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Have friends desktop PC to cleanup whilst he's away on holiday. Job
done with much improvement in performance. However I've noticed one
thing that bugs me a bit which I haven't been able to resolve.

Startup time to Account Screen is 30 seconds. From password entry to
visible desktop and icons is approx 10 seconds but, and this is what
is bugging me, it takes a further 95 seconds before network access
becomes available. During that period I can't do anything.

The PC is a Dell Inspiron 530S running Intel Dual Core E6550 at
2.33Ghz with 2Gbyte RAM. I've shutdown all start up programs that are
not needed. The only two running are Microsoft Windows Operating
System (ehtray.exe) and McAfee Security Centre.

I suspect something to do with McAfee; not my favorite AV/Firewall
package. I turned off real-time scanning, which improved shutdown
from 30 seconds to 15 seconds. but this is automatically restarted on
reboot and another 95 seconds elapsed before internet access
available. Appreciate any comment others may have and whether "time
to network" can be improved.

I have the same problem with my Compaq Presario desktop. I use Avast!
and I've noticed a definite pause (of about 3-4 minutes) between desktop
appearance and full network connection to my LAN/Internet. Taking a
look at the auto-update provisions of Avast! I find that there is a
change you can make to the INI file for "time to update after boot". I
changed mine from 60 seconds to 360 seconds (6 minutes) and the delay
was gone. You might check in the McAfee forum for that type of setting
also.

What happens in my case is that Avast! immediately takes over the
network (even before the icon can be updated to the blue orb) and won't
relinquish control until the update is done.