Win ME Boot Delay

System is Win Me 512 RAM 1.33 Athone. Boot delay is unbelievable. Sigh.

Bookup log shows following as delays:

8:06:22 1.00 Loading Vxd = C:\PROGRA~1\GRISOFT\AVGFRE~1\AVG7CORE.VXD
8:06:23 1.00 Loaded PNP drivers of Plug and Play Software Device Enumerator (ROOT\SWENUM\0000)
8:06:24 1.00 Dynamic load device mmdevldr.vxd
8:06:25 0.28 Starting VIA USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller (PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3104&SUBSYS_80801043&REV_51\BUS_00&DEV_09&FUNC_02)
8:06:25 0.89 Loading PNP drivers of USB Root Hub (USB\ROOT_HUB\PCI&VEN_1106&DEV_3038&SUBSYS_80801043&REV_50&BUS_00&DEV_09&FUNC_01)
8:06:26 0.89 Enumerating USB Root Hub (USB\ROOT_HUB\PCI&VEN_1106&DEV_3038&SUBSYS_808C1043&REV_23&BUS_00&DEV_11&FUNC_02)
8:06:27 1.06 Dynamic load device C:\WINDOWS\system\IOSUBSYS\voltrack.vxd
8:06:28 0.83 Starting PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port (ACPI\*PNP0F13\0)
8:06:29 0.33 Initing esdi_506.pdr
8:06:29 1.61 Initing esdi_506.pdr
8:06:31 0.28 Dynamic load success C:\WINDOWS\system\serial.vxd
8:06:32 2.22 INITCOMPLETE = AVGCORE
8:06:34 0.44 Starting CMI8738/C3DX PCI Audio Device (PCI\VEN_13F6&DEV_0111&SUBSYS_80E21043&REV_10\BUS_00&DEV_05&FUNC_00)
8:06:35 6.28 InitDone = TSRQuery (time estimated)
8:06:41 1.11 Enumerated Standard Floppy Disk Controller (ACPI\*PNP0700\0)
8:06:43 0.56 Loading PNP drivers of SpeedTouch USB ADSL PPP (ALCACR\GUID\0000)
8:06:43 1.17 Enumerated NDISWAN (NETWORK\NDISWAN\0000)
8:06:44 6.44 Enumerated NDISWAN (NETWORK\NDISWAN\0000)
8:06:51 14.72 Enumerated Microsoft Kernel Audio Mixer (SW\{B7EAFDC0-A680-11D0-96D8-00AA0051E51D}\{9B365890-165F-11D0-A195-0020AFD15
8:07:06 424.39 Enumerated Microsoft Kernel System Audio Renderer (SW\{A7C7A5B0-5AF3-11D1-9CED-00A024BF0407}\{9B365890-165F-11D0-A195
8:14:10 461.22 Enumerated Microsoft Kernel Audio Mixer (SW\{B7EAFDC0-A680-11D0-96D8-00AA0051E51D}\{9B365890-165F-11D0-A195-0020AFD15


What on earth is 'Enumerated Microsoft Kernel Audio Mixer? Why load it twice?

From that, it's fairly obvious that the problem is with the MS Kernel Audio drivers - so my first reaction is to try this, and see what happens

Reboot to Safe Mode
Open Device Manager
Remove ALL Sound &Multimedia devices
Remove ALL error-flagged devices
Remove ALL entries in the 'Other Devices' branch - if present
Reboot to Normal Mode - Windows will reinstall the required drivers

Once it's done that, reboot, and then test the sound to make sure everything is OK - and check the boot time while you're at it

[Edit - forgot to try and answer your last question]

The Kernel Audio Mixer drivers are loaded by the OS to talk to the drivers which the makers of the sound card may provide (or, if the card is so configured, direct to the card), and allow the balancing of sounds in the various channels that the card may provide

It's not unusual for the delays produced by such drivers to be the longest in the list - but yours are excessive. The fac that there are two entries, may be either
1) Windows thinks there are two cards installed
2) The card is badly installed
3) The card requires drivers both in the System and User parts of the OS - and is loading them here. (this is the most likely - confirm when you have cleaned out the DM)
HTH - Noel
[/end Edit]