Very Slow Startup

[pcpunk]

I just did a Clean Instal of Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.  Startup is 2:30 minutes, is this normal for this pc, and how could I get it to start faster if that is an option?  I used a Retail Disk for the install because the Donator did not have Disks, so there is not junk on it to slow it down.

Cleaned er all out and repasted the CPU.  I did a full scan of the Hardware via HP Diagnostics, Crystal Disk Info and Mark, watching the Temps also an they are all good.  CPU Load seems perfectly fine, ususally sitting in the single digits unless opening a browser, all the normal activity you would see while opening apps.

I suppose the first thing folks will suggest is a BIOS Update?

Here is the Link,  love that HP Supplies us with these nice links.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01949155

[Chimney_83]

Greetings @pcpunk, 

Thanks for the post.

I understand that you are looking to speed up the startup time on your computer. 

Not to worry, I will be glad to help.

Kudos to you for trying a lot of troubleshooting steps on your own. 

Have you used HP Support Assistant? 

Recommend you run HP Support Assistant to make sure all the drivers are updated on your computer. Click here. Only updating BIOS would not help. 

Run an extensive test on your computer. Click here. 

Disable any startup items that you do not use on startup, using the task manager. 

For other troubleshooting steps, please refer to this HP Article for assistance. 

Let me know how it goes. 

Disclaimer: HP Doesn't recommend any upgrade/downgrade of any hardware parts or software that is bundled with the product. It may affect the manufacturer's warranty and performance. You can change the configuration at your own risk.

[mdklassen]

>  Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.  Startup is 2:30 minutes, is this normal for this pc,

> I did a full scan of the Hardware via HP Diagnostics,

That definitely is slow.

Have you recently run the Windows "Disk Defragmenter" ?  Don't run it, just yet, even though the disk-drive "passed" the HP Diagnostics test.

Disable any wireless adapter, then shutdown, and disconnect the Ethernet cable, and reboot it.

Without any connection to the Internet, all the programs that try to "call home" will not be able to do so, which should speed-up the reboot process.

> How could I get it to start faster if that is an option?  

How much RAM in the computer?  Speed of the CPU?  Single-core or dual-core?

Do you have a 32GB or 64GB SSD (Solid State Disk) device to spare?

If so, install Windows onto it, to see how fast Windows can boot -- my Windows 7 desktop boots from SSD in much less than one minute.

While it is booting, use CTRL-ALT-DELETE to start the Windows "Task Manager", as soon as Windows will accept these keystrokes.  Click to the "Performance" tab, and watch the graphs as it continues to boot.

[pcpunk]

I will get back to this soon guys, and I think I'll provide some more info.  Think the HDD may be some of the problems also, it is a WD Green, and don't think this is the best for a home user?  I will run all the stuff asked asap!

Thanks, pcpunk

[mdklassen]

> Think the HDD may be some of the problems

That is why I suggested to run the HP diagnostics.

> also, it is a WD Green, and don't think this is the best for a home user? 

I have the opposite opinion -- their "green" line is targeted for the home user (and their budget), while their "blue" line supposedly is better, but more expensive.

Please post, when you have completed the recommended actions.

[pcpunk]

Thre first Three of these Tests you suggest are for UEFI, Windows 8-10, and the last one is just stuff I've already done?  I'm running Windows 7 and No UEFI.

[pcpunk]

---

@Chimney_83 wrote:

Greetings @pcpunk, 

Thanks for the post.

I understand that you are looking to speed up the startup time on your computer. 

Not to worry, I will be glad to help.

Kudos to you for trying a lot of troubleshooting steps on your own. 

Have you used HP Support Assistant? 

Recommend you run HP Support Assistant to make sure all the drivers are updated on your computer. Click here. Only updating BIOS would not help. 

Run an extensive test on your computer. Click here. 

Disable any startup items that you do not use on startup, using the task manager. 

For other troubleshooting steps, please refer to this HP Article for assistance. 

Let me know how it goes. 

Thre first Three of these Tests you suggest are for UEFI, Windows 8-10, and the last one is just stuff I've already done? I'm running Windows 7 and No UEFI.

[pcpunk]

---

@mdklassen wrote:

That definitely is slow.

 > How could I get it to start faster if that is an option?  

How much RAM in the computer?  Speed of the CPU?  Single-core or dual-core?

---

This was in First post brother

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01949155

WD's Words on the Green:

"WD Green hard drives are designed for use in systems that require cool and quiet operation, as secondary drives in PCs, for external enclosures and other applications for which low noise and low heat are beneficial. These earth-friendly 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch hard drives are ideal for use whenever energy efficiency is needed."

https://www.wdc.com/products/wd-outlet/wd-green.html

[mdklassen]

> I suppose the first thing folks will suggest is a BIOS Update?

In my opinion, a BIOS update is the last thing that one should try, because it rarely will fix the most-common problems.

Instead, from a command-line prompt, open the Windows Event Viewer, by typing   EVENTVWR  and pressing ENTER.

Windows does much "self-monitoring", including reporting when reading a specific file takes much longer than expected, i.e., 15 to 150 seconds, and suggests that a specific file has been written to a "bad" spot on the disk-drive, and suggests that the disk-drive be replaced.

Yes, Event Viewer has lots of "events" -- sort the list by "category", e.g., 'performance', to quickly get to those messages related to your disk-drive.

Or ............................

From a command-line prompt,  enter    CHKDSK C: /R    and press ENTER.

Windows may require an immediate reboot, to start this process.

This command checks every disk-block on your disk-drive -- much more intensive that the 'DST' (Disk Drive Short Test).

Any problems reported are "hints" that your disk-drive is beginning to "fail".

[pcpunk]

I will try this mdklassen, I appreciate the guidence as I'm still trying to learn to fix these things.  I guess I would have run a WD Diagnostics Test but was thinking the drive was ok because of the HP Tests and Crystal Disk outcome.  I guess we can't go by the Short Tests all the time? 

I've had no luck with Event viewer LOL because I don't know what I'm looking at, but will try it and use your suggestion  "sort the list by "category"" I'm sure there is info there somewhere as I looked at this stuff before and can't believe the amount of info that Windows reports and logs!

Thanks, will be happy to get this thing booting better.  I also don't think it is the HDD, but it was intersting reading about the WD Green articles I found.

pcpunk