Check and see what you have loading in the TaskBar for icons beside the computer clock. Sometimes, if you have the Hotmail icon there, this will slow down the boot times. I have stopped mine from loading and go thru the MSN site when I want to check my Hotmail account. Another source may be your Anti-virus program looking for updates on each boot.

Any sounds? Nothing on the screen indicates a problem not related to Windows because you're not even getting past the POST. Likely hardware related - could be lots of stuff - motherboard, video card, memory. You might try pulling the battery (and disconnecting it from the wall charger) and letting it sit for 30 minutes or so. If that doesn't work, try pulling the coin cell (CMOS battery) - it's and a small access door on the back of the machine and also (again) the main battery. Let it sit again. Maybe you get lucky.

That's a good question. I was using a Dell Inspiron 4000 w/ windows 2000 professional and before that a Compaq latitude (I think) also with Win2000 professional. The compaq had a lot of the typical corporate stuff on it, like outlook, office, etc. Both of these computers took at least 3 minutes to get up and running, despite turning off apps from start-up, periodically running antivirus, ad-aware, etc., and also defragging and running disc-clean-up. Based on all this, and also through conversations with strangers on their laptops (in places like Panera, starbucks, etc.) I thought that a couple minutes was typical. If I could get the Inspiron to boot in less than a minute I would keep it. But right now it's too aggravating to use. Any advice on that would be greatly appreciated.

Just to let this move farther down in the que, doesn't need to be at the top.