ATI Catalyst extending real boot time by about 3-4 minutes.

I know how to take care of my Windows 7 x64 Ultimate partition when I use it. I use CCleaner Professional to manage my Startup programs. Everything goes as smoothly as it can with my 8 core 4000mhz AMD-FX8350 with 12gb of 1866mhz Corsair ram.

But startup isn't really over and disk activity will continue until the darn ATI Catalyst icon in the systray appears, which is about 3-4 minutes after all other icons have appeared and I can start applications and do stuff basically, but if I am to start something extensive, better wait for it. Yes it is the latest version, updated like last week, it's the very latest driver and catalyst control program for my AMD Radeon HD 7850 5GBDDR3. I know I can't really remove the program.

Does other AMD video card owners here have this problem? It's really a bane in my otherwise, perfectly running, spyware, virus-free, registry that's being cleaned up every other day and my browsers (although I only use Waterfox (64 bit Firefox), I use Opera or IE11 in case of issues with Firefox extensions but that's rare.

Do you need CCC to always start-up automatically when you boot up ?
I have CCC, and use/need it for adjusting some settings.

When I have my displays configured as i want, i disable CCC and all the "AMD services" on start-up, .
If I find i need to tweak things later, i manually start CCC.

This works for me, and i don't have any unneeded CCC programs/services running all the time.

The default is to auto start CCC on install/reinstall, but i just change it to not auto start.

If you have a lot of auto startup programs and services, you might might try a clean startup ?
Troubleshoot Application Conflicts by Performing a Clean Startup

You can post screen prints of your auto startup programs and services for more help.
Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

You do have some programs in auto startup I'm not familiar with, so i would try a clean startup to see if any of those other auto start programs causes a conflict.

You also have RegistryMechanic listed in the screen print (not auto started).
I don't use any registry cleaners, system optimizers, etc., i don't trust them and what changes they might make.
I do use CCleaner file cleaner, manually.

You do have a valid reason for wanting CCC to auto start for what you do, and your system.
I would want it to auto start if i had to adjust displays as you do.

For the lesser known programs in there, there is ExtFs2, which allows one while in Windows to access Linux partitions (Ext 4) and the data in it without issue. It's safe. Then DFX is a sound quality improver for Winamp and WMP. It's a really tiny program and is one of the first to show up. I imagine that I don't need Winamp agent so as to have winamp at boot, but I listen to music so much that it is warranted, and we're not in the days of 4gb of ram maximum, I got 12 running at 1866mhz, it's also not an issue. CCleaner does have a registry cleaner in it, you don't use it? It's actually very good. The Registry Mechanic by PC Tools (Symantec), I disabled yes, I only run it once in a while. Never caused an issue, it does find things even my paid CCleaner Pro does not, I'm able to read what it is that's being cleaned, I know my registry.

Justched I just disabled, it just doesn't work, it never did, never, neither in XP, or later XP x64, Java never shows me a sudden window to update Java, I remember that it did a long time ago, but according to the internet, it doesn't work, so I disabled it as it becomes a running process, without a reason to exist; (speaking of windows xp x64,I really am sad of not being able to use anymore, that was win2k/windows server 2003 solid but I'm told even if I apply these dodgy patches to continue getting updates, the XP kernel is too insecure and buggy beyond repair compared to win7 x64 ultimate that I'm running now, it was overbloated when I had 3.8gb of 733mhz DDR1 ram, so I ran xp x64 then, but I bought 7 x64 ultimate as I knew I would need it later obviously (and isn't a disaster like 8 or 10 or vista or ME...).

Peerblock is a list based Firewall, rules are already set, in a way. I do not use the free lists that come with it, but a paylist that used to be free until some disagreement between the maintainers, who do this job since the year 2000, it's based on IP ranges and they are network analysts who do it for a living these days, it's saved me a lot of trouble.

Once malware made it through a effing OSX machine that was contaminated with a worm that doesn't affect macs, but spreads to windows computers in the LAN. I didn't notice, Peerblock was blocking all the "phoning in" the malware was doing, it's a great program if you have a good list. And just for posterity, even though I tell it to run at startup in its own options, and let CCleaner boot it, it doesn't, I have to start it manually.

Anything else is obvious, ESET Internet Security and sound card software. Removing CCC from startup did wonders, if I want it's options related to colour and such on, I start it manually. So yep, I think the problem is over, thanks a lot DavidE.