertently left a USB memory stick plugged in the other day and when I next powered up my laptop, it was quite slow as the BIOS was looking for the OS on the memory stick.

[G8_Summit]

Ah ha - well done Clippy - looks like the USB HDD is the culprit - powered it off and all is OK.

Just running a virus check on it to find the problem.

Thanks.

[Platypus]

The obvious answers are a registry change or a virus.

I would have thought unlikely as this appears to be happening before windows is beginning to start

[G8_Summit]

I would have thought unlikely as this appears to be happening before windows is beginning to start

Very true.

Well - there are no Virii or spyware on the PC (inc. the USB HDD) and yet the problem continues unless I turn off the HDD before bootup.

Any more ideas ??

[G8_Summit]

Problem solved. I feel a bit stupid now.

Got a new printer yesterday and this appears to be seen as a USB drive for some reason - and its connected into the USB port that is defined as a boot drive in the BIOS.

So full marks to Clippy - have a

[Clippy]

Problem solved. I feel a bit stupid now.

Got a new printer yesterday and this appears to be seen as a USB drive for some reason - and its connected into the USB port that is defined as a boot drive in the BIOS.

So full marks to Clippy - have a

No worries and thanks for the nana.

I would imagine the printer is a photo printer with built in memory card slots which may explain why Windows is seeing it as an external drive.