# Windows XP start-up problem/question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 26, 2002, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-start-up-problem-question/110925 "2002-05-26T16:21:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-start-up-problem-question/110925/1 "2002-05-26T16:21:21Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-start-up-problem-question/110925/2 "2002-05-26T16:36:26Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-start-up-problem-question/110925/3 "2002-05-26T16:55:41Z")
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 -[\](http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_pages/startup_full.htm)). 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? ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-start-up-problem-question/110925/4 "2002-05-26T17:00:29Z")
Google’s first hit, [http://www.shoalhaven.net.au/sis/techboard/messages/5793.html](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. ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-start-up-problem-question/110925/5 "2002-05-26T17:05:47Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-start-up-problem-question/110925/6 "2002-05-26T22:59:20Z")
I would try safe mode if XP has it. ---
**Author:** ![diku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@diku](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diku)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-start-up-problem-question/110925/7 "2002-05-26T23:21:41Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-start-up-problem-question/110925/8 "2002-05-27T01:10:18Z")
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.