Slow Startup

You can try Sophos antivirus it might find something .
Off course you have to update Sophos first before scanning you're HD
Start you're Mac in the verbose mode .
See if it is waiting for something or starting up something that should not be there .

Thanks re: slow start up

I appreciate the info and will do the start up as you suggested. I'm concerned about using any antivirus since I've heard that it can cause more problems (slower start up being just one).

Have you used Sophos yourself? Maybe it's not true for this...

Thanks, again. I'll let the Forum know what transpires for future like-issues.

Please don't spend money on antiVirus for Mac. If you want to scan it, get the free ClamXAV:
ClamXav

For the slow startup issue, try repairing your hard drive using one of Apple's three recommended methods here:
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck

Easiest is Safe Boot - hold shift key after gong sound. Wait for startup to complete (takes longer), then restart normally.

Please don't get into the habit of making Windows-centric responses to Mac problems -
Anti-virus software, cleaning software, reinstalling drivers over and over -- All Windows ideas that aren't helpful on Macs.

Clamaxv in my opnion just looking for windows viruses
Windows viruses can not harm OS X .
So it is only use full if you are dual booting .
Sophos claimed that it protect you for OS X malware .
To claim that there are no malware for OS X is a legend .
True far more less than there are for windows

And yes I use Sophos for more than 1 year now
I put it in my log in up items .
I hardly notice that it is there .
Manually scanning the HD that take some times .
No wonder because in my case it has to scan 4 HD .
But you also can scan something you have just download from the internet
It also has his own uninstall program

Thanks, dobby

I just finished scanning my hard drive. I also called Apple and they said the same as you did: that Malware is a possibility but rare...no viruses for Mac, which is what I thought and why I didn't get worried until the IRS snafu (red-face: overreaction).

Anyway, all is well and at least my cache is completely clean! The tech said she does it once a year. I thank you most heartily for the instruction and will download Sophos just in case. And thanks, too, for not treating my question like it was inappropriate for this forum: the implications of my sensitive identifiers being hijacked had me really scared.

Be Well.