whenever i start up my pc, it starts up fine but before my password login screen i receive this message: "Windows is starting up" now this message stays there for about 3/4 minutes before going to my password login screen. can anyone help me. i have scanned my pc for spyware or virus but still no luck. thanks.

Sounds like a job for BootVis.

go here:
http://www.weethet.nl/english/hardware_bootvis.php

follow the tutorial to see if you can any difference.. after the optomize wait till the bootvis notice pops up.. dont do anything. it may look like it's sitting doing nothing. but its not.

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/sysperf/fastboot/default.mspx

"Please note that Bootvis.exe is not a tool that will improve boot/resume performance for end users. Contrary to some published reports, Bootvis.exe cannot reduce or alter a system's boot or resume performance. The boot optimization routines invoked by Bootvis.exe are built into Windows XP. These routines run automatically at pre-determined times as part of the normal operation of the operating system."

i have tried that but it still doesnt make a difference!! is there anything else that i can try?