How SLOW can you go?

Plugging in...

The client noticed a serious time lag in starting up the computer. A full ten minutes of serious lag. That startup time was confirmed by yours truly. All the normal sorts of things that can cause startup delays were checked: programs loading without necessity, too many temporary and/or temporary internet files, miscellaneous and unnecessary services running, scheduled tasks that check for updates every hour. NONE of those was the culprit. In fact, the computer was relatively "clean" and usually very fast.

Aside from pouring Geritol over the keyboard to give it an energy boost, the Tutor stuck her head under the desk and traced a multitude of cables and power cords to their respective devices. With one quick yank, the startup lag disappeared. Can anyone guess what was disconnected with the thoughtful yank? A USB four-port hub which had four USB cables plugged into it. Once the hub cable was disconnected from the computer, the startup woes went away.

The client was perplexed as the USB hub was not new, nothing outwardly appeared to have changed from fast day startup time to slow day startup time. Nothing different was plugged in or unplugged. We chalked it up to the "we don't care if the problem is solved" arena and let it go at that! And the client agreed to plug the hub in only when the devices attached to it were going to be used (or to plug it in AFTER the computer fully started).

ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, are TOO many things plugged in, and is it turned on?

Unplugged