Major start-up scare

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

Hi
My computer is a Dell Desktop with 2.53GHz CPU and 512MB RAM running on
WinXP SP2 fully updated and well-protected.
The machine operates well, is virus- and spyware-free and is normally
ready to operate 70 seconds after switching on.
However, this morning when I switched it on, it got to the blue Windows
is Starting Up page as normal but then it stayed on that page for what
seemed like forever.
After 5 minutes, I switched off the power and tried again but in Safe
Mode. No change, still a major delay after reaching the Windows is
Starting Up screen.
Tried again in Normal Mode but did not switch off. After about 10
minutes the Windows is Starting page was finally followed by the Log-On
page.
After logging on, however, it got as normal to the Desktop but then
stayed with just the Desktop visible for about 4 minutes after which
the icons on the desktop and notification area appeared.
After that everything was perfectly normal with no speed abnormalities
at all.
Having gone through a repeat of this rather frightening episode just
to confirm that it wasn't just a one-off, I did a System Restore which
brought everything back to normal.
So, what did I do yesterday that might have caused this? And is there
still something lurking in the bowels of my computer that may cause a
recurrence?
The only thing out of the ordinary that I did yesterday (that I'm aware
of) was to disable the performance counters as recommended as point #3
in this site:
http://www.connectedinternet.co.uk/blog/_archives/2005/12/3/1433325.html

This operation required me to download Exctrlst.exe from MS Windows.
However, although the above site is aimed at providing WinXP advice,
the download site for the Exctrlst.exe file refers only to Windows 2k3.
Nevertheless, I went ahead and disabled ALL of the performance counters
found by this tool.

Could this have been the cause of the major scare I suffered this
morning or is there something else amiss?
Note that no error messages are registered in the Event Viewer and no
hardware malfunction are indicated in Device Manager.

Any comments will be much appreciated
Paul

.

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