**FIXED** Help. Just installed Vista boot up REALLY slow.

[iam_immigrant]

Just finished installing Vista Ultimate 64bit but it takes REALLY long to boot up/reboot, at least 2 min.

system specs:
cpu: Q6700
mb: Intel dg33tl
ram: 8gb
hdd: wd 500gb primary/os
hdd1: maxtor
dvdrw
currently using onboard video for now.

Any ideas.

edit: pagefile size is 8mb, only on c:

[board123]

Have you done a Windows Update and installed hotfixes? I know there's at least one hotfix (not available on Windows Update) that speeds up boot/shutdown.

[CSAgent]

Try disconnecting some drives. Not the primary one with the O/S of course...start with the second drive, then the optical and see if the issue persists.

[cwb27]

Do you have ALL of your drivers installed? Missing/improper drivers can often slow down boot times substantially.

[Composter]

thats vista for you..........

[ichpen]

Have you done a Windows Update and installed hotfixes? I know there's at least one hotfix (not available on Windows Update) that speeds up boot/shutdown.

Do you know what the hotfix is (number/website) as I've not been successful at finding one? I have similar slow boot issues.

[board123]

Although the description is very similar, I'm not sure if this is the one I'm referring to. This one is posted on Nov 20, and I'm pretty sure the one I grabbed was from October.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/941649

Maybe it's an updated version of the one from before..?

[Kasakato]

thats vista for you..........
And the above is arrogance.

[iam_immigrant]

Yes, I've tried disconnecting and re-connecting the hdd/optical but no such luck. All the updates and hotfixes were automatically installed up completion of O/S installation.

All drivers have been installed. Even updating the BIOS did not help.


Shut down is not a problem only when the computer is booting up/restarting.

This is getting really annoying.

[bionicbadger]

check your what all your startup services are and disable all the crap you don't use or need.

[Oversized Rooster]

Make sure you have the Windows Search service off and disabled.

Open a command prompt window and type in "services.msc"

Find Windows Search in that long list that comes up. Stop the service and set the startup condition to Disabled.

This will ease your HD load a lot. Other than this, there's no reason why your PC would start up slow given your parts. I'd look at poor hardware configuration in the BIOS.

[Amourek]

It might be a hardware problem... see if the problem persists if you remove all extra drives and all but one stick of memory.

[iam_immigrant]

It might be a hardware problem... see if the problem persists if you remove all extra drives and all but one stick of memory.


Tried system with only 1 stick of memory and it did the trick! It now boots up in less than 20sec!!!

But is there any way I could use all 4 sticks of ram?? Is there any particular reason all that ram is causing the system slowing down during boot times??

[Oversized Rooster]

If the RAM sticks are different relative to each other that can cause instability.

Specifically, forcing the same voltage on all of them when each wants something else can be a problem.

Similarly, forcing the same timings on all of them when each wants something else can be a problem.

Lastly, it is possible to have instability if some are single sided and other sticks are double sided.

[iam_immigrant]

If the RAM sticks are different relative to each other that can cause instability.

Specifically, forcing the same voltage on all of them when each wants something else can be a problem.

Similarly, forcing the same timings on all of them when each wants something else can be a problem.

Lastly, it is possible to have instability if some are single sided and other sticks are double sided.

Actually all the ram sticks are the same, even part of the same batch. That's why I was surprised when taking all the ram out made my system quicker.

[Oversized Rooster]

Actually all the ram sticks are the same, even part of the same batch. That's why I was surprised when taking all the ram out made my system quicker.

OK did you run Memtest86?

Let the test do 2-3 passes on each stick separately. Then run the test overnight for several passes to see if they all behave properly together.

It is possible that although each stick may be healthy, the chipset can be finnicky when trying to run all of them together.

[iam_immigrant]

OK did you run Memtest86?

Let the test do 2-3 passes on each stick separately. Then run the test overnight for several passes to see if they all behave properly together.

It is possible that although each stick may be healthy, the chipset can be finnicky when trying to run all of them together.

okay will try this. Thanks

[Frankie3s]

Have you done a Windows Update and installed hotfixes? I know there's at least one hotfix (not available on Windows Update) that speeds up boot/shutdown.

Hate to say it but that sounds just about right.

[iam_immigrant]

Well seems like the problem is solved.

Couldn't run memtest as there's no floppy connector on this particular motherboard (intel dg33tl) so I ran the memory check from the repair windows section when booting up with the Windows disc. Nothing wrong with the RAM.

But it seems that installing 1 stick of RAM at a time fixed the slow boot up problem. And just to make sure I also installed this hotfix that does not always show up automatically:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/938979

Thanks everyone for your help.