Mac Running Slow

Seems like a RAM or OS problem. When starting up, my Mac (1.6 GHz PowerPC G5 with 2 gig of RAM) has started doing this "pause" thing. Up to a minute or more of listening to the hard-drive chatter. I'm assuming it's using virtual memory?

Never used to do that.

Any thoughts? Any diagnostics?

Thanks, in advance.

On a machine of that vintage, it could be many things.

My first thought would be a slowly failing hard disk. One of the first things I would recommend is running the Apple Hardware Test (AHT), steps are available here:

The Apple Hardware Test

Be sure to follow the section for "PowerPC-based Macs".