OK computer geeks

[warrior1]

I have DSL and my morning routine is turning on the computer and then I'll go feed the dog and make coffee. When I get back my desktop is on and I click on firefox to load the browser, then wait. The wait time is getting longer and longer. I think it's up to 15 minutes. Nothing will work, I can't open any programs until the connection to the internet is done. I'm using a Speedstream 4100, Windows XP, Gateway DX200, Pentium 4, 3.07 ghs and 504 mb of ram. I've clean out my cache, cookies, I've defrag., I only have 3 programs in my start-up folder. After I finally get on the internet it runs smoothly. Why can't I get on the internet fast like in the beginning and a side issue. I downloaded the version of google earth and now it freezes.

H.E.L.P.

thanks

ps:
I've contacted support by chat and phone, neither were able to address the problem.

[hobbit709]

1. What security are you using?

I'd run a full antivirus and spyware scan first. It's obviously bogged down by something.

[warrior1]

2. Zone Alarm

I try that right now. But a question. Will the programs in the Startup folder bog me down also?

[warrior1]

3. I've deleted the short cuts

and moved files to their folder so they are not in the start menu folder

[canetoad]

4. Need to work out first

what is the slow process.

Just say you booted the computer and started another internet application - chat, email, anything. Would it connect straight away? What I'm getting at is do you think it is Firefox, your computer in general or your internet connection?

I agree with Hobbit that a full spy/virus/trojan scan is in order, also clean out temp files etc. The start up programs - depends on what they are, big memory hogs or little skinny utilities. Try turning them off and see what happens. Do you have to wait a long time for other programs to open?

Sorry - many questions. Just trying to isolate what may be causing the bottleneck.

[warrior1]

5. This is what happens

Turn on computer. Windows loads, then widgets. Only a few, calender, analog clock, to do list and weather. After when it seems that's done, I will click on the firefox browser and wait. No programs at this point will open, even if I don't try and use the browser. Maybe 10 or 15 mins. everything is working.

I'm scanning now.

[canetoad]

6. Nothing in those start ups

should cause a slow down like that. What I think I'd be doing is make a backup of all my Firefox bookmarks, passwords etc. Free program here that works very well. http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/

Then I'd uninstall Firefox, delete my profile, clean the registry, reboot and re-install Firefox. Before restoring all your own settings, try Firefox as it is - out of the box. See how it loads and runs. If all fine, restore your settings using Mozbackup. If that stuffs things up, may be something in your profile is corrupted.

[warrior1]

7. where is my profile at?

[canetoad]

8. Buried deep

First go to Control panel, folder options/view and turn on 'View hidden files and folders'

Then open C/Documents & Settings/YOUR NAME/Application Data/Mozilla/Firefox/profiles. Theres a bunch of folders with crypto-like names, right down at the bottom you will find your Firefox profile.

[Duer 157099]

9. Do any of your programs do either an auto scan or update upon boot?

Check to see if any regular tasks are schedule, like either looking for updates, or scanning, and see if they are scheduled to run when you boot.

Also, I used to have so many issues with CPU usage when I used ZoneAlarm that I could never resolve - so, even though I liked ZoneAlarm, I stopped using it and went to Comodo Firewall instead (also free, and also very good) and I no longer have those CPU usage issues - including problems like what you are describing.

So first thing I would try is to disable ZoneAlarm on startup and see if the problem goes away - if so, switch to Comodo.

[warrior1]

10. Well not sure if it's fixed

I had an update for ZA that I just completed. It rebooted and logging in to the internet went faster. I haven't mess with Firefox. I'll hold off on that for now. Let just see how it works tomorrow.

thanks to everyone.

[warrior1]

11. Ok, it's super fast this morning

whew..