Resolved PC Virtually Unusable First 20 to 30 Mins after start

For the first 20 to 30mins after start up my desktop PC is virtually unusable it is so slow but once it gets through this stage it is fine. I can hear what I presume to be the hard drive working flat out during this time but when I look at Windows Task Manager it shows that the CPU is virtually idle.
I have gone through the actions that my limited knowledge allows me to,
i.e. Disc Clean Up, Defrag, Registry Clean and disabling all the Start Up processes that I dare. I have even temporarily disabled the security software such as Windows Updates, Windows Defender and Anti Virus without any improvement.
I have two hard drives both of which have plenty of capacity left, 'C' drive with OS (XP Pro SP3) has about 50% free space and 'E' drive is virtually empty.
The problem has become apparant for several months now and seems to be only really bad when I start up the first time during the day, i.e. if I shut down after some use but start up again later in the day it is usually o.k.
Would welcome some comments about what else I can try to solve the issue or suggestions for any sort of diagnostic tools/software that might find it for me. My limited experience suggests to me that the PC is carrying out some updating or downloading but what the devil can it be ?. Thinking back, it possibly started when I moved up to IE 8 or downloaded Open Office Suite but this may be just a coincidence.
Many thanks for any help.

 

I am no expert but your problem sounds similar to one I had which was due to a hard drive on the brink of failure. I would suggest you back up all your important files as your first priority just incase the problem gets worse.

You could also try running the 'Repair' facility on the windows installation disc. A spyware scan may also be worth a try.

Good luck.

 

Do you...

do general cleanup often by clicking on the "Tools" button on your IE browser> Click "Internet Options "> Click the "Delete" button at the Browsing history section>click the radio button at Temporary Internet files, and Cookies, and History, and InPrivate Filtering data> click "Delete" button at the bottom.

 

Can't see how that will help with a boot problem

I'm not mocking your answer, just interested to know how the internet history etc, could cause a problem.

-----------------------------

Further to my earlier suggestions you should be able to find information on line about the bios in your computer, how to download a copy and how to install it. This should all be available on the manufacturers site.

Let us know how you get on from which we may all learn something

 

mark,
Like all other thangs on your 'puter... a bunch of useless records is just like some Cholesterol Buildup in the whole machine! Gums-up & slows-up the workings. That's why they have the radio button there... for you to get rid of the useless "Internet History "

 

Hi

is the slowdown perhaps caused by your antivirus running a scan when you start up the computer?

when I'm running an AV scan, everything else slows down quite a bit...

best wishes, HJ

 

I had a similar problem. CCleaner and Registry Mechanic made things a whole lot better. I have no connection with either software company and I'm sure there are other clean-up programs out there. Those two, used about once a month, keep things humming at an acceptable speed.

After booting up each morning, I usually let the box do its thing for about 15 minutes before I try to use any of the programs - time to boot up DW's netbook and pour my first cup of coffee.

For a 6-year old box, it still performs very well (WinXP SP3). I don't plan to upgrade any time soon.

 

Seems there is some startup program which does it work only once everyday. Virus scanner would be one possible candidate, but as you have already pointed out you had disabled it without any improvement.

What about file indexing ? Disable that too.

 

Get a Docking thingy (like upside down ashtray, or breakfast bowl).
Get an internal 3.5" Sata Seagate drive, and shove it vertically into the docking thingy.
(It will connect via USB or eSata, to your PC)
Get the free Seagate DiscWizard, and make a bootable CD.
Use all of tha above to make an image of your hard drive.
Get a 2nd hard drive and Restore that image to it.
Put your original hard drive in the wife's underwear drawer.
Put the 2nd hard drive into your PC, and see how that goes.

All of the above -
- Allows you to sleep soundly knowing that you have an image (in the docking thingy)
- Allows you to eliminate (or prove) 'was your hard drive dying'
- Allows you to experiment with the 2nd hard drive, safe in the knowledge that you can always Restore your image back into it.

"Now who could argue with that" (Blazing Saddles, in the church)

 

Thanks very much to you all for suggestions, youv'e given me plenty to get my teeth into there. As I said, I don't think it can be anti virus or any other updating processes because I have tried start up with these disabled but, on that line, just one question for 'rsinfo', what is 'file indexing' and where do I go to disable that ?.

Again, I try to be pretty good with my 'housekeeping' like temp internet files, browsing history etc.etc. but will follow through RoyalT1 steps to make sure I haven't missed anything. I will definitely try a deep spyware scan. I've got two registry cleaners that I use quite regularly (I find that one will pick up what the other misses and vice-versa) so can't imagine I can do any more there.

Now, Pete C and Mark Madras suggestions scare me a bit because I'm afraid I might get in out of my depth. I have found the Western Digital disc diagnosis download on their site but have done nothing about it yet. Are these diagnosis progs fairly safe ? I don't want to jump from frying pan to fire !!.

Likewise, I didn't know that it was poss to download ones Bios, Is this reasonably safe ?.

I don't have a Windows installation disk so have to be fairly careful I don't go passed a point of no return although I do have a image of my C drive taken via Macrium Reflect software tucked away in a partition on my second drive. I can only assume it's o.k but have no means of 'proving' it unless I get another hard drive as per robcrombie's post which, if all the easy suggestions fail to improve things, I will probably do.

Meanwhile, many thanks to you all and I will keep you posted as I go along.

I've got some gardening to do know, much less interesting.

 

Login as Administrator. Open My Computer. Right click on C: drive. Choose Properties. There should be a checkbox "File Indexing ". Just Uncheck it & press Apply. If it says some files are in use just choose Ignore.

Do the same for E: drive too.

 

Go here http://www.bytetips.com/disable-indexing-service-in-xp/ and it will tell you all about the indexing service, what it does and how to disable it.

Downloading a diagnostics program from your hard discs manufacturer is perfectly safe and may prove very useful. This problem you have seems intermittent and the most obvious culprit IMO is you hard drive. This is just speculation but, it may be that the hard disc once run for a while in the morning still has some warmth in it when you use it again later in the day and this helps it to function better.

These are further thoughts I have had.

I take it windows was pre installed on your machine and that you have the key for it?

First off, you have two hard drives (it's unlikely both have faults). Can you use the drive image you have on the disc which does not have the OS on it. Someone else may have to add anything I have missed. If you can get the disc image up and running you should then have a dual boot. At start up you will have a choice of which OS to boot from, the original or the copy. This should at least show that your other hard drive is OK.

You could also try to borrow a copy of your version of windows as this should allow you to run the repair routine or do a clean install on to the other hard drive using your existing key.

Let us know how you get on.

 

Okay all, thanks for your continued interest. I intend to try just one or two of your ideas at a time, that way we will know what, if anything, has done the trick and perhaps we will all be a little bit wiser. So far I have done a full scan for spyware etc. using Windows Defender but nothing nasty was found there so I have cleaned off all browsing history, cookies etc. as per 'markmadras' suggestion and also disabled Indexing Service ala 'rsinfo'. Will leave it at that for a couple of days to see how the 'cold' start-ups go now.
Re 'markmadras' last post yes the windows was pre-installed and yes, I do have the key for it. A little while ago I was thinking of restoring my C drive image onto E drive as you suggest but was advised, rightly or wrongly via this forum, that it wouldn't work due to all data and programs in the image being addressed as C\---- wheras I would now be using 'E' therefore all the paths would be confused, have I explained that o.k. and does it make sense ?.
Will report an update in a couple of days. Regards to all.

 

Is your 'E' drive a separate hard drive, or just a partition on the drive you were first talking about ?
If it is a separate hard drive, then disconnect the 'bad' drive, and restore your image into the 'E' Drive. (which will become 'C' if it is the only one connected)
I worship 'KISS' so I believe it is best not to complicate things, with two bootable drives connected at the same time.

 

Look forward to hearing how you get on. Re your closing comments, you could reassign the drive letters before doing the restore.

 

Thanks robcrombie. E is a separate hard drive with two partitions, The 'E' partition has most of my non O/S data and apps on it and the second partition (F) has just the C drive image. If I eventually try out your suggestion (will wait to see if current actions do any good) do I need to physically disconnect the C drive or will disabling it in Bios set-up be sufficient ?.

 

I always physically disconnect it.
My PCs are old, so I only have IDE drives
(My external Docking thingy takes Sata drives for my images).
Don't tell anyone, but I just disconnect the power plug (the wee one with Yellow Black Red wires), from the back of the IDE drive.
(I don't like manhandling the 20 pin connector)
If you have Sata, they are probably simple to disconnect (?)

 

PS If you have IDE drive, don't slash your wrists, if it does not boot the first time you try it.
Some experimenting to get the little jumper thing correct (Master, Slave, CableSelect), may be required.
And depending on the motherboard, it may get picky about whether it is on the correct IDE cable, and/or on the end or in the middle.
If it becomes a PIA, I usually just mimic the jumper settings that were on the original drive, and connect the new drive exactly where the original drive was connected.

PPS When you are Restoring your Image into the drive, it is sometimes important where it is located on the drive. Some versions of Windows get huffy, if it ain't in the correct spot (eg Hard Left)