How to speed up your PC's start-up process

Speed boost
Over time the wait between switching on the PC and being able to use Windows grows longer. Thankfully, this can be cut back by performing a few simple tweaks.

First, open the Programs and Features (in Windows 7 and Vista) or Add or Remove Programs (XP) window from the Control Panel and examine the list of installed programs. Remove the programs you no longer use. If any of these programs were set to start with Windows, removing them will speed up the start-up process.

The next step is to take a look at what other programs are launched with Windows. To do this, click on Start and point to All Programs and then Startup. Some programs listed may be essential to the wellbeing of the PC (anti-virus software, for example), but others can be removed without affecting the program’s functionality.

The msconfig tool we mentioned earlier can also be used to view and disable programs that launch with Windows; just click the Startup tab. However, it’s often hard to work out what each entry is so there are better options. One free tool is Starter. Follow the step-by-step on the last page to disable unnecessary items.

Tidy the hard disk
File fragmentation can also slow the start-up process, as individual files become scattered all over the hard disk so Windows has to work harder to find and load them. Recent versions of Windows have a tool to help deal with this: click Start, All Programs then Accessories then System Tools and click Disk Defragmenter.

Advanced tweaks
There are other, more involved ways of reducing the time it takes for Windows to load. For example, disabling the Windows logo that is displayed while the operating system launches can save a few seconds.

To do this open the BOOT.INI or Boot tab of the msconfig tool and ticking the ‘/NOGUIBOOT’ (in Windows XP) or ‘No GUI boot’ (in Windows 7 and Vista) box. Now click OK, then Restart.

Similarly, aspects of the Bios can be tweaked to save time at the beginning of the start-up process, though this is not recommended for novices. To tweak the Bios, restart the PC and press the key instructed to enter the Bios setup screen (typically Delete or F2). Use the arrow keys to navigate, press Enter to select an option or press Escape to cancel or go back up a level.

Look for the options relating to the PC’s boot devices – in particular something referring to ‘boot priority’ or ‘boot order’. Setting the first device to the hard disk (rather than a floppy or CD/DVD drive) can save another couple of seconds.

Also, check to see if there is a quick memory test that can be enabled, which will save you more time. When this is done, look for the option to save and exit the Bios, In the unlikely event that PC refuses to launch, re-enter the Bios screen, choose the option to load the fail-safe defaults, then save and exit.