Slow Start-up

basic computer hdd maintenance. disk clean up and defragger. Click start, navigate to programs, accessories,system tools and run the disk clean up and disk deframent tools OR if you have a 3rd party program like Norton Systemworks run their disk utilities .

First, scan the PC for viruses with UPDATED definitions. If you don't have a current virus pattern file, go to housecall.trendmicro.com and run the free virus scanner. If you get any hits, make sure to follow the cleaning directions explicitly. Next, go to www.lavasoftusa.com and download AdAware. Install the software (I don't recommend installing realtime scanning), run the scan and delete any un-necessary files or programs it finds.

If there's no virus or spyware detected, I would guess that if you PC is starting slow, it is because you have multiple programs and/or services loading on startup. First, check the StartUp folder in the start menu to see if there are any programs launching from there that can be removed. To disable them, just delete the shortcut. Next, check system tray (next to the clock) and see if there multiple programs loaded there. If there are any that you don't need, you may be able to right click and choose a "Disable" option. Other programs require you to choose a "properties" or "options" menu where you can choose not to launch at startup. You can also check the Services running on your machine (type services.msc in the Run box). You can find a good list of commonly necessary services here: http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

Good luck.

Also, as with any current system that slows down as you said, goto www.lavasoftusa.com and download Adaware for free... Intsll it, update it, run it.

Malicous stuff gets on user systems without their knowledge and when a good system as such slows down, something is in there.

Being not well versed in XP, with Win 2000 Pro.

After doing the above, observe where system area is.

Open DOS window and type CHKDSK/R (if it comes back file unknown ignore the rest of this answer) reply Y to run on start up.

reboot and let chkdsk run. (over 10 minutes on a 20G HD you have disk errors it is fixing)

Run clean up / defrag, if system area has changed chkdsk found HD errors. Back up all important files/data and start looking for a new HD.

Why is your virtual memory so high? And how much HD space is left?