Dig deeper to find the cause of Windows start-up delays

[DKT27]

Who doesn't want their PC to start faster? Even if you've trimmed the list of Windows' start-up apps, as described here in October 2008, you may still find your PC starts too slowly. A year ago, I wrote about the free Startup Delayer from R2 Studios that lets you adjust how Windows loads your start-up programs. Two useful free tools for trimming your PC's roster of start-up apps are Pirisoft's CCleaner and Microsoft's (formerly SysInternals') AutoRuns. The problem is, you can do massive damage with such registry-editing programs--to the point of making your machine unbootable.

More than one way to start Windows

The first step in rooting out the cause of interminable boots is using the System Configuration utility's "Diagnostic startup" option. Press the Windows key (in XP, the Windows key plus R), type msconfig, and press Enter. Under the General tab, select "Diagnostic startup" and click OK. When you restart Windows, only basic services and devices will be available. With this option selected, Windows should start in just seconds.

Windows' System Configuration utility provides a "Diagnostic startup" option for troubleshooting slow boot times.

System Configuration's "Selective startup" option lets you exclude system services and/or start-up items when Windows loads. Microsoft provides more information on these and Vista's other System Configuration options in a Help and How-to article, Using System Configuration. Similar information for XP is available in Microsoft's "System Configuration Utility overview."

If you'd like to get a closer look at your PC's start-up performance, one of Vista's internal monitors breaks down boot speed by application and process. You can view this data in the Event Viewer utility, as Ed Bott describes in "Microsoft's hidden diagnostic tool unlocks Vista start-up secrets."

Try a faster security solution

Sometimes, balky (and bulky) security software is the source of such slowdowns. Not all security software is created equal. Back in 2006, Oli Warner examined What Really Slows Windows Down and pointed the finger squarely at the big-name security programs.

Even though recent releases of antivirus and other security apps are faster and have much smaller footprints, you might be able to shave precious seconds off your daily boot times by switching to a faster security program. For example, in last October's "Security software that won't slow you down," Dwight Silverman of the Houston Chronicle marveled at the speed of Microsoft's free Security Essentials.

In some situations, slow starts go with the territory

It didn't take long for me to figure out that on my Vista PC, the three programs slowing start-ups the most were my security software, automatic-backup service, and virtualization app. In all three cases, I'm willing to live with the slowdown in exchange for the protection the programs afford me.

I'm otherwise happy with the security app. Once it has started, it's fairly unobtrusive, and most importantly, the program has kept the machine malware-free. The backup service is another keeper; it has saved my bacon on more than a few occasions, and like the security program, I'm hardly aware of the utility's near-real-time backups--after it loads, that is.

Since I don't start the machine in a virtual mode, I could set the virtualization program not to run at start-up. However, I'm forever downloading, installing, testing, and uninstalling the programs I review, so it's convenient to enter my PC's sandbox simply by clicking the virtualization app's icon in the taskbar's notification area.

I don't mind putting another 10 or 15 seconds between me and the start of my workday if doing so might save me from having to spend hours later recovering from a PC catastrophe.

Source - CNET

[chlorophyll]

if i switch to diagnostic mode which device drivers and services wil be turned off??

D,u hav any idea about this?? :blink:

[HX1]

I dunno.. but the last time I chose to 'Optimize' .. whew.. yeah.. almost had to re-install.. LOL.. One of the reason I stay away from changing much here.. with this program ( msconfig.exe )

[DKT27]

Msconfig is a wonderful thing if you don't play with it's tabs other than the startup and general ones.

@Ravi: I have no idea but it seems that it will make your PC start like in safe mode but a bit better looks etc.

[chlorophyll]

safe mode?? :fear:

then its better to stay from it.i like to SEE all FEATURES in my lappy :lol:

[box]

I posted in my findings when using Win7xGU that if I exceeded the 30 day grace period, my Windows 7 with SSD boots in 25-30 seconds. If the license is valid, then it boots in 55-59 seconds. The 30 seconds additional delays seems to be due to the validation process. :frusty:

[DKT27]

What? :blink:

Is it same when activated by an activator? :unsure:

[*dcs18]

Tweaking the services also contributes towards a quicker boot . . . . . . . . . big time (pun unintended.) B)

[HX1]

The Ultimate Troubleshooter is one of the only ( few comprehensive ) programs out there that can help with some of this.. Yamicsoft Windows 7 Manager does as well.. Task Scheduler is a big one I think too...

[implague]

Agreed :rolleyes: