I have not been able to get my computer to come on. I have high speed Internet and when I operate the mouse nothing happens. I replaced the mouse thinking it was old but it still just waits until forever, then something will appear on the screen. I have tried rebooting and also logging off/on to no avail. Eventually something shows up on the screen but this is very irritating and I need to figure out what is going on. Help?
Windows Startup Issues
It sounds like your computer is having startup issues, which are linked to a few possible causes. The first possibility is often best dealt with off the bat - scan your system for viruses and malware. If your computer is infected with a virus, the destructive code can gradually erode your system files and eventually render your computer inoperable. In this case the problem would most likely get worse with time, and it will eventually make your computer unable to even start up.
Update and Run Full System Virus Scans
To deal with this possibility you need up to date antivirus and malware scans. Some are available for free download like Malwarebytes and Avast, which are really good programs, but many require you to get your updates manually. Paid programs are a little more user friendly since they almost always include automatic virus updates and online customer support. If you don’t already have scans installed on your computer, you should do this right away. Some good programs include AntiVirusPlus and XoftSpySE.
Remove Programs from Startup List
Another reason why your computer might be very slow to start up is if there are too many programs set to run automatically when you turn your computer on. Removing some programs from your Startup list will reduce the amount of work the computer has to do to power up and launch Windows. When you buy or download and install a program, there are often other bits of application or partner programs that are installed at the same time. You can review your list and remove unwanted programs to speed things up. Some programs are important for the startup process, so make sure that you leave programs that you aren’t sure about.
For Vista:
- Click Start, then type msconfig in the search bar then click MSCONFIG when it appears
For XP and older versions:
- Click Start, then Run, then type msconfig in the Search bar and press Enter
All versions follow these instructions:
- Now, in System Configuration, choose the Startup tab for a list of programs set to launch at start up
- Uncheck the ones that you want to remove, then click Apply, then OK
If you try both these methods and are still having problems, write again and provide more information and we can take it from there. Good luck!
