How do I improve -
<div class="IPBDescription">windows XP's boot time.</div>My computer boots incredibly slow. How do i reduce the boottime?
I did some alterations to the boot.ini some time ago, when i thought it would be fun to display a picture of my drunken self, instead of the windows XP logo.
However, after i altered, and even after i removed the replacement, i get a wierd extra boot step. When my computer starts, it gives me 2 options before entering windows.
1 is Windows XP
2 is Windows XP
Iam unable to select any of them, becourse my keyboard isn't activated before windows is started.
What it gives me is 30 secounds of extra wait time.
How do I fix this problem?
<b>Any further tips and tricks on how to improve the boot time is welcome!</b>
Thank you guys in advance.
(my english may have failed me a couple of times through the post, Iam tired and can't be bothered to go through gramma right now <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />)
((offtopic: Iam interested, would you define my written language as english or american? just interested)
I did some alterations to the boot.ini some time ago, when i thought it would be fun to display a picture of my drunken self, instead of the windows XP logo.
However, after i altered, and even after i removed the replacement, i get a wierd extra boot step. When my computer starts, it gives me 2 options before entering windows.
1 is Windows XP
2 is Windows XP
Iam unable to select any of them, becourse my keyboard isn't activated before windows is started.
What it gives me is 30 secounds of extra wait time.
How do I fix this problem?
<b>Any further tips and tricks on how to improve the boot time is welcome!</b>
Thank you guys in advance.
(my english may have failed me a couple of times through the post, Iam tired and can't be bothered to go through gramma right now <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />)
((offtopic: Iam interested, would you define my written language as english or american? just interested)
Comments
Go to run, type in "msconfig", select "Selective Startup", hit the "Startup" tab, and see how many proggys you have running at startup. As an example I have only four boxes selected. Many computers I work on have 12 to 15 or more.
<a href="http://maheshexp.wordpress.com/2006/09/12/tweak-windows-xp-bootup/" target="_blank">Tweak Windows XP Bootup</a> has a LOT of good tips, many of which I use.
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Since defragging the disk won’t do much to improve Windows XP performance, here are 23 suggestions that will. Each can enhance the performance and reliability of your customers’ PCs. Best of all, most of them will cost you nothing.
* To decrease a system’s boot time and increase system performance, use the money you save by not buying defragmentation software — the built-in Windows defragmenter works just fine — and instead equip the computer with an Ultra-133 or Serial ATA hard drive with 8-MB cache buffer.
* If a PC has less than 512 MB of RAM, add more memory. This is a relatively inexpensive and easy upgrade that can dramatically improve system performance.
* Ensure that Windows XP is utilizing the NTFS file system. If you’re not sure, here’s how to check: First, double-click the My Computer icon, right-click on the C: Drive, then select Properties. Next, examine the File System type; if it says FAT32, then back-up any important data. Next, click Start, click Run, type CMD, and then click OK. At the prompt, type CONVERT C: /FS:NTFS and press the Enter key. This process may take a while; it’s important that the computer be uninterrupted and virus-free. The file system used by the bootable drive will be either FAT32 or NTFS. I highly recommend NTFS for its superior security, reliability, and efficiency with larger disk drives.
* Disable file indexing. The indexing service extracts information from documents and other files on the hard drive and creates a “searchable keyword index.” As you can imagine, this process can be quite taxing on any system.
The idea is that the user can search for a word, phrase, or property inside a document, should they have hundreds or thousands of documents and not know the file name of the document they want. Windows XP’s built-in search functionality can still perform these kinds of searches without the Indexing service. It just takes longer. The OS has to open each file at the time of the request to help find what the user is looking for.
Most people never need this feature of search. Those who do are typically in a large corporate environment where thousands of documents are located on at least one server. But if you’re a typical system builder, most of your clients are small and medium businesses. And if your clients have no need for this search feature, I recommend disabling it.
Here’s how: First, double-click the My Computer icon. Next, right-click on the C: Drive, then select Properties. Uncheck “Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching.” Next, apply changes to “C: subfolders and files,” and click OK. If a warning or error message appears (such as “Access is denied”), click the Ignore All button.
* Update the PC’s video and motherboard chipset drivers. Also, update and configure the BIOS. For more information on how to configure your BIOS properly, see this article on my site.
* Empty the Windows Prefetch folder every three months or so. Windows XP can “prefetch” portions of data and applications that are used frequently. This makes processes appear to load faster when called upon by the user. That’s fine. But over time, the prefetch folder may become overloaded with references to files and applications no longer in use. When that happens, Windows XP is wasting time, and slowing system performance, by pre-loading them. Nothing critical is in this folder, and the entire contents are safe to delete.
* Once a month, run a disk cleanup. Here’s how: Double-click the My Computer icon. Then right-click on the C: drive and select Properties. Click the Disk Cleanup button — it’s just to the right of the Capacity pie graph — and delete all temporary files.
* In your Device Manager, double-click on the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers device, and ensure that DMA is enabled for each drive you have connected to the Primary and Secondary controller. Do this by double-clicking on Primary IDE Channel. Then click the Advanced Settings tab. Ensure the Transfer Mode is set to “DMA if available” for both Device 0 and Device 1. Then repeat this process with the Secondary IDE Channel.
* Upgrade the cabling. As hard-drive technology improves, the cabling requirements to achieve these performance boosts have become more stringent. Be sure to use 80-wire Ultra-133 cables on all of your IDE devices with the connectors properly assigned to the matching Master/Slave/Motherboard sockets. A single device must be at the end of the cable; connecting a single drive to the middle connector on a ribbon cable will cause signaling problems. With Ultra DMA hard drives, these signaling problems will prevent the drive from performing at its maximum potential. Also, because these cables inherently support “cable select,” the location of each drive on the cable is important. For these reasons, the cable is designed so drive positioning is explicitly clear.
* Remove all spyware from the computer. Use free programs such as AdAware by Lavasoft or SpyBot Search & Destroy. Once these programs are installed, be sure to check for and download any updates before starting your search. Anything either program finds can be safely removed. Any free software that requires spyware to run will no longer function once the spyware portion has been removed; if your customer really wants the program even though it contains spyware, simply reinstall it. For more information on removing Spyware visit this Web Pro News page.
11.) Remove any unnecessary programs and/or items from Windows Startup routine using the MSCONFIG utility. Here’s how: First, click Start, click Run, type MSCONFIG, and click OK. Click the StartUp tab, then uncheck any items you don’t want to start when Windows starts. Unsure what some items are? Visit the WinTasks Process Library. It contains known system processes, applications, as well as spyware references and explanations. Or quickly identify them by searching for the filenames using Google or another Web search engine.
* Remove any unnecessary or unused programs from the Add/Remove Programs section of the Control Panel.
* Turn off any and all unnecessary animations, and disable active desktop. In fact, for optimal performance, turn off all animations. Windows XP offers many different settings in this area. Here’s how to do it: First click on the System icon in the Control Panel. Next, click on the Advanced tab. Select the Settings button located under Performance. Feel free to play around with the options offered here, as nothing you can change will alter the reliability of the computer — only its responsiveness.
* If your customer is an advanced user who is comfortable editing their registry, try some of the performance registry tweaks offered at Tweak XP.
* Visit Microsoft’s Windows update site regularly, and download all updates labeled Critical. Download any optional updates at your discretion.
* Update the customer’s anti-virus software on a weekly, even daily, basis. Make sure they have only one anti-virus software package installed. Mixing anti-virus software is a sure way to spell disaster for performance and reliability.
* Make sure the customer has fewer than 500 type fonts installed on their computer. The more fonts they have, the slower the system will become. While Windows XP handles fonts much more efficiently than did the previous versions of Windows, too many fonts — that is, anything over 500 — will noticeably tax the system.
* Do not partition the hard drive. Windows XP’s NTFS file system runs more efficiently on one large partition. The data is no safer on a separate partition, and a reformat is never necessary to reinstall an operating system. The same excuses people offer for using partitions apply to using a folder instead. For example, instead of putting all your data on the D: drive, put it in a folder called “D drive.” You’ll achieve the same organizational benefits that a separate partition offers, but without the degradation in system performance. Also, your free space won’t be limited by the size of the partition; instead, it will be limited by the size of the entire hard drive. This means you won’t need to resize any partitions, ever. That task can be time-consuming and also can result in lost data.
* Check the system’s RAM to ensure it is operating properly. I recommend using a free program called MemTest86. The download will make a bootable CD or diskette (your choice), which will run 10 extensive tests on the PC’s memory automatically after you boot to the disk you created. Allow all tests to run until at least three passes of the 10 tests are completed. If the program encounters any errors, turn off and unplug the computer, remove a stick of memory (assuming you have more than one), and run the test again. Remember, bad memory cannot be repaired, but only replaced.
* If the PC has a CD or DVD recorder, check the drive manufacturer’s Web site for updated firmware. In some cases you’ll be able to upgrade the recorder to a faster speed. Best of all, it’s free.
* Disable unnecessary services. Windows XP loads a lot of services that your customer most likely does not need. To determine which services you can disable for your client, visit the Black Viper site for Windows XP configurations.
* If you’re sick of a single Windows Explorer window crashing and then taking the rest of your OS down with it, then follow this tip: open My Computer, click on Tools, then Folder Options. Now click on the View tab. Scroll down to “Launch folder windows in a separate process,” and enable this option. You’ll have to reboot your machine for this option to take effect.
* At least once a year, open the computer’s cases and blow out all the dust and debris. While you’re in there, check that all the fans are turning properly. Also inspect the motherboard capacitors for bulging or leaks. For more information on this leaking-capacitor phenomena, you can read numerous articles on my site.
Following any of these suggestions should result in noticeable improvements to the performance and reliability of your customers’ computers. If you still want to defrag a disk, remember that the main benefit will be to make your data more retrievable in the event of a crashed drive.
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Another one I have bookmarked is <a href="http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1590&page=32" target="_blank">99 Performance Tips For Windows XP</a>. Remember, <b>ALWAYS</b>
Remember, <b>ALWAYS</b> backup your registry before tweaking it.
This should get you started - there's some really good tips above. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
The actual boot problem here is that the boot.ini file was modified by something akin to StyleXP. Adding a new bootscreen adds a new line to the boot.ini file.
Under the default installation settings, you boot.ini should read
<!--QuoteBegin-Default boot.ini+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Default boot.ini)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Professional x64 Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
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Obviously, that is the default for Windows XP x64, but the same holds true for the x86 version, just "Windows XP Professional x64 Edition" will be replaced with either "Windows XP Home Edition", or "Windows XP Professional Edition", whichever is installed on your system. Neither actually make any difference to the bootup, you could name it "LOL M$ Borked my OS" for all the bootloader could care, it's the laymans clarification of what that option applies to.
Now, if there are 2 different lines under [operating systems], then that would be the reason why it's asking you which one you want to boot to. Go to C:\boot.ini (you might need to show all hidden files and folders), or load up notepad, and open the C:\boot.ini file.
For arguments sake, you've got x64 (makes it easier to explain), so you bootloader might look like this
<!--QuoteBegin-"Modified boot.ini+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE("Modified boot.ini)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Professional x64 Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Professional x64 Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
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Obviously, that's one line too many, so highlight the duplicate line (it MUST be the duplicate), and delete it. Save the file, then restart your PC. You'll find the problem magically gone, as the ntldr program is now only going to look for 1 installation, so it's not going to ask you what one you want to load.
As for physical boot times, people will sing the praises of the WD Raptors until they're blue in the face. Nothing beats a 10k rpm drive, with a stupid amount of cache for boot times, except for a RAM drive card, but let's not go there... Onyl problem being is that the Raptors are around 36GB, and have one of the most expensive cost per GB of any drive out there. But you're not paying for the capacity, you're paying for the performance...
The easiest way to safely reach/edit boot.ini is by right-clicking My Computer, going to Properties, choosing the Advanced tab, and choosing the Settings button in Startup and Recovery.
Some things to note on this page:
The drop-down menu contains 1 item for each "operating system" line in boot.ini. You can choose the default here.
The 1st checkbox and "seconds" timer option relates to how long that "operating system" choice screen stays up. If you lower the number in the seconds timer, you'll be able to wait only, say, 3 seconds instead of 30.
Or you can uncheck it and skip that entire screen; the effects of that'll be the same as removing all but 1 operating system line in boot.ini.
If you really do want to directly edit boot.ini, just press the "Edit" button on this screen.
Don't mean to be a cocky little sh*te, but none of those steps will actually solve the problem that is apparent.
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If you'll read the bold text in the first post, "<b>Any further tips and tricks on how to improve the boot time is welcome!</b>" you'll understand this is what I was replying to. If you're saying that none of the tips I offered will improve boot time then you're flat out incorrect.
<!--coloro:orange--><span style="color:orange"><!--/coloro-->[interrupt by Marik]Calm down everyone, we're all trying to help out here <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" /> <!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
Don't start snapping back at me out of habit because you fail to see the immediate problem
@Lt_Patch: Depot was just posting other stuff that others may find helpful, it's a more useful and better post than this post or other various posts that are just stuff like "lol" or "I own" or "You're funny".
And if you read my post, then you'll realise that the tips you suggested would still leave the problem apparent.
Don't start snapping back at me out of habit because you fail to see the immediate problem
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Re-read it again Patch - he stated his problem and <b>THEN</b> asked for any other tips. I already stated I couldn't help him with the first, but showed him several tips he asked for in the second. "Those steps" as you referred to them were the tips he requested in boldface. The tips were <b>NOT</b> intended to fix his problem, nor did I infer they would.
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I just noticed I don't have the disk clean up button on my computer anymore. Where are other locations? I thought I remembered using it on this computer.
@Lt_Patch: Depot was just posting other stuff that others may find helpful, it's a more useful and better post than this post or other various posts that are just stuff like "lol" or "I own" or "You're funny".
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Disk cleanup can be found by going to All Programs -> Accessories -> System tools -> Disk Cleanup <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
MonsE had an awesome"this stuff makes windows go zoom" guide on RR, anyone have it lying around?
obligatory: use [other os], problem solved!
MonsE had an awesome"this stuff makes windows go zoom" guide on RR, anyone have it lying around?
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I agree it was an amazing guide, titled something along the lines of "Zen and the art of..." and I forget whether the final words in the title were "Windows OS maintenance," or "Microsoft OS maintenance," or something similar.
The problem with his guide by now is that it was written for Windows 2000 + Service pack 4 & hardware corresponding to that era. A number of the tweaks suggested will either have no effect or a *slowdown* effect on a Windows XP + Service Pack 2 installation. (I seem to remember him saying he'd love to make a newer guide to replace it, but I imagine it'd require spending time he doesn't have to spare). Until/unless MonsE makes a guide for Windows XP, I've decided to use <a href="http://www.tweakguides.com/TGTC.html" target="_blank">this guide</a> instead.
Thanks for the ekstra tips, did a couple and made me remember something very important, so all in all a good read. Please don't snap at eachother though.
obligatory: use [other os], problem solved!
MonsE had an awesome"this stuff makes windows go zoom" guide on RR, anyone have it lying around?
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Didn't MonsE later denounce that guide claiming it was hideously out of date?