For the first 10-20 minutes after XP boots, extremely heave disk traffic. So much so that is almost impossible to load any program until it finishes. This occurs whether or no I logon to my user.1) Using task manager, there are no processes hoggin CPU cycles2) I thought maybe chkdsk was getting running during start, so I renamed it to keep it from running3) It is NOT any VIRUS scan software being uploaded/updated as this problem occurs on RESTARTS after Virus files updated4) I looked at the startup programs (not just the things in the STARTUP folder, but also the things regedit shows)5) Looked in autoexec.bat to see if something peculiar is getting run6) This happens even if no network is attached7) My system has all the latest patches as well as the other protective programs to block bad programs1 person needs an answerI do too

Simply scanning with your (unnamed) antivirus doesn't prove your computer is clean. Be more thorough so you know you're working from a truly clean base: http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware What "protective programs to block bad programs" do you have installed? What antivirus/security programs are installed? If the computer is really virus/malware-free, do clean-boot troubleshooting. Do not do this part until you've gone through the steps at the link above. Clean boot in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353 Clean-boot advanced troubleshooting in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434 How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560 If you can't do the work yourself (and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea), take the machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local equivalent of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). If possible, have all your data backed up before you take the machine into a shop.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!