0.
Basic Computer Specs. Go Start -> right-click My_Computer -> select Properties -> General tab -> look at System and Computer subsections:
a. Operating System and Service Pack
b. Processor
c. System RAM
Go Start -> right-click My_Computer -> select Properties -> Advanced tab -> Performance -> Settings button -> Advanced tab -> Virtual memory subsection.
d. Paging File Size
1. Ignoring for the moment any third party software you might have installed, the Windows XP operating
system should boot up within 30 to 60 seconds depending upon your processor, quantity of system RAM, and hard drive access speeds. I'm not familiar with "RocketDock", so I can't comment on it other than suggest you may disable its startup during your troubleshooting process.
c.
The startup isn't always slow, it only is slow every other startup, so at the moment starting in Safe Mode is only slightly faster than starting in normal mode.
I'm not sure what to make of this. A "cold" start is when you start the system from a "power off" state.
a. Are both "cold" and "warm" starts afflicted with the "slows"?
2.
Power Options. Bring up the Power Options window via Start -> Control_Panel -> double-click Power_Options.
a. What are your settings on the Power_Schemes tab?
(1) Power schemes
(2) Settings for Home/Office Desk power scheme
b. If Hibernate tab exists, is "Enable hibernation" box "checked"?
c. If Advanced tab exists, what option is "Power buttons" subsection set to?
3.
Control Startups. Use a third party Startup manager utility such as Mike Lin's
Startup Control Panel. Microsoft "msconfig" utility may be used to troubleshoot startups, but should not be a long-term solution. (I've also heard it's possible to configure msconfig so you may no longer boot.)
4.
Disk Volume Maintenance a.
Disk Space. How much "used" and "free" space on your disk drive in GigaBytes? Access via Start -> double-click My_Computer -> right-click logical drive letter -> select Properties -> General tab.
b.
Clean up the disk via either Microsoft or third party software.
(1) Microsoft "cleanmgr" utility may be initiated either from command line or GUI.
(a) For command line: Start -> Run -> "cleanmgr" without quotes, then <Enter>.
(b) For GUI: Start -> double-click My_Computer -> right-click logical drive letter -> select Properties -> General tab -> Disk_Cleanup button.
(2) CCleaner is popular third party software. I recommend their "CCleaner Slim" version from
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/builds to avoid loading a "toolbar". NOTE: I would NOT delete the "Hotfix Uninstallers".
c.
Verify file system integrity. Use the "chkdsk" utility either from the command line or GUI.
(1) For command line, normally just "chkdsk <drive_letter>: /f". The "/r" option may be added to scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.
(2) To access via GUI: Start -> double-click My_Computer -> right-click logical drive letter -> select Properties -> Tools tab -> Check_Now button within Error-checking subsection -> check desired boxes "Automatically fix file system errors" (/f option); "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors" (/r option).
d.
Defrag the file system via either Microsoft or third party software.
(1) Microsoft "defrag" utility may be initiated either via command line or GUI.
(a) For command line: "defrag <drive_letter>: -v"
(b) To access via GUI: Start -> double-click My_Computer -> right-click logical drive letter -> select Properties -> Tools tab -> Defragment_Now button.
5.
Process Explorer is the task manager Microsoft should have delivered with Windows XP. Download and unzip latest version of
Process Explorer from SysInternals (now owned by Microsoft). Run the executable. Become familiar with it.