Windows 98 Startup screen hangs for 20 seconds

[joshfritts]

Hey guys,
For some reason, when my comp starts up now, it hangs for about 20 seconds at the Windows 98 startup screen. It used to buzz right through it in a only a couple seconds. I'm not sure what's wrong, but I thought this kind of problem occured because of a driver conflict or some sort of error in hardware detection or something. Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks,
Josh

[ErnieK]

Have you installed new software? (Antiviruus doing boot scan etc.)

Do you have a Network card installed? This can cause this type of delay as puter searches for network (Am I correct with that guys?)

When did you last defrag?

What other progs are starting up when you boot? (win98 - Sysconfig/startup to chack)



------------------
Ernie

[BigBlue66]

Howdy,

Yep, when a computer has only barebones software and hardware in it, it doesn't take long to boot. It's when you start adding components, NIC as mentioned above, and other goodies, along with more software, the system has to find all those drivers whilst it boots.

Case in point: I recently bought a new computer. It would whiz right through to the desktop when only the OS and a couple of software programs were installed. However, after installing many more programs and components, it takes about as long as yours does now.

The anti-virus loading at startup, as mentioned above, is another good one for creating a lag on boot. In fact, if you see a lot of icons in the lower right-hand corner of your screen after the system is booted all the way up to the desktop, you can be assured that those are loading at startup, thereby increasing boot time.

Run MSCONFIG from the Start/Run command line and disable those programs that you really don't need to load at startup. You can always load them when the desktop loads up. A few things are needed though, at startup, such as:

1) System Tray
2) Task Monitor (not to be confused with Task Manager)
3) Load Power Profile (although this one's debatable in my mind)

There's another one that's usually recommended but I am not in front of my WIN98 machine right now and can't remember it. Pete or some of the others will know.

You can also do some other things in BIOS, if you are familiar with tweaking BIOS, that will moderately decrease boot time. Look in your motherboard manual for tips on all the various options that you have in the BIOS.

Cheers,

Big Blue 66


------------------
Woe is me.

[joshfritts]

Hey guys,
Thanks for the replies. I don't think it's due to installing lots of programs or hardware because I just formatted my drive and reinstalled W98 last Sunday. I only installed W98, Rogue Spear, a NIC, and a CD rom and CD writer. It was fine up until Tuesday. The problem started occuring after I switched the CD writer out with a DVD player to watch a movie. Then the lag time started at boot up. After switching them back it still lagged. I don't have much starting in boot up at all. I went into msconfig and there were only 4 or 5 things. I'm not sure what else it could be, unless my comp is indeed searching for a network during the lag time. Ooh, that reminds me, I didn't remember to change it from "obtain IP address automatically" after at a friend's house. Do you think that this could cause the lag time? Windows waiting for an IP address? Anyway, I'm at work now but I will try that first thing when I get home.
I'll let you all know if I have any luck. And if any of you think that could be a possible cause, or if you have other ideas, I'd love to hear them.
Thanks,
Josh

[ranchdog]

Josh...Welcome to the real world of Windoz. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/mad.gif

------------------
......Indecision may or may not be my problem......

[vantim]

Believe it or not It's probably hardware, like you don't think it is.
Some hardware just takes a while to initialize. Patience Grasshopper your time will come.

------------------
Tim Jones MCSE