New build, problematic load up

[dojugoo]

I just had a new build for my parents with amd x2 cpu, ecs a780gm-a mobo.

I have installed windows xp 64, Comodo firewall/AV, drivers for everything (ATI, sound, etc).

Now, everything boots up fine and it logs in, but after this, the desktop icons does not show up, and right-clicking the desktop doesn't work. However, the ATI catalyst, wireless network, and the Comodo firewall icon loads in whatever the area is called next to the clock, and the Start button works. When I go to my computer through the start menu, it hangs for a little bit, then the windows open.

After maybe couple minutes, then the desktop icons load and the rest of the other icons in the bottom right area loads.

Now, I have googled this issue, and explorer.exe is running when this happen (start menu works, so its not the explorer.exe problem).

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[RAD]

I ran into a semi-similar problem about a month ago when my wife asked me to fix her computer. It would boot up fine, get to the point where the desktop wallpaper would be there, but no icons would load outside of the bottom bar for about 3 minutes.

In my case it turns out it was due to a remnant of an outdated Norton Anti-virus firewall (norton products seem to be about on the same level as viruses to me).

The program I used to find the offender was a handy little shareware program called Bootlog XP. It did a great job in the free trial period of helping me find out what was going on. You just turn it on, and tell it to log the next startup. Rather than having to dig through the standard bootlog text file it puts up a graphical bar chart display and you should be able to see which program during the start up is hanging and stalling everything.

Of course, be smart about what you uninstall after you see which items take longer to load. Some are more necessary than others.

On further review, I do not know if that program is compatible with XP 64. Isn't XP 64 a little too much for a parents machine? Not exactly the most 3rd party supported or novice user friendly OS.