Windows 7 - Computer takes a long time to start

I have an HP Z800 Workstation with Windows 7 Pro 64 bit.

When I start the computer it seems to be ready in somewhere under a minute after the desktop comes on, meaning there are no spinning circles the mouse moves smoothly etc.
However if I try to launch one of the programs in the taskbar, Firefox, Thunderbird, it takes at least seven to ten minutes for the program to come on and be ready.

At this point if I click Start>All Programs it is completely empty with no icons or folders at all in there and will be for about the same amount of time.
The Start menu freezes open like that and all I can do is to wait.

And wait I do because it makes it much worse if I hold in the power button and turn the computer off because then I can usually not go past that black screen that comes on for a brief second before it goes on the desktop.

I have very few things that are active in msconfig so I have no idea what's going on and why the computer takes so long to start.

Any ideas?

Thanks

A

Test your hard drive for errors and do a scan for bad sectors. I feel your drive might be trying to write to faulty sectors which is why you have to wait for so long.

Also use MalwareBytes Antimalware to make sure you don't have adware/spyware running.

Hmmn. Seven to ten minutes does seem a long time. My boot takes just over two minutes but the machine appears to be ready a long time before that.
Have a look at this: Soluto
It's free and it will give you a breakdown of what's happening during your boot. It tells which services you absolutely need, which can be delayed and which can be paused.
Paused means they are effectively left out of the boot and will be started when you need them.

hope this helps, John