What is the best method for pinpointing the component of the Windows XP boot process which is the most time-consuming?

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What, exactly, do you want the information for? I mean, are you just going to shut off whatever takes the longest? I think you can get programs that tweak a few settings in the boot sequence (not sure on that) but otherwise everything that boots, boots for a reason. Basically the slow aspect of main concern is that its Windows XP You'll never be able to make it boot super fast. At least not the pre-visible desktop portion.

If you're talking the computer boots, windows boots, you login, and then it takes forever for the desktop to appear and programs to stop popping on and whatnot, check for spyware, turn off useless programs that boot "on startup", keep the desktop clean, and just generally dont let your computer get clogged full of garbage. These will all not only speed up boot but make the system run smoother on the whole.

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I have a friend whose WinXP PC takes around 5-6 minutes to boot, whereas all other PCs I've seen take 1 minute give or take.
Mine boots in 30 seconds.

So this friend asked for my help and it turns out that this PC was made in someone's garage from components which obviously hadn't been tested for compatibility.
The way it's behaving is that after the logo / progress bar has finished doing its thing, the screen turns black and stays black for about 3-4 minutes, then eventually you get to the welcome screen and so on.

I have a hunch that the boot process is trying to configure some piece of hardware which isn't really needed and it makes a preset number of attempts before finally giving up and turning it over to the desktop.
We tried removing all non-essential hardware (webcam, SanDisk card reader) but it's still booting slowly.

I would at least like to be able to tell this friend why his PC is booting so slowly, even if there's nothing we can do about it.

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So the problem is not booting up, the problem is when it's logging into Windows? How much memory/RAM does this computer have? Have you tried formatting and reinstalling Windows from a clean state? Did you check the motherboard to make sure there are no blown capacitors? Did you try booting from one of those live Linux CDs (like Knoppix - http://www.knoppix.net/)? See if that's slow to run. If so, it might be the motherboard.

There could be many reasons behind this slow issue. Troubleshoot it more and you will be able to narrow it down.

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I think it's in your friend's best interest to just buy a new computer. There are computers that are approximately US$300 - 400 floating around from Acer, HP and other large companies.

Most of them now also run Windows Vista, so you don't need to worry about if it works with Vista.

xboxrulz

 

 

 

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from the sound of that, I thought of what WeaponX said, how much RAM does the computer have? A computer that is taking that long to get from the loading screen to the welcome screen must be running low on memory. Windows XP runs on a base memory of 256MB, but the minimum is 128 (from memory(no pun intended there )) I have used 256MB before (it loads ok to start with, but the more files and programs - it slows quickly). 512MB is a good amount - it loads very quickly at a fresh install and works well with a heap of programs.

I have 1GB and load about 10 programs at startup and that takes a little while, which is fine with me!

So I think your problem (or your friends problem ) is RAM, a 256 MB chip nowadays is very cheap and will speed up windows amazingly. No editing of startup items is going to make windows load faster then a new memory stick!
-jimmy

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The PC has 512 MB of RAM, an AMD Athlon processor at 1.54 GHz and runs decently while in normal operation.

If I had a dollar for each time I installed XP from scratch on this guy's PC with no effect on the boot problem I would ... fill a tank of gas.

I looked at the motherboard and it looks intact to my untrained eye (no blown capacitors).

I will try booting Knoppix as the next step, and if it's a motherboard problem, I will point him to this thread.

The only problem with Knoppix though, is that I wouldn't be comparing apples to apples (XP booting from a fast HDD vs. Knoppix booting from a relatively slow CD/DVD drive), but I'll try it anyway.

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If the monitor clicks off for a long time before clicking back on it has nothing to do with the ram or how many programs. That would in fact be your graphics card vs monitor vs drivers vs refresh rate and there is only four ways to fix that.

One would be change the refresh rate and or resolution.
And if that don't work.
Two would be switch graphics port (if you can).
And if that don't work.
Three get a new monitor (usually this works).
But if it fails.
Four get a new graphics card(always works).
You could also try getting a new driver but that never works for me.

But if it's not doing what I think its doing than you could try changing the page file on your system.

If you have more than one drive on your computer, then you can speed up the boot time by setting your page file to the slave drive instead of the primary (Which is the default)

To do this first you must Log on to the computer as Administrator, then Click Start, and then click Control Panel, Click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System, and then Click the Advanced tab, and then under Performance, click Settings, your still not there so Click the Advanced tab, and then under Virtual memory, click Change. If you have more than one drive, than you should click the C drive and then select "No paging file" (note do not do this if you only have one drive) then click set. then you would select the other drive and then click "custom size" then enter about 300 MB over what is recommended, but be sure there enough space on the drive for it, in both boxes under the words custom size, make sure the values are the same(also note that going to high can slow your computer down as well I would say no more than 1500 MB) then click set and OK, of course you will have to restart but at least it will boost the speed by at least 2 times.

If you only have one drive then you should get another, and dedicate it entirely to paging file and it should not be no more than 5 GB.

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Come to think of it, it could be your Bois settings, as well, well but I don't suggest changing these your self.
but if you want to try go to system tools located in the in the "Accessories" of your "Start Menu" then go to "System Info".
then Extend the "Hardware Resources" with the + sign next to it, then click "Conflicts/Sharing" and post what it says here.

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Also try to allocate more Shared Graphics Memory to the system.

xboxrulz

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