Suggestion for speeding up my PC's start-up time.

[magpienja]

My PC seem to take forever to fully start-up on firing it up...I'm running XP,

The last thing to appear on the task bar at the bottom of the screen is Sygate firewall,

Tried clearing all of the temp internet files...but it doesn't help,

Once its up and running its fine,

suggestions anybody please.

Nick.

[ShyTorque]

You might be able to get into the BIOS and select a quickboot option. This would help a little but your main problem is possibly the number of programs being started on startup of XP.

I regularly use "CCleaner" which can be downloaded for free and has options to clean up stuff you don't need.

CCleaner - Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download (http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner)

[green granite]

Type 'sysconfig' into the run box, press return click on the 'start up tab and untick all the programs you don't need to running all the time, then do the same in the 'services' tab.

[vulcanised]

I got rid of the XP splash screen (forget how) which helped a bit.

Assume you have reasonable free space on the HD which you've defragged fairly recently?

[Mike-Bracknell]

Uninstall Sygate firewall.

[Tarq57]

Almost certainly un-needed programs starting with Windows. These can include programs that came pre-installed, such as Adobe Reader.

GG above mentions to type sysconfig into the run box; pretty sure that should be "msconfig" (without the quotes). Run it, select the start up tab, and have a look at what is listed. You might find the number of installed programs that decide they should start with Windows interesting.

How deep do you want to get into this?

[Shandy52]

You may not need to remove any startup programs to gain an improvement - part of the problem is that Windows (at least up to XP) kicks off all the startup programs more or less at once, thus causing contention for resources. I have in the past used a program called WinPatrol, which among other things enables you to set a defined delay on specific programs. When used with care, this can alleviate the problem considerably.

[green granite]

GG above mentions to type sysconfig into the run box; pretty sure that should be "msconfig"

Your right its a long time since I used XP and I tend use a different way in to it W7 (and I was thinking of config.sys anyway :ugh:)

[Load Toad]

I've used Soluto: Soluto (http://www.soluto.com/)

- which seemed to help start up my PC.

[mixture]

How much RAM have you got ? Might be time for a couple of chips to find their way into your computer.

[The Nr Fairy]

SSD - without a doubt.

So much faster than platter disks, but at a price. But it will reinvigorate a tired PC/laptop.

[jimtherev]

I'm surprised that no-one has yet suggested hibernation. IMHO a full restart every time just isn't necessary, if you don't have, for example, a silly app running which has a memory leak. I've found that a full restart about every week, with a use of Ccleaner about every month, keeps everything running slickly. Morning start-up time is about 15 seconds with my present setup.

[magpienja]

Thanks guys...as for stopping unnecessary progs...after going into MSCONFIG,

The only problem is me knowing which ones are needed....some of the entries are obscure names that I dont recognise....any tips for knowing which ones to stop.

Nick.

[green granite]

ignore the ones with obscure names, go for ones that you don't use very often but are loaded at start up such as your sat-nav and camera programs, they don't need to be running all the time, things like word, open office and adobe load up just to save a few moments when you open them for use. If you find you've un-ticked something that was in fact useful to have permanently running you can always re-tick it.

[Tarq57]

"Googling" the names will generally lead to identification of the program the process belongs to.

Some of the programs you might actually want to run at start...antivirus, firewall etc. Many of them (Skype, or Adobe, for example) you may wish to disable from starting, unless they pertain to the main reason you have a computer running.

Those that you wish to disable are best done (1) through each individual program interface, where such an option is available (program concerned>tools>options is usually the way to find these.)

Some run as a service. These are better disabled via the run box, and "services.msc" (without the quotes), and setting the start type in that window to "manual".

Slightly off topic, but I agree with uninstalling Sygate firewall. Nothing wrong with it, as far as I know, but Windows firewall is generally adequate, in combination with a good AV, and prompting for the running of any scripts in the browser.

If you would like any help with a particular process, feel free to ask.

[OFSO]

I'm with jimt...sleep or hibernation instead of a shutdown and restart. Fact is I only do the latter when there's an update to install which requires it or when I'm away for a few days, otherwise it's sleep every night.

Incidently I have the central heating radiator permanently off in the office (hence the name "office"...er hat, coat) and in winter the PC & periphs stay on and keep the room above freezing.

[Mike-Bracknell]

Slightly off topic, but I agree with uninstalling Sygate firewall. Nothing wrong with it, as far as I know, but Windows firewall is generally adequate, in combination with a good AV, and prompting for the running of any scripts in the browser.
Off topic? I'd not have mentioned it if I thought it didn't have an effect (despite many here understanding I have a deep-seated dislike of 3rd-party firewalls).

It's my assertion that the firewall software will inevitably end up firewalling essential internal Windows processes that communicate between each other via the IP stack, and the slowdown you notice are the relevant services waiting and then timing out. Left long enough or with a wrong enough configuration (or having a nasty enough software shim to remove) and it'll knacker your PC enough to require a rebuild.

Incidentally, whilst my first reply was brief (but to the point), I would also add an SSD will speed up things enough to make you feel the laptop's rejuvinated (this is because the hard drive, being a moving part, has to move physically to retrieve or send the data to/from the platters, and is hence the slowest component in a PC).

Ignore all of these "tune up" pieces of software. I've yet to see one that'll make a significant difference unless your system's borked already. Uninstalling all the hardly-used software you've loaded the PC up with in the past would help, as would surveying what programs are running in the taskbar and under the startup items.

However, all that said, remove the firewall s/w first and see whether it makes the bulk of difference :ok:

I'm with jimt...sleep or hibernation instead of a shutdown and restart. Fact is I only do the latter when there's an update to install which requires it or when I'm away for a few days, otherwise it's sleep every night.

Incidently I have the central heating radiator permanently off in the office (hence the name "office"...er hat, coat) and in winter the PC & periphs stay on and keep the room above freezing.

Sleep/hibernation has never worked properly in Windows XP. It only started being semi-useful in Vista onwards (but still has the ability to mess with your networking based upon what components are in your PC).

[rogerg]

Sleep/hibernation has never worked properly in Windows XP
Its worked for me for many years. Just horses for courses. Worth trying for a bit.

[magpienja]

Mmmmm so is hibernation the same as stand by...as thats what I have when I go to shut down?

And is there a downside of leaving it in stand by...

Now if I ditch Sygate firewall and use the in built windows fire wall will that be up to the job....the only reason I disabled it and run Sygate is that I read that the windows fire wall is naff...but several of you have know recommended ditch it.

Nick.

[txdmy1]

Security essentials is free, used it since it came out, found it good and not intrusive like Norton. Also use Malware bytes and scan once a week. Thing is to keep them & your other software including Ms up to date with patches. Not had any thing on this PC since I bought it 3 years ago ;)

[jimtherev]

Mmmmm so is hibernation the same as stand by
Not quite - tho' the effect may seem the same.

Essentially, 'stand by' powers down yer hard drives, usb, video & sound drivers - in fact everything except the motherboard, which remains awaiting your next command. It then powers up the peripherals & gets on with it.

Hibernation is different in that it makes an exact copy of everything you are doing at the time, onto the hard drive. It then turns the machine off completely. This obviously saves energy (takes no power at all in a laptop, a tiny amount in a desktop, 'cos the powersupply is still connected to the mains) and arguably protects your machine from power surges, since it ain't doing anything to be ruined by spikes of volts.
Restart from hibernate is a bit slower, since everything has to be reloaded from the hard drive. But it doesn't take long. Usually!

[Mike-Bracknell]

Mmmmm so is hibernation the same as stand by...as thats what I have when I go to shut down?

And is there a downside of leaving it in stand by...

Now if I ditch Sygate firewall and use the in built windows fire wall will that be up to the job....the only reason I disabled it and run Sygate is that I read that the windows fire wall is naff...but several of you have know recommended ditch it.

Nick.

Nick, I do this as a day job for several hundred customers. I wouldn't have recommended it if it had significant downsides.

I realise that doesn't provide you with info as to whether or not i'm any good, but i've been in the industry for over 20 years and have yet to have a customer complain of being hacked whilst in my care.

[magpienja]

I'm convinced Mike re Sygate...going to switch the windows one back on...

Just found how to go in to hibernation never used it before...and I'm surprised at the difference it makes,

So do most users use the hibernation method when the PC is not in use???


Nick.

[jimtherev]

So do most users use the hibernation method when the PC is not in use???

Nick.
Prob. not, Nick, 'cos, as Mike has hinted above there have been problems with hibernate/sleep in past presentations of Windows and people got to hear about this. In addition, 'hibernate' is not normally enabled: one has to find out about it and switch it on. Speak as I find, however, I've never had probs caused by hib - as far as I know, and I do - as I said above - do a 'proper' restart every so often.

p.s. Guru-wise, I'd give Mike-B my vote.
(He even comes from Bracknell: a town I enjoyed living in for 20 years, though no-one else seems to share my opinion of it.:))

[mixture]

a town I enjoyed living in for 20 years, though no-one else seems to share my opinion of it

A town best viewed from the safety of the M4 motorway en-passant... (or, this being PPRuNe, a few thousand feet up). :E

[jetcollie]

Another big recommendation for SOLUTO. It really is the bees knees for understanding and pruning your start up programs. Also, have you run any defragmentation programs recently - Auslogics have a very good free program version.

[Mike-Bracknell]

p.s. Guru-wise, I'd give Mike-B my vote.
(He even comes from Bracknell: a town I enjoyed living in for 20 years, though no-one else seems to share my opinion of it.:))

I now feel like Sheriff Bart from Blazing Saddles. It's taken a long time to earn the trust of people round here ;)

p.s. - I'm originally from Hemel Hempstead, so even worse!

[vulcanised]

Well, I wish I'd never heard of SOLUTO.

I downloaded the installer and it started a lengthy (15-20 minute) routine with several Avast alerts triggered. At the end, it said "How embarrassing, there is a problem. Click here for possible causes".

Well, I 'clicked here' and..........nothing!

Uninstall followed. Just hope it wasn't data mining.

[M.Mouse]

I found Soluto worked as advertised but only managed to shave 8 secs of my boot time with everything it recommended prevented from loading!

I use this (http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml) piece of standalone, small and free software. Not as comprehensive as some nor can it prevent Quicktime and one or two other pieces of software from starting but useful nonetheless.

[magpienja]

Just been reading up on the use of hibernation with XP,

Says the hard drive copies what you are doing on going into hibernation,

Am I correct in thinking that on start-up the PC will dump the info it stored to go into hibernation and it wont be clogging memory.

Nick.

[mixture]

Am I correct in thinking that on start-up the PC will dump the info it stored to go into hibernation and it wont be clogging memory.


Yes, that's the whole way hibernation works.

Sleep saves your computer's state in RAM.

This makes it quick to restore, but is obviously volatile (i.e. lose power, lose stored state).

Hibernation stores the contents of your RAM on disk (similarly to what happens during paging when you don't have enough RAM and the computer uses your disk as virtual RAM).

This makes it slower to restore, but is not volatile (i.e. you can remove power source and not worry).