What affects Windows XP boot time?

[HolyFire]

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me solve a mystery. First, my system specs:

Windows XP home edition 32-bit SP3
ASUS Maximus Formula
Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 @ 4.0 GHz
OCZ DDR2 @ 800MHz CL5
EVGA nVIDIA GeForce 8800GT SuperClocked 512MB PCIe
Intel X25-M 80GB SSD, WD10EADS

When booting, it takes 22 seconds from the moment the screen with the Windows logo and progress bar appears until it disappears. I am trying to figure out what part(s) of the hardware is\are working during that time - so that improving them will make this time shorter.

I once thought that this was primarily about the hard drive, but if that was the case, I would have expected a longer time back when I was using a Raptor, but it wasn't. I've played around with the speeds of the CPU, FSB and RAM, but none of them have any effect on the time. I doubt the GPU is involved - if it was, a system with integrated graphics would take forever to load, and AFAIK it doesn't.

So, what else is there? Perhaps Windows moves on from that screen after a set time, regardless of the progress in initializing the system?

Thanks.

 

[ksheets]

Probably still the harddrive...the newest SSD drives greatly reduce boot times from what I understand...

 

[HolyFire]

Obviously it depends on many factors. One needs to make sure what it is exactly that was measured. If it is the time between the desktop appearing and it being responsive, perhaps you're right. For me, that part currently depends on the CPU, in particular something my antivirus (NOD32) does. But I was talking specifically about the progress bar screen.

Perhaps I should mention that earlier, when I had the same hardware except for a WD raptor instead of the SSD, the time was 15 seconds. Then I did a clean install on the SSD, and now it's 22 seconds. I'm not sure why exactly it has increased (maybe something to do with Windows boot optimization during the period the system was in use). I am sure, however, that if this phase is HDD-bound, then putting a drive with x3 seq. reads and x100 better access times should dramatically decrease the time (which it didn't). Unless you're suggesting that it has something to do with seq. writes (for which they are comparable)?

 

[Philippart]

bootvis, defrag -b, registry cleaning and registry defrag give you an huge speedup, on my old xp A64 3000+ with 1GB DDR1 RAM and a regular HD I only saw half of the progess bar before the welcome screen after using these tools.

EDIT: hmm since you're using an ssd defragging is not recommended...

 

[HolyFire]

Ok, I should clarify that the question is completely academic. I have no interest in reducing my boot time (though it certainly can't hurt, I'll see what bootvis has to offer). I only want to know what hardware components are working during boot.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: HolyFire
Ok, I should clarify that the question is completely academic. I have no interest in reducing my boot time (though it certainly can't hurt, I'll see what bootvis has to offer). I only want to know what hardware components are working during boot.

Read through this...

http://www.debuglab.com/board/...p%20and%20Shutdown.ppt

 

[HolyFire]

Thanks, but it doesn't really answer my question. All the steps look like they only involve the HDD and CPU.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: HolyFire
Thanks, but it doesn't really answer my question. All the steps look like they only involve the HDD and CPU.

Then you should re-read it

 

[HolyFire]

Originally posted by: bsobel

Then you should re-read it

I'm sorry, but that's just unhelpful. The document you have provided lists the steps involved in the boot process from a software standpoint. It does not say a single word about which hardware component is working during each or in general. If the answer to my question can be somehow deduced from it, then such a deduction is beyond my technical knowledge. If you did find the answer there, why can't you just say it (or be more specific about where to look)? If not, why are you sending me on a wild goose chase?