I have an HP Pentium 3 cpu with 128M of RAM, which has been upgraded from Windows ME to Windows XP Home SP2. It is networked via a cordless Belkin router & DSL modem connected to my cpu running Windows XP home. It takes much too long to boot up. I believe there are too many programs running in the background. I would appreciate some help.

Thanks

More RAM will do more then just about anything else. XP needs at least 256M to run properly.

The RAM would be good. As cheap as it is get 512. Check that out here http://www.crucial.com/

The first step to stop running programs is to identify them. Go to START, RUN, type msconfig, OK, In the System Configuration Utility choose Start Up tab. Well, theres the little list of programs running at startup. I find typing them in a Google search will usually tell you what they are. Once you know what they are go back to System Configuration Utility and choose Selective Startup, go to the Startup tab and uncheck any you don't need. Reboot.

It is very important that you not turn off anything that is vital for XP to run. Probably a good idea to set a restore point before you do all this.

There are many other things that can help XP boot times.

Mike

MSconfig is the best way to speed up XP, Also you must be very careful...RAM is also very inportant, 256 is the recmoned min for an XP computer...
XP checks to see if your online every time you boot, also all addins from office do the same.Turn off auto updates , this will help
Look on Google for win optmizer(sp) by Ashmpoo ( good product allmost any one can use it), this will get rid of redundent files , also DEFRAG , eveyone looks over this
Frank , MSCE,CCNA, A+,NET+ and a bunch more.....