Desktop icons loading slow

[alyoob]

When I start up my computer it takes a long time for the programs to load. Then when the computer loads 2-5 minutes any program selected to run, runs normally. I tried disk defragment, disk cleanup and virus scanning and those program do not really help . Here are my computer specifics.

Hp a810n

2.40GHz AMD Athlon 64 3300+ processor, 256KB L2 cache, 1600MHz FSB
512MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM memory, expandable to 2GB
160GB 7200RPM Ultra DMA HDD
48x CD-RW, 16x double-layer DVD-RW
Integrated SIS Mirage 2 graphics card with 128MB shared video memo

[Broni]

Programs, or icons? What Windows version?

[ChrisXPPro]

I'll assume for now you have XP.

How many items do you have as start up?  Stuff that'll show in system tray.  Might be worth a temp disable of these one at a time just to see.

Does seem that sometimes the icon loads are held up by heavy processes trying to grab resources while loading into system tray.