BleepingComputer.com: 5 minute + bootup

When I start my computer everything appears to load quickly (including my Gmail notifier, which quickly tells me what new emails I have) except McAfee Security Center takes over 5 minutes. While I'm waiting for it to load, opening documents or programs takes forever. And if I open an internet browser, it tells me there is no web connection and I can't load any sites. Also, the network icon in the task bar shows me as not being connected. Strange though, since my Gmail notifier loads fast and gives me the most up to date info on my email account.

I don't know if this is a system shell issue, a virus, or just some bug somewhere. It's been going on for about a month and I've been keeping track of all my startup applications - nothing unusual there. When I used to run a registry scan and correct all the issues, my computer would start quickly. But then usually on the very next restart it would be back to its old ways. Now the registry scan doesn't help. I also run AdAware and Spybot - they don't help either.

Could McAfee be the cause, or its slow load just a side effect of something more sinister?

This is really annoying and there's nothing worse than turning on a computer and having to wait 5 to 10 minutes to do anything on it. Please help

My specs are as follows:
Dell 1720
Windows Vista 32 bit Home Premium
-with Service Pack 1
Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 processor (2.2ghz)
3.00 gigs of RAM

McAfee is known for being a huge resource hog. It might be doing some kind of scan or update that slows the PC during start up.

It didn't used to do this. I've had the computer for a year and it just started this about a month ago. Any idea on how I can fix it?

McAfee can get corrupted and display the symptoms that you describe.
Uninstall it to see if that fixes the problem.
Download a new copy of McAfee (or another security product) and install it to ensure that you remain protected.

Ok I thought the reinstall worked because when I restarted, the computer booted very quickly (in fact McAfee was the first program to load). But after another restart it went back to its old habits... Just like when I'd run a registry edit and fix it for only 1 restart.

(The good news is it's only about a 2-minute boot up time now instead of 5... But it's still annoying, and for all I know it's gonna get worse. 2 minutes can't be the best I can hope for, can it? I mean everything else is loaded and ready to go in 10 seconds. Then I just wait for McAfee to load before the internet works...)

Any other ideas?

This post has been edited by Trojandave: 10 October 2008 - 10:40 AM

So no ideas from anyone?

Then can someone recommend a good alternative to McAfee?? Is it worth getting a free antivirus or are those not as good? I've heard about Kaspersky too - is that the top one? Worth the price?

Thanks

Kaspersky is a good product, but I use Avast Free on my systems at home.

Well, usama want to tell you, that you need to change your antivirus...Im now using Norton IS 2009, which now not slowing down PC...Usually i get my pc too load up in ~48 sec. (Also running Norton Anti-Bot and Threatfire)

I downloaded Avast and everything is much better. Thanks for all the help, guys!