Resources

I have an older Gateway computer. When I turn it on, it goes to the Microsoft screen and you can see it loading, then it goes to the user screen. But lately it gets stuck on the Microsoft screen. You can see the line going across, and across, but it never changes. Eventually, if it finally loads, I end up leaving my computer on because I am afraid it’s not going to start next time. What kinds of things can cause this?

Windows Slow Startup

I don’t blame you for leaving your computer running. After all, who has the free time to wait for Windows to load? However, something is going wrong somewhere. Let’s take a look at some of the more common causes behind slow startup times.

Causes for Slow Startup Times

Many culprits can be to blame including a fragmented hard drive, a nearly full hard drive, excessive startup programs, a bloated Windows registry, spyware and viruses, and failing hardware. Your computer could have a combination of these errors.

Disk Cleanup and Defragmenter

Since your computer is currently running, let’s first do some basic maintenance by cleaning up the hard drive and defragging it. Your computer needs a certain amount of free disk space in order to function, so this is a good place to start. First, double-click on My Computer and look at the C:\ drive. Is it nearly full? If so, then that’s not helping matters. Right-click the C:\ drive and choose Properties. Click Disk Cleanup and clear up as much space as possible.

Once the drive has been cleaned up, use the Disk Defragmenter utility to defrag it. This article describes this tool:

System Tools: Defragmenter

Excessive Startup Programs

Another common contributor to startup issues is having too many programs loading up at boot up. It’s hard enough for Windows to load itself let alone all those extra computer programs. This article describes how to manage startup programs in detail:

Managing Startup Items

Bloated Windows Registry

The Windows registry is a huge index containing nearly all of the instructions that Windows needs in order to work with the computer’s installed components. It is constantly growing as new programs are installed, old ones removed, new hardware added, user settings changed, and so on. Unfortunately, when it gets too large, computer performance suffers. Plus, many of the instructions end up becoming obsolete or even damaged.

For example, what if you’ve since uninstalled a program, but the uninstallation didn’t complete successfully? Partial instructions could be left behind. When Windows starts up and receives those instructions, it tries its best to carry them out but since the program has been partially installed, it can’t find what it needs in order to carry out the mission. Windows may get stuck, generate an error, or work slowly as it goes through a series of unnecessary steps.

Because your computer is having major startup problems, I highly recommend a good registry cleaning. The article, Why Use a Registry Cleaning Tool, explains registry issues in greater detail.

Spyware and Viruses

Spyware and computer viruses are notorious for damaging system files and interfering with performance. If you have a reputable antivirus product on your computer, update it and run a full system scan. If you’re unsure about the reliability of your product, any of the following free tools would be a good place to start.

• Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool
• BitDefender Scan Online
• Trend Micro House Call
• McAfee Free Scan

Failing Hardware

Finally, failing hardware can lead to slow start times. A qualified computer technician can diagnose your hardware to see if any of the computer’s components is failing. If your computer continues having startup issues after freeing disk space, removing startup items, cleaning the registry, and removing malware, then it’s time to let a professional take a look.

 Sometimes, one of the most difficult events to avoid is the long-desired upgrade that turns into a disaster. How many times have I tried to improve upon my existing computer set up and run into minor dilemmas? More than I would like to say. However, the good news happens to be that almost every problem has a solution. I just need to persevere and follow each of the troubleshooting steps until I locate the correct one for the situation.

Installing new memory really isn’t that difficult. Unfortunately, even easy processes can turn into nightmares if they aren’t performed correctly. Although the installation of new memory should be a simple task, small children, pets, phone calls, and other situations can enter the picture and create a small catastrophe such as a computer that simply won’t start up after the memory has been installed.

Diagnosing and resolving a computer start up problem after adding memory is not too difficult. Whenever I have added RAM (Random Access Memory) and it doesn’t go well, the potential problem could be in the way in which I added the memory. Perhaps, even though I thought that I might have followed the instructions, I did not. Therefore, removing the memory and booting up the computer afterward is the first step. If the computer boots up, then the issue most likely lies with an improper installation of memory. This can equate to the wrong type of memory or an incorrect placement of the memory.

I need to check and make sure not only that I have the right type of memory, but also that I have not gotten more memory than my computer can handle. Before installing my memory for a second time, I am going to clean the modules with a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol. As I clean, I am going to be careful not to disturb the pins. Once I am finished with this step, I am going to install the memory again, following the instructions carefully.

The next step is to boot up the computer. Hopefully, everything works and the problem is solved. If not, a bit more troubleshooting is involved. At this point, I need to visit the manufacturer of the motherboard to check if any current updates exist for the BIOS or device drivers for the motherboard. Since the BIOS configures my computer system to run, the updates are essential. Checking the manual for my motherboard is also another option that could help solve the problem if it persists.