Windows XP start-up problem/question

Windows XP Home.

I installed faxing abilities the other day. Ever since that, after Windows boots up it takes just over a minute for any application to open. I can browse directories, etc, but if I double click on a program it won’t start until windows has been booted up for over a minute. After that, all is well.

I un-installed faxing abilities, same thing. I can’t see anything “strange” in my Startup choices (with msconfig) other than possibly a selection called “nwiz”. Does anyone know what that is?

I am quite certain I am virus free and haven’t downloaded any “tools” or anything.

I’m having a similar problem with my XP Home, but I think it has to do with ZoneAlarm, a free firewall. Are you using ZoneAlarm?

Well, to begin with, “nwiz” has to do with your Nvidia video card, so I wouldn’t disable it (Here’s a good site that lists damn near every start up item you could run into -<click>).

Outside of that, the only issue I’ve had with XP on boot has been problems with Morpheus- the program is a hog. No problem at all with Zonealarm at all.

It sounds like it’s trying to connect, or wait for a connection, with something. Are you on a network, have a chat program, or something along those lines?

Google’s first hit, http://www.shoalhaven.net.au/sis/techboard/messages/5793.html , points to the very same question. The thread says there’s an Nvidia utility by that name, and it can be removed.

Very basic install. Nothing extra installed whatsoever except:

Operation: Flashpoint (Absolute kick-ass game!)
Microsoft Flight Sim 2002
Battlezone 2

Thats it.

I do have a NIC installed and a 5 port hub that its plugged into for a small network but the other PC isn’t even set up yet… nor ever even turned on. My PC has no idea it even exists. I am on a dial-up Internet connection so it isn’t trying to pull and IP or anything from the net.

Any other ideas?

I would try safe mode if XP has it.

Mine will sometimes do this. I have XP pro, and my system will not reponds for a minute after booting. I’ve pretty much traced it to Windows Messenger. Even with it disabled, I can time the messenger icon coming up in the tray and unloading, then I can access stuff again. SP 1 is supposed to allow you to totally remove messenger, which you can’t do at the moment.

I am not sure it is related, but I have heard Win XP described as Win2000, ver. 1.1. On my Win2000 system, any 16 bit program starts up a 16 bit virtual machine that sometimes seems to take forever to load. If you have such a program loading at startup, this could be the explanation.