OK new rig and it loads windows very slow.32 bars at start. I have tried everything I can think of and everything others have suggested and nothing worked. Tried different copy of windows that lowered it down from 32 bars at start to 23 bars. tryed newest BIOS and it went up to 40 bars at start?? baffled...HELP! Even tried different HD still the same. this is sons rig trying to help.tried reg cleaner.Cleaned up stat menu.system tools done.spyware cleaned up.
msconfig bootup cleaned....what now??? his rig is OCed but its the same at stock stettings.

His rig
3600X2 Brisbane
Asus M2NSLI Deluxe
8800GTS 320
250WD
G Skill HZ 1Gig x2

Run manufacturers diagnostic on the HD. Get hold of a Knoppix CD, it runs from the CD. Boot to CD and type Memtest, this will test the memory. If passes, no errors, boot the Linux from the CD. If works OK, is Windows problem. Does the POST screen correctly ID the processor? What PSU, make/model? Is it only loading that is slow? Try disconnecting cable from network port and see if loads faster.

Mike.

Counting the number of times the bars scroll isn't an accurate way to measure boot times... the speed of the scrolling varies. It's best to time your boot with a clock / stopwatch.

Have you tried the XP dual core processor patch? I had a similar thing with my C2Duo, I would get the grey bar on boot untill I installed this:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896256