Windows XP quirk

[Jimstep]

Right after I boot WinXP Pro, some programs are delayed for about 30 seconds to a minute when executed. For instance, if I run the systems properties applet, the hour glass cursor displays and then nothing happens. I can open up the start button and navigate the selections. Then, after about a minute, the systems properties applet will appear.

Any ideas as to what WinXP is doing right after the boot completes?

[BipolarBill]

That is kinda slow. WinXP is starting (and sometimes stopping) various services after initial startup. These are system services and will directly affect the opening of system applets. It's not uncommon.

Is this much improved after a few minutes?

[Ifish25]

Out of curiosity, I ran Release Ram when I had my HP with XP home ed. just to monitor memory fluctuation and found that memory allocation was very erratic for about 30 seconds to one minute just after bootup and would go to a low level (don't remember the figure) and would climb back to about 124meg (a seemingly gross waste of memory allocation) on a 256meg installation after a few minutes. During this post-boot-startup period, programs would load erratically if at all.

[Jimstep]

After the applet starts responding, the system runs great from that point on.

I haven't paid any attention to memory fluctuations. I have about 164Mb being used right now.

Services starting up may be the thing. I'll have to figure out a way to monitor that activity. This symptom did not do this after the initial install, so I will have to go back to see what I installed that started the slow down.

Thanks for the input!

[SPEEDO]

It probably wouldn't hurt to increase the amount of memory you have...;)

SPEEDO

[Ifish25]

Originally posted by SPEEDO
It probably wouldn't hurt to increase the amount of memory you have...;)

SPEEDO
The annoying thing I have seen is that both 98 and XP seem to "waste" a lot of the extra memory. I can remember running my old PBell on 16meg with 95 and having two or three apps open at once. Then I increased memory to 32 and then 64. After installing 98 on it, the memory was gobbled up so fast that I had to install a RAM recovery program or it would zero out in a thirty minutes or so just because 98 would not clean up after itself. If I can somehow explain to my wife why I need to upgrade a computer that is simply sitting around gathering dust most of the time to 128meg, I will see if the additional memory really makes any difference in performance. The one interesting thing I have seen in XP is that it controls CPU usage. After heavy running, even with taskbar apps on, CPU usage will drop to less than 1% in short order. Right now, 98 on my K7S5A/AMD 1300 with 512 meg is chugging away with 65% to 70% CPU and will fall to no less than 50% even in idle with no taskbar apps. I have checked using several monitoring programs and they either are all wrong or 98 simply does not have the ability to shut down inactive programs like XP does and seems even to fail to recognize when they are not running at all anymore. :confused:

[Jimstep]

Originally posted by SPEEDO
It probably wouldn't hurt to increase the amount of memory you have...;)

SPEEDO

I have 640Mb installed, 164Mb being used. How much more do you think I need??:confused: