I am using SLackware 10 off late when i boot up my system pauses while checking the parition information and show some dma errors like

dma_timeout_retry
dma status=ox21

it happens while checking each of my partition and because of it my system takes a long while to boot. I dint have any problems when i first installed it. I am running windows 2k pro and Slackware 10 in my system. I am using the ext2 file system.lilo bootloader

Got one other doubt too, Is there by any chance my windows could slow down because i got a linux partition.

The DMA errors could be caused either by a hardware fault (dying hard disks or disk controller, low power supply) or by a badly configured kernel module.

Windows will not be slowed down by the presence of a Linux filesystem. All it will do to Windows is reduce the available disk space; there is no code being run any differently by windows. It may slow up booting if you have a timeout in the boot-loader, but it's exactly the same thing that gets booted.

that was wht i was fearing it cud be a dying hard disk may be that explains the slowness when running windows. think you are right cant think of any other reason.