booting problem

[Orpheas Litos]

I have Windows Vista Home Premium and I prefer to shut down my computer over
putting it to sleep every time I leave. However, when I turn it on again,
sometimes it gets stuck for 2-5 minutes in the windows loading screen, just
at the moment that this screen first appears. I see the "Microsoft
Corporation" and the loading bar (which does not animate) a little faded, and
after this 2-5 minutes pass, it runs normally. I think that this is a problem
of Windows, so I suggest updating Windows so as to solve the problem. If this
happens only on my computer, please suggest some solutions.

----------------
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http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/co...a2e&dg=microsoft.public.windows.vista.general

 

[Malke]

I have Windows Vista Home Premium and I prefer to shut down my computer over
putting it to sleep every time I leave. However, when I turn it on again,
sometimes it gets stuck for 2-5 minutes in the windows loading screen, just
at the moment that this screen first appears. I see the "Microsoft
Corporation" and the loading bar (which does not animate) a little faded, and
after this 2-5 minutes pass, it runs normally. I think that this is a problem
of Windows, so I suggest updating Windows so as to solve the problem. If this
happens only on my computer, please suggest some solutions.

I won't say this happens only on your computer but it doesn't happen on
*all* computers running Vista. It doesn't happen on mine. You need to
look at what you've got starting with Windows. Also make sure your
drivers are good; and look in Vista's Problem Reports & Solutions (in
Control Panel) and in Event Viewer (Start Orb>Search box>type:
eventvwr.msc) to see if something is failing.

If you don't see any obvious clues in those troubleshooting tools, do a
clean boot to further investigate:

How to perform a clean boot in Vista and XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/331796


Malke

 

[mikeyhsd]

first thing I always recommend is to
DELETE the CONTENTS of the Prefetch folder, just the contents not the folder.

windows will begin to rebuild it after you reboot.

there are plenty of nay sayers,bit it has ALWAYS worked.

the major problem that STILL exists is that windows does not remove OLD no longer needed entries and the system chases its tail, looking for them.



(e-mail address removed)



I have Windows Vista Home Premium and I prefer to shut down my computer over
putting it to sleep every time I leave. However, when I turn it on again,
sometimes it gets stuck for 2-5 minutes in the windows loading screen, just
at the moment that this screen first appears. I see the "Microsoft
Corporation" and the loading bar (which does not animate) a little faded, and
after this 2-5 minutes pass, it runs normally. I think that this is a problem
of Windows, so I suggest updating Windows so as to solve the problem. If this
happens only on my computer, please suggest some solutions.

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/co...a2e&dg=microsoft.public.windows.vista.general

 

[Orpheas Litos]

I tried to do a clean boot and I simply had a simple reboot of my system (the
problem didn't occur). However, it still seems as though it will happen again
anytime... It seems like those problems that can't be fixed by you or me, but
need an official update to solve them. Anyway, thanks for your help!

 

[Orpheas Litos]

Sorry for being such a weirdo, but could you please explain a little what
this 'prefetch' folder is all about? What does it have to do with my problem?
I'm a little afraid to erase all this... Considering all the 'nay sayers' and
stuff... Anyway, thanks!

 

[Malke]

Sorry for being such a weirdo, but could you please explain a little what
this 'prefetch' folder is all about? What does it have to do with my problem?
I'm a little afraid to erase all this... Considering all the 'nay sayers' and
stuff... Anyway, thanks!

Prefetch has nothing to do with your problem and does not exist in
Vista, having been replaced by Superfetch. In fact, deleting Prefetch
contents in XP will usually slow the machine until the contents are
rebuilt again. In any case, Prefetch doesn't have anything to do with
slow booting. Here is the official Microsoft explanation of Prefetch (XP):

"The files in the Prefetch folder are data files related to enhancing
the speed at which applications start. Windows XP Professional monitors
the files that are used when the computer starts and when you start
applications. By monitoring these files, Windows XP Professional can
prefetch them. Prefetching data is the process whereby data that is
expected to be requested is read ahead into the cache. Prefetching boot
files and applications decreases the time needed to start Windows XP
Professional and start applications."

Here's a good article about Prefetch and Superfetch:

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10877_11-6039379.html?tag=nl.e132

Relevant quote:

"As the next version of Windows XP's Prefetch, SuperFetch does
everything that Prefetch does and more.

"To begin with, SuperFetch overcomes one of the big drawbacks in Windows
XP's Prefetch technology. As I've explained, Prefetch improves
efficiency by loading the majority of the files and data needed by an
application or process into memory so that they can be accessed very
quickly when needed. However, because these files and data exist in
memory, they are subject to the laws governing virtual memory. In other
words, when other applications need access to memory, any prefetched
data is moved out to the page file on the hard disk. When it is needed
again, it then must be moved back from the page file to memory, which of
course offsets the performance enhancement.

"SuperFetch goes one step further to ensure that you get the most out of
the performance enhancement. In addition to constructing the map files I
described earlier, SuperFetch also constructs profiles of the
applications you use that include information about how often and when
you use them. SuperFetch then will keep track of the applications in
your profile and note when any prefetched data is moved out to the page
file. SuperFetch will then monitor the progress of the application that
caused the prefetched data to be moved out to the page file and, as soon
as that application is done, it will pull the prefetched data back into
memory. So when you go to access the application, the prefetched data
will again be available in memory and the application will be very
responsive."

And here's a shorter quote from a Microsoft site about Superfetch:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/details/superfetch.mspx

"Windows SuperFetch enables programs and files to load much faster than
they would on Windows XP–based PCs.

"When you're not actively using your computer, background
tasks—including automatic backup programs and antivirus scans—run when
they will least disturb you. These background tasks can take up system
memory space that your programs had been using. On Windows XP–based PCs,
this can slow progress to a crawl when you attempt to resume work.

"SuperFetch monitors which applications you use the most and preloads
these into your system memory so they'll be ready when you need them.
Windows Vista also runs background programs, like disk defragmenting and
Windows Defender, at low priority so that they can do their job but your
work always comes first."

So your slow booting problem has nothing to do with Superfetch. The slow
booting can be caused by lots of things such as faulty drivers, the
machine looking for network resources that may not exist (and therefore
timing out), large programs such as antivirus/security software running,
other programs loading into memory, etc. Hence the suggestion to manage
your startup programs and do a clean boot (basically starting Windows
without all of that other stuff loading into memory) in order to
discover the culprit.

HTH,


Malke

 

[Orpheas Litos]

Well, wow, you've been doing quite a research! However, I saw that the
prefetch folder still exists in windows vista, even if it works as
superfetch. As for the other solutions, I believe that my drivers are ok,
having checked for updates automatically and manually and having run several
different tests. I have already done clean boot as I've already said and have
managed my startup programs. But, as far as this is concerned, I think it
can't be this. You see, the problem arises when the computer starts loading
Windows, so it is really unlikely that any antivirus or other heavy programs
that run on startup, or even network resources are the problem. As far as I
know (and I'm not positive about it), no programs can run before windows
itself starts... But thank you anyway!

 

[Malke]

Well, wow, you've been doing quite a research! However, I saw that the
prefetch folder still exists in windows vista, even if it works as
superfetch. As for the other solutions, I believe that my drivers are ok,
having checked for updates automatically and manually and having run several
different tests. I have already done clean boot as I've already said and have
managed my startup programs. But, as far as this is concerned, I think it
can't be this. You see, the problem arises when the computer starts loading
Windows, so it is really unlikely that any antivirus or other heavy programs
that run on startup, or even network resources are the problem. As far as I
know (and I'm not positive about it), no programs can run before windows
itself starts... But thank you anyway!

Actually drivers, firewalls (some), processes (including those from
antivirus programs - which usually also have drivers) do load behind the
scenes before you ever see the Windows login. Hope you get it figured
out and sorry that I couldn't give you a definitive answer.


Malke

 

[mikeyhsd]

a failed attempt by microsoft so speed up an poorly written bloated system.
it is supposed to record the last programs you have run and move them around on the disk to make them load faster.
it has had problems from the beginning and continues to have.
biggest problem as I mentioned is the failure to remove no longer needed entries, there by causing the system to chase its tail on boot up.

clearing the contents is a no brainer as the system will start to populate the folder again next boot.
but in the mean time it removes all the excess garbage.






(e-mail address removed)



Sorry for being such a weirdo, but could you please explain a little what
this 'prefetch' folder is all about? What does it have to do with my problem?
I'm a little afraid to erase all this... Considering all the 'nay sayers' and
stuff... Anyway, thanks!