Big lag loading icons to desktop at startup

[halfcard]

anyone know what might cause this? (xp pro, t41)

when i start up, it loads the background. then only about 4 things come on at the bottom (system tray?) then everything stops for at least a minute, then the icons start showing on the desktop and at the bottom. seems to me there is a lag before that when i hit my logon name too.

i tried defrag and disk cleanup. thanks

[Kenn]

Is it a 120-second delay?

Try turning off your wireless card from Fn-f5, and then reboot and see if it still happens. You can also google Microsoft Bootvis, download and run a trace. Scroll down through the startup bar graphs, and see if the big delay is listed as "Network Delay."

If you have XP SP2, make sure you have the latest version of IBM Access Connections installed. If you have SP1 or prior, try disabling the Wireless Zero Config service.

[RonS]

I had the exact same problem after I was playing around with my configuration and deleting some drivers and services I thought I didn't need. I did a lot of noodling around and the problem went away. I wish I could remember exactly what fixed the problem, but I know I replaced the wireless drivers restored my services to the factory default load settings.

I think the wireless was timing out trying to re-connect to the network. I had to kill explorer and re-launch it from task manager just to get a desktop.

[WalkmanX]

I have a similar problem right now. Desktop icons would, taskbar would load but I would not be able to click on start(hourglass) for 30-100seconds and then system tray starts along w/MSN messenger. I was also playing with my startup settings.

Does anyknow how to fix it? I don't think bootvis supports XP, correct me if I'm wrong....

[Leon]

you stand corrected! Use it!

[byron]

I've always disabled the WZC (wireless zero configuration) service.. but since enabling it and setting it to automatic i no longer have the delay at startup. FYI I am XP SP2.

[Kenn]

I've always disabled the WZC (wireless zero configuration) service.. but since enabling it and setting it to automatic i no longer have the delay at startup. FYI I am XP SP2.

I think everyone here is talking about the WZC 120-second delay (you can search this on MS Knowledge Base).

The behavior is weird. Using WZC alongside Access Connections in SP1 will subject you to the delay. SP2 includes a built-in fix for this, but on many configurations, it ONLY works if WZC is ENABLED.

Also, the problem may appear intermittent. It may not happen if your wireless card is turned off when you boot, or if you boot within range of the wireless network you were on when you last shut down.

For me, fixing the problem under SP2 was doing exactly what Byron did - enable WZC and leave it on auto. Under SP1, doing the opposite fixed the probems (disabling WZC when using Access Connections).

[halfcard]

thanks!