I have been noticing a very strange issue with both of the Windows XP computers in my house. The first computer uses Windows XP Professional 32-bit, and the other uses Windows XP Home Edition 32-bit. Both have SP3, and the latest updates. If I log into either of the computers quickly after the welcome screen comes up, then only some of the startup program icons in the taskbar will show up. Those would include my Avast! Antivirus, Windows Search 4, and HP Digital Imaging Monitor. My computer with Home Edition also has a sound manager for my computer's sound. However, that doesn't have anything to do with the Windows Volume Control icon. The sound still works on both computers, but the control icon doesn't show up. The task manager also shows that the programs aren't running. If I log out, and then log back in, then all of the startup programs load. Additionally, when I first boot up the computer and I wait for at least 20 seconds and then log in, all the startup programs will load ( this waiting method only applies to my Home Edition version since it is the only one with multiple users). It seems as if there is a timing issue for the startup programs. I could always go in and just manually click on the startup programs to get them to load, but I'd rather just have them startup automatically not matter what. Besides, this issue also keeps my firewall from starting automatically. Does anyone know why this is happening, and how I can get all startup programs to load?1 person got this answerI do too

That did not help. No matter what changes I make to which programs start automatically, some remaining startup programs set to start automatically still don't load at all. Also, I had to do a System Restore because anytime I make changes in MSConfig, my computer starts asking me which operating system to load, which isn't normal for my computer.