A few days ago, my computer came down with a Virus, I desided the best option was to format the hard drives, as I had been having many problems. Since doing this, I have noticed it takes a very long time for the Computer to start up, around 5-6 mins from turning the machine on to windows starting. The time is taken up on the very first screen you get after the machine is turned on. When its saying Press Del for setup, it seems it freezes for 5 minutes, before searching for the hard drives.

Does anyone know what the problem could be, or how to slove it.

Thanks.
Mike

Check your BIOS CMOS Setup for the disk drives. It may be configured for a physical drive that does not exist. In some versions of POST/BIOS if you enable it to check for a slave drive or a disk drive on the second IDE channel, with the AUTO mode, and there is not one there, you will get the hang you describe.

Mike,

I too have come across a similar situation. Basically after the power on self test you get the black screen for several minutes and then everything runs normal after that?

I found this article 314503 on microsoft.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314503&Product=winxp

I hope it helps.

Martin

Martin Asher