hanging browser

[ImLostAgain]

Just lately when switching on my PC the browser is taking ages to open, well 5 or 6 minutes. It goes through all the other start-up procedures, i.e. the Windows page and the welcome page etc as fast as it always did but then nothing for a minute or so. Then I get the title bar and the progress bar along the bottom (which remains empty for a while) and my desktop in between.
Eventually the screen goes white as if Firefox is about to open and the progress bar moves to 2/3ds of the way across then stops. Again I have to wait for a minute or so then it opens and all is fine.
I've done all my scans as I do regularly and nothing is found. I've opened Task Manager but nothing untoward is going on in there.
Also I've used misconfig and I've only got 2 items starting automatically, my Antivirus (Avast) and my firewall (Comodo free) both of which I have had for some time now and have had no problems with.
To my mind it seems like one of them has started taking ages to scan something, but what and why?
I'm using XP with SP3.
It happens if I use FF or IE.

[ACtheTROLL]

what (same?)home page in browsers

[ImLostAgain]

Hi AC. I'm not sure I understand your question but it is the home page in either browser although I very rarely use IE.
Sorry if that's not what your asking.

[ImLostAgain]

Hm I've just had a thought (surprised huh!).
Yes it is the same homepage. It's Google.

[ACtheTROLL]

duh ;-) - probably not that then
both browsers points to the connection or what's being allowed through

as a one off - try pausing avast and see what (if anything) that does ... then immediately get the virus scanner back on line

[ImLostAgain]

Well now here's a thing. I stopped the On Access Protection and re-booted. Very little difference in the times so I went to switch it back on again and it already was!!