What determines the boot/startup time?
 

You know when window xp start, there is this bar thingy that run across the screen before it loads into window?
What determine how fast, or how many times the loading bar needs to run before it can boot into window?

I am curious since I have an old Intel Pentium 4 2.8Ghz with 512 DDR1, and the loading bar run across the screen 7 times before going into window, but I also have a newer Athlon x2 3800+ with 2GB DDR2, and the bar need to run across 11 times before going into window.:confused:
(on the other hand, A newer pc i put together a few month ago using AMD 7850+ & 2GB DDR2 only need to run the bar 3 times before going into window.)

It also looks like it doesn't matter what program I have installed as I get the result after reinstalling a brand new window with no startup program.. (the startup program only makes loading window slower AFTER the xp loading bar screen)

hard-drive speed. As you install more and more software on your HDD you'll notice it slowing down. Try reformatting and reinstalling windows and you'll see it's much faster again (though likely not as fast as you're first install). If boot-up speed is a concern for you, consider upgrading your harddrive to a newer model (WD Caviar black, seagate 7200.12) or a better type (velociraptor or an SSD)

also the bg processes that are running

and quick edit of msconfig will speed up the startup but make sure you know what your doing

get a SSD, almost instant boot up (post bios ofcourse, and i think win7 helps a bit too.

fuck bootup time, how many times do you bootup per day?

I takes me a solid 2 minutes from the second i touch the power button till when i get into the log in screen in windows 7. I don't mind, i boot my computer once a week. what's 2 min of your week!??!?!

boot up time should only matter on a laptop, and that is if you travel a lot. and even then, there's hibernation mode, so you can shut down/powerup quickly between classes or meetings or whatever!

what determines the frequency of "rebooting" a computer?,, should i do once a week, or once a month?,, Sometimes, I find computer slows down after playing games or watch Movies etc.. Certain tasks make windows run slower.

Myth or no Myth:

Your computer dies faster if you shut it down everyday (frequently), because of temperature fluctuation when it is on and off. So computer life last longer if you never shut it down..


Whats the right answer

I turn off my computer maybe 1 to 2 times a month (and only like overnight unless I'm out of town). The only reason it would run slower after being on for an extended period is if you open more and more programs and don't close them.

As far as I know that is a myth. It shouldn't matter how often you turn your computer on and off but someone correct me if I'm wrong. It just doesn't make logical sense to me why it would.

set it usb wake up.

every morning, I plug my cell phone into the USB port right beside my bed, and my computer will start up by itself. Wait until I actually get up and turn on my monitor, it's in Windows already + MSN logged in + IE homepages + Utorrent auto download + TV tuner

werd, cheapest price/performance upgrade

... well it depends on what you want. you have to roughly understand what the computer is going through as it performs the tasks you want it to. this will not make rendering faster or extra fps, but it will load shit stupidly fast

yeah i duno about the myth either, i used to shut down every night, but now i never shut down, i only reboot once a week or whenever i feel it's getting sluggish, which takes a while.

all i know is, some people never turn their computers off, or take good care of them, physically (dust etc...), and don't take care of the contents inside their hard disks... and their computers are fine, so yeah.

i never turn off my computers

can someone explain to me how dust contributes to slowing my HD in my laptop? should i unscrew the thing and use a swifter?

Dust collects on heatsinks and clogs fans which in turn builds heat. Heat slows things down and makes things run not so nice.

And DO NOT use a swifter. The static electricity build up will kill your computer. Use an air duster (canned compressed air) or vacuum...or both.

i turn off my comp maybe 1 or 2 every few months

exactly! i put my computer to sleep when i sleep myself..and probably restart it twice a month. I doubt it does damage to the system..and I clean my system maybe once a year for dust lol

I remember way back, when the first PCs came out, to turn on your computer, you had to flip an actual switch. I think flipping that back and forth repeatedly might have caused the switch itself to break. But this was a LONG time ago, so maybe I'm totally off base!

Nowadays we turn our computers on with buttons...