Vertex 2 has long boot times only with current config

[Mr. Pedantic]

My SSD has some rather long boot times - approaching a minute or so with POST and everything. I used to think this was normal and because of some weird usage scenario that I have and don't know about, but now I'm kind of suspecting it's a hardware issue.

About 2 weeks ago I thought my SSD was bricked...again (it had already broken, been RMA'd, and replaced about a year ago). I took it in to the place I'd bought it from to have them check it out. They agreed to hook it up to their test bed (I think it was a P8P67 or something). It was running SLI 460s, but had no other drives or anything like that. To my surprise, the whole thing booted, POSTed, and went to the login screen within 15 seconds. I didn't even have time to write my name and the date on the RMA form. The SSD turned out to be fine, I plugged it back into my system and it recognized and booted up alright.

I didn't think much of it, given that I had other shit on my plate, but now I think about it...I'd really love 15 second boots.

My hardware:

MSI Eclipse SLI
Core i7 920 - 3GHz
6GB G.Skill DDR3-1333
Sapphire HD6950 2GB - unlocked but running at stock clocks
2 Western Digital drives, my Vertex 2, and an LG Blu-ray reader
Silverstone OP700

I had AHCI enabled when I got the SSD, and as far as I can tell it's still enabled. Firmware is current - 1.34 or something.

 

[Coup27]

2 options really.

1 - Look at your Windows install. How many processes are running when Windows is loaded? Do you have a lot of startup entries? Is your partition aligned? Is your install generally full of crap? Double check that AHCI is on?

2 - Clean install. Backup, secure erase the drive. Update to the latest firmware if not already and double check in BIOS AHCI is on. Remake the partitions you want in the Windows 7 installer which will ensure alignment and then go from there.

 

[KingFatty]

So did that fast-booting testbed system have any optical drives?

Can you test if your system boots up much faster when you disconnect your optical drive(s)?

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

So did that fast-booting testbed system have any optical drives?

Can you test if your system boots up much faster when you disconnect your optical drive(s)?

No optical drives, no hard drives, no USB devices. I've noticed that a lot of my POST is validating and activating USB and SATA devices, so I'll try unplugging them all when I get back home.

2 options really.

1 - Look at your Windows install. How many processes are running when Windows is loaded? Do you have a lot of startup entries? Is your partition aligned? Is your install generally full of crap? Double check that AHCI is on?

2 - Clean install. Backup, secure erase the drive. Update to the latest firmware if not already and double check in BIOS AHCI is on. Remake the partitions you want in the Windows 7 installer which will ensure alignment and then go from there.

I've tried a clean install already, when I RMA'd and replaced the drive. As for the Windows install, I think this is the most unbloated that I can manage. I'll try running CCleaner and look through msconfig again though, see if there's anything I can cut out.

 

[groberts101]

Many variables involved between different hardware but aI will say that if you've been using the "wipe free space" in CCleaner?.. you have been filling the drive with HDD-like trash since it writes 00's instead of the necessary 11's that would be beneficial to any but Sandforce. Writing 11's on a Sandforce drive will not notify the controller that the space is empty(fresh blocks) on a Sandforce controlled drive though.

Also keep in mind that the more hardware/software you have at startup ?.. typically the slower the boot. That's why a system with only an SSD connected, all the bios devices shutdown to the bare minimum, and running only a fresh OS(with no updates) will be as fast as you'll go with that particular hardware/bios combo(besides that last 10-20% to be gained from W7 speed tweaks). Then as you add to it.. it's all just downhill from there.

Basically.. if you want the same boot speed as a particular machine/config has?.. you need to mimic it to be as close to the same as possible. Which of course means spending more cash to get there. Personally, I'd have to be doing a hell of a alot of booting in one days time to justify the time savings vs the cash spent. An easier workaround is idling more often which saves you boot time and only cost's you the few extra bucks per month.