anyone please help me. I'm having a startup problem. My system hung during initial startup. I had to reset for 6x for it to boot properly. It froozes after BIOS, before windows start, after I log into my username and before the startup programs. What could be the problem? Everything is OK once windows started. No error messages. Just it keeps hanging during the initial start up. When I tried to start again it doesn't hang anymore. It seems that I need to warm the system first or like there some kind of memory problem. I don't know anything about computer. All I know that I'm using windows xp,with 80GB memory. I'm just using it for emails and chat. Before this problem happened, I just downloaded zone alarm firewall. But I already unistalled it.

hope anyone can help me to solve this problem.please!

First this doesn't seem to be a network issue. If the problem is during the POST (Power On Self Test) then its probable something is wrong on your motherboard and you will probably need a technician to determine what.

If you operate the machine in a non air conditioned room, humidity or heat build up could be affecting it. Also, it might help to use compressed air to blow the dust out of the innards.

I've experienced machines that only work once the power has been supplied to them for 10 minutes or so. You may be right about this. Sometimes when components aren't seated correctly they lose contact with the socket they are in. Once the machines warm up slightly the components expand slightly and make the connection.

I suggest unplugging each component one at a time and trying to boot, starting with your RAM, then PCI/AGP cards, then IDE cables, and then processor.

Try not to have the system on long enough for it to warm up or you won't know which component was the problem.

Best of luck :)

I wanted to try what you said but I really don't know how, all I know is to surf and chat <lol> do you think if I let it like that my PC will eventually crash or may cause more serious problems in the future? I'm not under warranty anymore, I don't want any technician to take advantage of a small problem like this. If I can fix it... its better. Help me please on where I can get a diagram of what's inside my computer. I really have no idea at all. I'm sorry. But I have tools to open it but I don't know what cables or sockets to be removed. I really need some sort of diagram of it. To know which is which.

Ty for your help.. I appreciate it!

What I would suggest is contacting a local high school or community college. Talk to the computer instructor and ask if they can recommend a bright student who might want to help you for a few bucks.

OK ty for that info. I really appreciate it... till next time

My laptop running win 98b was doing the same thing.. hanging on bootup after I had put in the NIC card and gone to.. where else?. Microsoft Update.. two of the security patches for 98 seemed to be the culprit... I went to the add-remove of the control panel and deleted them and the laptop now boots just fine.
Zone Alarm won't cause the boot up problem... re-install it.. is my advice
Good luck
Neil