Resolved Slow Windows boot up

I haven't used it in many years, but check out this old article of mine: Improve Boot Performance

 

I found the latest version (1.3.37.0) and put it on the web site (linked from the article). I tested it, and it works fine.

Yes, in the old days (2003) Microsoft used to pack Word documents in EXE files. The file is safe & as you can se when you hover over it, you are downloading it from Micosoft.com.

Nope, the new version.

 

You can run this command from a command prompt:

Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks

It can take 10 to 15 minutes for idle tasks to complete. Task Manager will report processes running, and the disk will likely be active during this time.

To optimize boot up times, remove programs from startup and disable unneeded services.

 

Hi Larry.

Since your computer is pretty slow, follow these steps to make the computer run faster:

1. Click Start< Control Panel< Add/Remove Programs and uninstall any programs that you don't use.
2. While in the Add/Remove programs window click the button that says Add/Remove Windows Components and uncheck the checkboxes next to Indexing Service, MSN Explorer, and Windows Messenger. Then click the Next button. When the wizard finishes click the finish button to close the window.
3. Download and run ATF Cleaner. Save the program to your desktop. Run the program and when it opens select all the checkboxes in the program then hit the empty selected button. Download it from here, ATF Cleaner.
4. Run Disk Cleanup. Click Start< All Programs< Accessories< Sytstem Tools< Disk Cleanup. When its done calculating how much free space you can save make sure you check all the checkboxes except for compress old files on the Disk Cleanup tab. Now click the More Options tab and under System Restore click the cleanup button. When it asks you if you want to delete all but the most recent restore point click Yes. Now click Ok on the Disk Cleanup window to allow Disk Cleanup to remove unnecessary files from the computer.
5. Disable any Windows Services that you don't use by following, Black Vipers Services Guide.
6. Download and run Auslogics Disk Defrag. Make sure to uncheck any toolbars in the installtion wizard as they are not needed. After the installation finishes, open the program. When you open the program click on Settings< Defrag Priority and select High Priority. Then click on Settings< Program Settings< Algorithms Tab. Select the Delete temporary files before defragmenting checkbox and select the Move system files to the beginning on the disk checkbox. When done click Ok to close the Settings window. When you are ready to start the defragmentation process select the small down arrow next to the word Defrag and select Defrag and Optimize. The process could take a long time so please be patient. Download it from here, Auslogics Disk Defrag.
7. Download and run Auslogics Registry Defrag. Make sure to uncheck any toolbars in the installtion wizard as they are not needed. After the installation finishes, open the program. When the program opens click the Analyze button. When the process finishes analyzing click the Defrag Registry button followed by clicking the Restart button to finish the registry defrag process. Download it from here, Auslogics Registry Defrag.
8. Download and run Autoruns. After you download the zipped folder on your desktop, right click the zipped folder and click Extract All. After the folder has been extracted open the regular folder. Run the autoruns.exe program. When you open the program click the Logon Tab and then highlight and remove any programs that you don't need to startup with your computer. Download it from here, Autoruns.
9. Click Start< Right Click My Computer and click Properties. In the System Properties window click the Advanced tab< Under where it says Performance hit the settings button. In the Performance Options window click the Advanced tab and under Virtual Memory click the Change button. In the Virtual Memory window make sure your harddrive is selected and select the option that says System Managed Size and click the Set button. Now click Ok on the Virtual Memory window to close it. Now in the Performance Options window click the Data Execution Prevention tab and select the option that says Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select. After thats done click Ok on all the windows to close them out and then reboot the computer.
10. Click Start< Run and type fsutil behavior set disable8dot3 1 and hit enter.

After that command has been entered, click Start< Run again, delete the contents in the Run box and now type fsutil behavior set disablelastaccess 1 and hit enter.

11. Take a look at these three links to further speed up your computer, Make Windows XP Shut Down Faster, Speed up Windows Start Menu, Automatically end tasks.
12. Could you let me know what security programs that you have installed?
13. How many processes are running in Task Manager?

Let me know if your computer is any faster after performing the above steps.

 

When you run the command from Command Prompt, the Command Prompt window will stay open until the process finishes. You also need to run Command Prompt as an administrator otherwise the Process Idle Tasks Command will not execute.

 

Nothing specific, but you'll see some good CPU usage (with a lot of kernel time - if you have switched the display of Kernel time on in Task Manager).

 

Eh... When you open the commend prompt, it'll stay open till when you close it. When you hit the Enter key after typing the command, the command prompt returns straight away, while the tasks initiated by the command still run.

If you run the command directly from Run, you'll get no indication whatsoever... except you'll hear HD activity.

No you don't.

 

Ahh my mistake Arie. Whenever I run a command from Command Prompt I always run Command Prompt as an administrator out of habit so I thought that the Process Idle Tasks command required elevation to run properly.

I actually have the Process Idle Tasks command saved to run as a batch file but it won't run unless you right click it and select run as administrator on Windows 7. Thats why I thought that command required elevation but I just tested it on Windows XP and you are right. The command can be executed just from the run box.

But don't you have to run the Command Prompt as an administrator to run the Process Idle Tasks command in Windows 7? On Windows XP you don't have to do this since there is no UAC.

 

Running Autoruns will definitely help show you what items are starting up with your system. I would still recommend you run Autoruns and remove any startup items that you no longer need. If you are unsure of what a particular process is then you can post the name of it here.

Running step 11 on my list will also help speed up Windows XP a bit.

As for the processes that you mentioned:

• sua.exe is a service with the name of Secunia Update Agent. If you don't use this program then you can uninstall it.
• rndlressolversvc.exe is from RealNetworks. Do you have Real Player installed? If you don't use anything from RealNetworks then you can uninstall this program.
• recordmanager.exe is also from RealNetworks. If you don't use Real Player or any other software from RealNetworks then you can uninstall this program as well.

Was the harddrive very fragmented when you ran Auslogics Disk Defrag?

 

Can you post a screenshot of the Autoruns Logon Tab so I can double check the startup items?

Is the Print Spooler service running? Click Start< Run and type services.msc and hit enter. Scroll down to the Print Spooler Service and make sure the startup type is set to Automatic and that the service is Started.