I have a brandnew clean updated system running windows 2000 pro. SP4 3GHz P4, 1GB DDR400, 7200rpm hard-drive.. The system has hyperthreading, and I have tried it with/without it. So the problem is once it gets to the windows splash screen with the progress bar, it is instantly half-done... and then takes about 3 minuets to boot up from there. There is no hard drive activity while it just waits. Does anyone know what it is doing? and maybe a possible fix. Also when I copy files, it takes 100% cpu usage which pretty much locks the computer and it also takes a ridiculous long time to copy the files too. fix?

check memory and hard drive. WILL POST FOR FOOD.

Have a look in your start up items using msconfig.Uncheck as many as you can. Most are not necessary.Something may be hogging resources big time. If you still have same problem, I would look at a possible virus or spyware. At least eliminate these first....a good place to start. Windows: Just another pane in the glass

This is a clean system. No start up items no virus's it seems to be a strait up windows problem.... (no virus/spyware..no startup items) It is just weird to have the computer pretty much lock up just to copy files... takes like 15minuets for 300mb... I ran norton checks on the harddrive and memtest on the memory, works fine. I loaded one of my sons computer games(call of duty 2) and it runs it soo smoothly and fast... but I can't copy files...

Your problem is most likely your network card .... with win2 k at the point it is half way through the startup it is initializing the network card. As for coping files .. is it happening when you are coping files across a network? Mutiple systems, Working like a dog, Hybrid Geek!