slow start up computer

[petersarm]

i have windows vista home pr... sometimes when i turn it on it can take up to 10 mimuets to start up. other times it is realy quick. does any1 else have this problem? and what can i do to prevent this?

[Ethel]

Have a read of this:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Comp uters/Question591054.html

[ACtheTROLL]

few things to try first
download and run http://www.ccleaner.com/download
(it may or may not make a big difference ... but it's something everyone should do from time to time)
check the scheduling of any virus/adware scanners - the "sometimes" makes me wonder if it's kicking in at boot time if it's missed a scan (mine does it "sometimes" a pain ... but I generally let it)

the power settings are worth checking

also ... if it's a laptop .... is bluetooth on - network timeouts can take ages to error out ...

I don't see that startup progs in general would slow things down "sometimes" but if you must follow this advice.....
rather than msconfig use http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml - which is easier to reverse (use safe mode).

finally disabling startup options is quite a skillful art ... in XP it was possible to poke and hope ... but vista is much less forgiving
if you don't know what it is ... or what it does ... don't disable it (without research).