system
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There’s another thread about a very similar ‘problem’:-
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=132619.0
If it is a problem its one I’ve had ever since I started using Avast. My Avast desktop icon takes a minimum of a minute to appear and to improve to that sort of speed I pared everything I was certain it was safe to stop running at start up to a minimum two years ago.
Saying there are no programs running at start up is one thing but just as DavidR recommended I’d still check what IS actually running using MSConfig or CCleaner and Autoruns. Disable anything unnecessary and if you’re not sure what can and shouldn’t be stopped ask here because I’m certain somebody will be able to help.
I’d also turn off auto-updates for Windows, in fact turn off everything but Avast updates. If you have an always on internet connection checking for/installing those updates can slow down the desktop boot considerably.
Of course if you do this you must discipline yourself to a maintenance regime which includes updating those things manually.
My feeling is that this, only in comparison, slow boot ‘problem’ is likely a RAM issue as DavidR also suggseted and that if your BIOS supports it you should increase it to the maximum <4GB WinXP allows.
Another possible solution would be to fit a SSD to replace the HDD. Again it’s an option probably not open to my old laptop and I think I’ve read there can be problems with WinXP and support for SSDs in general but if one can be fitted it would definitely improve boot time.