Since I did a Catalog Compress the system is taking 39 minutes from the time I select Backup from the Roxio Menu until I get the Directory Selection Window, Any suggestions as to the possible culprit?

Well, the only answer that I can give you with the information provided [We'll need more info] is that its possible that when you did the catalog compress, you saved it to your computer, and that ate up the rest of your memory, leaving you with not enough to store temp files.

This, however, is just a shot in the dark. We'll need some computer specs, along with what else you did in the meantime, as it could have been a virus that did this...