Computer hangs at startup

[jerb]

when turning the PC on i get post just fine and it shows the windows xp screen (with the little green bar at the bottom showing it's loading) then i run into issue's. it sits at a black screen for several minutes after that screen befor it loads into the "welcom to windows screen" where it loads for another 10 min or so. then when i click on a profile it loads my personal settings for another 10 or so minutes but then the computer works absolutly fine.

Specs:
p4 2.4 ghz
512 pc 2700 ddr ram
80 gig HD
nvidia MX video card
300 Watt PSU

any idea's before i just replace the hard drive?

 

[Paithar]

I know this is usually a last resort kind of thing, or at least for me I try to make it a last resort, but have you tried reinstalling windows? If you're thinking of getting a new hard drive anyway, then you might as well do a low level format and reinstall first just to see if it works.

Also, for the life of me I can't seem to remember what this is called, but there's a little program that I believe MS puts out or is part of windows or something that when it's running it will give you information on what's happening when your pc starts up. I've never actually used it myself so I don't really know how useful the info that it gives you is but if someone else can remember what the program is it might be worth a try.

Just a thought.