Computer Booting Speeding

[Shrikant]

How to speed up computer start up ? I have removed all desktop icons. The
booting is slow because of actions taking place in the 'tray' icons on right
hand bottom corner. One of the icons is for 'HP Product Update'. Other Icon
says "Keep your computer uptodate", then another Icon says "safely romove
hardware". They get loaded one by one with the pop up messages as each one
gets loaded. Can it be eliminated thereby speeding up the computer start up ?
Is there any way to speed up the computer ? What is the 'normal time' to boot
up the computer ? Even after my computer gets booted, I see some action on my
hard disk.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

How to speed up computer start up ? I have removed all desktop icons. The
booting is slow because of actions taking place in the 'tray' icons on
right
hand bottom corner. One of the icons is for 'HP Product Update'. Other
Icon
says "Keep your computer uptodate", then another Icon says "safely romove
hardware". They get loaded one by one with the pop up messages as each one
gets loaded. Can it be eliminated thereby speeding up the computer start
up ?
Is there any way to speed up the computer ? What is the 'normal time' to
boot
up the computer ? Even after my computer gets booted, I see some action on
my
hard disk.

Run msconfig.exe, then click the Startup tab and untick all items other than
your virus scanner and software firewall (if you have one). This will
disable all startup tasks. Later on, when you find that something no longer
works, restore the tick mark for this task.

 

[Gerry]

You can disable these start-up items most like from within the software.
Alternatively by using Autoruns.

A safer way than msconfig to disable / remove unwanted start up items is
to use Autoruns.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/ProcessesAndThreads/Autoruns.mspx

With Autoruns you can uncheck an item, which disables it from starting,
or you can can right click an item and then delete it. If you uncheck
you can recheck to re-enable the item. It is a much safer approach than
editing the Registry. Another useful feature of the programme is that
you can right click an item and select Search Online to get information
about the item selected.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Shrikant]

Thanks Pegasus and Gerry. Your info was very useful. I find that Autorun
lists far more start up programs than does the config.exe Why is this ?
I am now in a bigger dilemma. The list of startup programs are mind
boggling. I now understand what the pandora's box is. I just can not decide
which one to delete and which one to keep. Therefore, I am keeping this
operation to some future date when I am mentally prepared to undertake this
task.
Thanks a lot anyway.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

How to speed up computer start up ? I have removed all desktop icons. The
booting is slow because of actions taking place in the 'tray' icons on right
hand bottom corner. One of the icons is for 'HP Product Update'. Other Icon
says "Keep your computer uptodate", then another Icon says "safely romove
hardware". They get loaded one by one with the pop up messages as each one
gets loaded. Can it be eliminated thereby speeding up the computer start up ?
Is there any way to speed up the computer ? What is the 'normal time' to boot
up the computer ? Even after my computer gets booted, I see some action on my
hard disk.

My personal view is that the attention many people pay to how long it
takes to boot is unwarranted. Assuming that the computer's speed is
otherwise satisfactory, it may not be worth worrying about. Most
people start their computers once a day or even less frequently. In
the overall scheme of things, even a few minutes to start up isn't
very important. Personally I power on my computer when I get up in the
morning, then go get my coffee. When I come back, it's done booting. I
don't know how long it took to boot and I don't care.

However if you do want to address it, it may be because of what
programs start automatically, and you may want to stop some of them
from starting that way. On each program you don't want to start
automatically, check its Options to see if it has the choice not to
start (make sure you actually choose the option not to run it, not
just a "don't show icon" option). Many can easily and best be stopped
that way. If that doesn't work, run MSCONFIG from the Start | Run
line, and on the Startup tab, uncheck the programs you don't want to
start automatically.

However, if I were you, I wouldn't do this just for the purpose of
running the minimum number of programs. Despite what many people tell
you, you should be concerned, not with how *many* of these programs
you run, but *which*. Some of them can hurt performance severely, but
others have no effect on performance.

Don't just stop programs from running willy-nilly. What you should do
is determine what each program is, what its value is to you, and what
the cost in performance is of its running all the time. You can get
more information about these at
http://castlecops.com/StartupList.html. If you can't find it there,
try google searches and ask about specifics here.

Once you have that information, you can make an intelligent informed
decision about what you want to keep and what you want to get rid of.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

You can disable these start-up items most like from within the software.
Alternatively by using Autoruns.

A safer way than msconfig to disable / remove unwanted start up items is
to use Autoruns.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/ProcessesAndThreads/Autoruns.mspx

I'm curious. What's "unsafe" about using msconfig? If the OP leaves his
virus scanner (and perhaps firewall) active then I can see no danger.
Furthermore, all actions are fully reversible.

 

[Gerry]

Pegasus

Msconfig is a troubleshooting tool and not one for making permanent
changes. You can disable but not remove an item. To remove an item the
user is tempted to use regedit to remove the unwanted item. This can
lead to serious problems for an inexperienced user if they get it wrong.

Autoruns not only reveals more start-up items but contains the ability
to both disable and to remove an unwanted item. It also contains an easy
way to learn more about a start-up item. Removal using Autoruns is less
likely to lead to problems leading to a damaged registry.

Msconfig was written before 2001. I suspect it has not been changed
since that time. Autoruns has been developed to go beyond what msconfig
offers and is still being updated. It is more user friendly than
msconfig and in recent years has become extremely popular. I do not
understand why you continue to promote the use of msconfig when a user
seeking help would find Autoruns more helpful. That is not to say that
Msconfig does not still have a role to play in some situations.

--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Shrikant]

I off my computer after every session because I am afraid it will increase
power bill. I am not familiar with the 'hibernation' mode - I do not think it
is available in PC. I was using it in my laptop.
I am also afraid that the hard disk will wear out faster becuase I
understand that hard disk keeps rotating when the PC is on - even when we are
not retrieving data from hard disk.
Another concern for too many start up programs is that it may slow down my
computer even after it has start up - as it may load my CPU and Memory.
Barring above three concerns, I agree with you that the start up time is not
important. It is probably carry forward mentality from the old PC days with
absolutely low quality level of the hardware as compared with the todays
sturdy models.
I would like to have guidance on above three points. We can call it personal
'Attitude' problems with our PC.

 

[Shrikant]

What does the words MVP denote (which is affixed to your name)? Just curiious.

 

[Daave]

Removal using Autoruns is less likely to lead to problems leading to
a damaged registry.

Since all msconfig actions are fully reversible, how is using it more
likely to result in a damaged registry? I can see how it may result in
junk entries. That is, if you use msconfig to disable a startup program
like qttask, you will eventually get another entry for it that is
enabled. But I'm not sure this causes any actual damage!

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

*** See below.

Pegasus

Msconfig is a troubleshooting tool and not one for making permanent
changes.

*** Why not? The change is actually permanent - it's just that msconfig.exe
*** creates a backup copy of the disabled entries, allowing you to undo the
*** change any time you like. I think this is one of the great features of
*** msconfig: You cannot do any permanent damage!

You can disable but not remove an item.

*** Items are perhaps not "removed" in the registry but they are
*** certainly moved to a location where they have no effect.

To remove an item the user is tempted to use regedit to remove the
unwanted item. This can lead to serious problems for an inexperienced user
if they get it wrong.

*** It is therefore the action taken subsequently to running msconfig
*** that could be risky, not msconfig itself.

Autoruns not only reveals more start-up items but contains the ability to
both disable and to remove an unwanted item. It also contains an easy way
to learn more about a start-up item. Removal using Autoruns is less likely
to lead to problems leading to a damaged registry.

*** I have two minor issues with Autoruns:
*** a) Once an item is removed, it's gone for good.
*** b) It is not a native Windows tool. Some people won't use such tools.

Msconfig was written before 2001. I suspect it has not been changed since
that time.

*** AFAIK, msconfig.exe was released for WinXP, hence in 2002.
*** It has not changed functionally (for compatibility reasons, OS
*** utilities never change!) but it has been updated with the various
*** service packs.

Autoruns has been developed to go beyond what msconfig offers and is still
being updated. It is more user friendly than offers and is still being
updated. It is more user friendly than msconfig and in recent years has
become extremely popular. I do not understand why you continue to promote
the use of msconfig when a user seeking help would find Autoruns more
helpful. That is not to say that Msconfig does not still have a role to
play in some situations.

*** I recommend it for these reasons:
*** - It is a native tool, hence it exists on all WinXP PCs.
*** - It is extremely safe to use.
*** - It does its job very well.
*** If there is a native Windows tool that does the job then I always
*** recommend it. If there isn't then I will cheerfully recommend a
*** third-party tool. Psexec.exe is one that I mention very often. It
*** comes from the same stable as Autoruns.

 

[Gerry]

Daave

You can disable but not remove an item. To remove an item the
user is tempted to use regedit to remove the unwanted item. This can
lead to serious problems for an inexperienced user if they get it wrong.

Autoruns is a better approach.


--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Gerry]

Shrikant

In my view turning a computer off is better than using hibernation. It
ensures that programmes subject to memory leaks release memory, which
aids better system performance. It avoids problems often encountered
restarting after hibernation. It saves electricity.

However Ken was not advocating the use of hibernation.

The Microsoft MVP programme is explained in this link:


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I off my computer after every session because I am afraid it will increase
power bill.

Yes, but for most people, it's not a very high cost.

I am not familiar with the 'hibernation' mode - I do not think it
is available in PC.

Yes, it's available, although I don't use it personally.

I was using it in my laptop.
I am also afraid that the hard disk will wear out faster becuase I
understand that hard disk keeps rotating when the PC is on - even when we are
not retrieving data from hard disk.

No, it is *not* correct that it will wear out the drive faster.

Another concern for too many start up programs is that it may slow down my
computer even after it has start up - as it may load my CPU and Memory.

That can definitely be true, and can be a concern. That's why I said
in the message you quoted below "Assuming that the computer's speed is
otherwise satisfactory, it may not be worth worrying about." And
remember that your question was "How to speed up computer start up."
The point I was making, and still feel strongly about, pertains to
startup speed that doesn't also become general running speed, and, as
I said, pertains to those people who don't start the computer multiple
times each day.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

What does the words MVP denote (which is affixed to your name)? Just curiious.

"Most Valuable Professional." It's an award that Microsoft gives to
users (not Microsoft employees) who provide accurate and frequent help
for their products. I'm personally in my sixth year of this award.
Read about the MVP program here:

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

No, it is *not* correct that it will wear out the drive faster.

I actually agree with the OP: Leaving the computer running *will* wear out
the drive faster. After all, a hard disk is a mechanical device, and the
life expectancy of all mechanical devices is measured in operating hours. On
the other hand the argument is largely academic since the disk will probably
outlive the OP, regardless of the turn-on/turn-off times . . .

 

[Gerry]

xxxx See below

*** See below.


*** Why not? The change is actually permanent - it's just that
msconfig.exe

xxxx You contradict this statement about permanency in your next
assertion!

xxxx It is a troubleshooting tool. Please refer to the first paragraph
of the Summary in:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560/en-us

*** creates a backup copy of the disabled entries, allowing you to
undo the

xxxx How do you know that? It disables the entry, which is not the
same.

*** change any time you like. I think this is one of the great
features of

True but your point equally applies to Autoruns.

*** msconfig: You cannot do any permanent damage!

xxxx Do you include the contents of the boot.ini tab in that assertion?

*** Items are perhaps not "removed" in the registry but they are

xxxx It is true that msconfig only disables? Don't you not know for
certain whether the items are removed?

*** certainly moved to a location where they have no effect.

xxxx How do you know that ? Are you certain that it is not done by
changing a value in the registry?

*** It is therefore the action taken subsequently to running msconfig

*** that could be risky, not msconfig itself.

xxxx True

*** I have two minor issues with Autoruns:

*** a) Once an item is removed, it's gone for good.

xxxx But removal is less likely to be bungled if Autoruns is used
instead of regedit!

*** b) It is not a native Windows tool. Some people won't use such
tools.

xxxx It is now a Microsoft offering and downloadable from a Microsoft
web site so this justification is weak on substance.

*** AFAIK, msconfig.exe was released for WinXP, hence in 2002.

xxxx Release date for Windows XP was 25 October 2001. The utility was
first provided with Windows 98!

*** It has not changed functionally (for compatibility reasons, OS
*** utilities never change!) but it has been updated with the various
*** service packs.

xxxx So in essence it is what it was in 2001, which was my original
point.? BTW

*** I recommend it for these reasons:
*** - It is a native tool, hence it exists on all WinXP PCs.

xxxx So you ignore all better products just because they are not native
tools?

*** - It is extremely safe to use.

xxxx So why are there so many reports of problems encountered by
persons using msconfig?

*** - It does its job very well.

xxxx But only for the items listed! It is no use where the item is not
listed!

*** If there is a native Windows tool that does the job then I always
*** recommend it. If there isn't then I will cheerfully recommend a
*** third-party tool. Psexec.exe is one that I mention very often. It
*** comes from the same stable as Autoruns.

xxxx When items are not listed in msconfig users can resort to using
regedit to find the item giving them grief. If they had been recommended
to use Autoruns this is less likely to occur. Of course users will also
use msconfig to tinker with services when it is better to access the
list of Services in Administrative Tools to make changes.



--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

xxxx See below

Since this appears to develop into a point scoring exercise, I won't
continue with this thread other than answering your repeated question "how
do you know". To see how msconfig operates, I recommend you do this:

1. Launch regedit.exe.
2. Locate a specific service, e.g. Windows Time. Its details are located
here.
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time
3. Examine the msconfig location here:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig
Note that the Windows Time service is absent.
4. Use msconfig to deactivate Windows Time.
5. Look at the two above registry location. The Windows Time service
was moved from the Services key to the MSConfig key. It is therefore no
longer operative.
6. Use msconfig to reactivate Windows Time.
7. Look at the two above registry location. The Windows Time service
was returned from the MSConfig key to the Services key.

The same principle is used for tasks. It is now clear that msconfig will
truly turn off startup tasks and services in a fully reversible mode. I
recommend you repeat this exercise with Autoruns. I suspect it uses the same
mechanism.

 

[Daave]

You can disable but not remove an item. To remove an item the
user is tempted to use regedit to remove the unwanted item. This can
lead to serious problems for an inexperienced user if they get it
wrong.

If an inexperienced user is tempted to use regedit, I see this more as a
case of PEBKAC. I think that Autoruns is a more thorough utility than
msconfig, but I wouldn't say it's safer. Although I hear what you're
saying, I just can't make the leap to assign the blame to msconfig. Cars
may be more dangerous if the driver is drunk, but it's not the car that
made the driver drink!

Does Autoruns have the ability to undo the deletion of an entry? If not,
I would like to suggest a program that does:

Mike Lin's Startup Control Panel:
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

Then again, the ability to undo the delete disappears if another step is
deliberately taken (similar to the idea of emptying the Recycle Bin). In
this case, Pegasus raises a good point: Msconfig makes it impossible to
delete a startup item or service. It's always waiting in the wings to be
re-enabled if the user has a change of heart. In the final analysis,
that might be safer (or just more convenient).

That being said, I still like Autoruns!

 

[Shrikant]

It is interesting.

--
Shrikant

"Most Valuable Professional." It's an award that Microsoft gives to
users (not Microsoft employees) who provide accurate and frequent help
for their products. I'm personally in my sixth year of this award.
Read about the MVP program here: