I reduced boot times to nine seconds through careful optimization and testing.
I reduced boot times to nine seconds through careful optimization and testing.
A few days back I received my 256GB MX100 and it performed well; yet the startup felt a bit sluggish. Initially, my boot times were around 35 seconds. I tried to diagnose the issue. 1. I accidentally skipped installing AHCI during setup, so I edited the registry and adjusted the UEFI/BIOS settings, which cut boot times by roughly 7-10 seconds. 2. I connected both SSD and HDD to various SATA ports. 3. I turned off unnecessary options in the UEFI/BIOS (such as HD Audio) since I use G930 drives that support USB. 4. I removed restore points from my hard drive, freeing up about 40 gigabytes and noticeably reducing boot times on the SSD. I’ve documented these steps to help others achieve faster launches. The 24 seconds saved per boot may seem small, but it adds up over time. Edit: Windows 7
I just purchased a 250gb Samsung 840 EVO and followed the instructions at the link you shared. My startup time is around 10 seconds, with 7 seconds coming from my motherboard and 3 seconds from the OS loading. I have an older OEM ASUS H61 motherboard and can't change BIOS settings, which should keep my boot time low.
You can reduce it to 4 to 6 seconds. What you require (make sure everything is set): -> A fully UEFI-compatible motherboard (currently they should be) -> Graphics card BIOS upgraded to GOP ready (or whatever name you prefer) – remember this changes compatibility with BIOS systems. Check the manufacturer’s site for the upgrade; if supported, it won’t work on older BIOS setups. This change is best done there. Intel integrated graphics offers both GOP and legacy firmware, switching automatically based on UEFI settings, so it can still function even after the update. Ideally, a switch on the card itself would simplify the process, avoiding confusion. At least that’s a hope. -> Remember to turn off CSM (Compatibility Support Module), which keeps old graphics cards running on BIOS systems. Otherwise, the system may fail to boot. After GOP firmware change, use a fast SSD and disable unused components in the UEFI menu. You can also turn off unused ports like COM, SATA controllers not in use, FireWire, etc. -> Ensure all SATA controllers are operating in AHCI mode. Windows 8.x is fully UEFI ready, and Linux distributions are equally compatible, enabling quick startup. Note: This advice comes from research only, as I don’t own the hardware (it’s outdated) to test. Proceed at your own risk. My Surface Pro 2 launches from the power button in 6 seconds, and counting from screen power-on it’s about 4 seconds. The tips for its speed come from the default Windows 8.1 install. The system is clean—no driver panels, no extra software needed. Keyboard shortcuts work with native Windows support, not custom overlays.
Press the power button and listen for the click sound, then see if it leads to your desktop.
The transition from click to desktop takes roughly 7 to 8 seconds. Early in the window launch, "Starting Windows" appears within 5 to 6 seconds.
9 seconds: unsure—The time from my M4 boot drive to MSI Fast Boot is about 5 seconds.