Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Why does my computer have a slow startup?

Recently, my laptop computer has become really slow to start up (about 6 1/2 minutes from start to all the way up to initial screen). I have done a disk defrag, disk cleanup, and I have dumped unnecessary files. I even took out about 2 GB of pictures and backed them up on my external hard drive. It seemed to start after I downloaded a google toolbar (can't say for sure this was the start of it) that was included in another program. I have uninstalled the google tool bar and the new program and it still has a slow start. Any ideas?

10 Answers

Relevance
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    There are a several reasons why your computer is freezing/slow. First question is when the last time you cleaned your registry. Having a corrupted registry can cause a whole host of errors and problems. Freezing up is one of them. If you have a lot of unnecessary registry keys that are hogging up your computer resources. Your computer is bound to choke. Scan your registry with a good registry cleaner. If you pull up more than 20 errors or duplication, clean your registry.

    Go to:http://toptenantispywareviews.com/Clean_Up_Center.... get one to free scan your pc

    2. Depending on your RAM specs and your computer usage. This could also be the issue. Having an insufficient amount of free space does not allow your RAM to function properly. If you are using a lot of RAM by net surfing or other activities without enough empty space your will get freezes. You don't need to buy new RAM but you should increase your free space by removing unnecessary data and perhaps increasing your virtual memory. The below link will show you how.

    3. Spyware could be the culprit, so do a scan and see if your computer is infected.

    Get the best one from: http://toptenantispywareviews.com/ to scan your computer.

    4. That last area is a hardware driver. This could be the problem if new hardware has been added to the system. So, the drivers should still be up to date. So try the first two suggestions and see if you can get your computer to stop freezing/speed up.

    Check your drivers. Hope this helps.

    Go to:http://toptenantispywareviews.com/RegComputerSlow_... learn how to fix it.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    it could be and more then likely is the processes that your computer goes thru at start up these are callled autostart programs you can remove unneccesary ones by

    1.Click Start, click Run, type Msconfig, and then press Enter.

    2.On the Startup tab, you'll see a list of all the programs and processes that are set to run when Windows XP loads.

    3.Speed up your overall start time by clearing the check box next to any item you think you don't need.

    4.Click Apply, and then restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

    Also do a disk cleanup this should help alot too, to do this...

    1.Open My Computer, right-click Local Disk, and then click Properties.

    2.On the General tab, click the Disk Cleanup button. Disk Cleanup will spend a few minutes examining your disk.

    3.The Disk Cleanup dialog box opens

    4.Select the desired check boxes in the Files to Delete list, and then click OK. Disk Cleanup will spend several minutes clearing space.

    5.If you have more than one hard disk, repeat this process for each hard disk listed in My Computer.

  • 5 years ago

    And are we to guess at the brand, model number and installed operating system of the laptop ? Since all PC's are not the same you need to post the info about the laptop along with the problem(s). Shutting it down by holding down the power button or unplugging is called a hard shut down and corrupts operating system file. Do a system repair using a set of recovery disc made for the laptop or use and do a full system reinstall, back up every thing of importance before the system crashes / freezes and will not respond, one should back up regularly just in case of a system crash or hard drive failure. What is MBAM and SAS ? Never have more than one Internet security program installed it can cause system conflicts between the programs and or each sees the other as a threat. What is the yellow exclamation next too, system or what icon ? Normally a yellow exclamation or triangle only shows in devise manager next to a disabled devise.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Manage your startups. Your excess CPU usage is due to too many programs running in the background. You can cut these to barebones by alter your msconfig. Here is how:

    1. Open your Start menu.

    2. Click Run

    3. In the command screen type "msconfig.exe"

    4. In the "system configuration utility",click either "service" or "startup" tab

    5. Uncheck all programs that your are no longer using.

    6. Click "OK"

    Hope this helps!

    http://www.delete-computer-history.com/slow-boot-u...

  • How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
  • 1 decade ago

    One thing to check is for unnecessary programs starting when you start your computer..

    http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm

    Another is services that run..

    http://www.blackviper.com/

    After you work out which services to disable, here is how you do it: Click on Start, then type services.msc in the Run dialog box. For each service listed in the window which opens up that you want to disable at the next boot, right click on it, select Properties from the context menu that scrolls out, then click on the downward pointing arrow at the end of the list box for Startup Type on the General tab, choose Disable, then click OK. After you've done all your disabling, reboot

  • Pengy
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Your registry is clogged with programs that where there and might no longer be there get registry mechanic to clean it up. Yes not free only about $30 but is worth it.

  • Maybe you have a slow down virus, or need to install more memory.

    How old is the laptop, how many gigabytes does it have and did you dump all your mail??

    Source(s): sad experiences since (1985 1st mac)to present day i mac.
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    You can click start-----click run-----type msconfig------click startup tabs,then you can uncheck programes that dont need to run at startup.Then click ok to exist..And you also can go visit http://www.make-pc-fast.com/ to download a speedup software.

    Good luck!

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Check http://www.pcoptimizerprodownload.com/

    With pc optimizer pro you can safely clean, repair and optimize your computer.

    It will help improve your system performance.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    It could be a virus or needs memory or you need to delete cookies.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.