Incredibly Slow Boot-Up Following Windows 10 1709 Update

[bethjm]

After updating to the Windows 10 1709 Update a week or so ago, my boot-up is ridiculously slow. First, I get around 20 seconds of a black screen with the HP loading screen and the spinning dots. Then, my screen is just black (albeit backlit if that makes sense) for anywhere around 30 seconds to a minute. After that, I have a "Please wait" screen again with spinning dots. I can then log-in but it can take between one to two minutes before my desktop is actually usable. Sometimes my desktop icons will already be there, other times the desktop will be black and I'll have to wait about ten seconds for my background image and icons to appear. All in all, it can take me over five minutes before I have a workable computer and for that reason I've started leaving the computer in sleep and only restarting when needed.

Now, the thing is, once boot-up is over, the computer runs fine. I have no hanging issues, no slowness, and everything runs as smooth and fast as it did when I first bought it, about a month ago. I do not believe a hardware fault is the cause as I've had nothing to point towards one.

I've done all the following so far:

- Uninstall and reinstall graphics drivers (to the HP recommended ones for my laptop)

- Disable fast start-up

- Enable fast start-up

- Turn off app readiness

- Attach PC to a second monitor to see if the computer is projecting to a false monitor (for the black screen issue)

- Defragmenting the HDD

- Disabling uneeded apps on start-up

- Virus scanning

According to the HP Support Assistant, my computer is updated to its reccomendations with the exception of an Intel Management Engine Interface Update and a BIOS update (Version F.57), which is recommended but I'm nervous to mess with the BIOS as I do not believe in upgrading it unless there is a precise reason to do so. 

I have not made any software changes between the update and the problem. It occurred directly after the update. 

[Zinou]

Hi,

What you can do to troubleshoot that the right way and get answers to your problem is;

- Download and Install windows Performance Toolkit https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-install . Choose the package corresponding to your Windows version.

- Record a trace using Windows Performance Recorder using these options: https://justpaste.it/1dm88

- Compress the resulting file

- Share it through https://www.transfernow.net/en/ or any other file sharing platform.

I'll analyze your trace file and give you a feedback.

See you

[bethjm]

Thanks for the reply!

I did as you said and here is the compressed file: https://www.transfernow.net/298fh8v6uf9s

This was a particuarly slow boot. It took around seven minutes before OneDrive began syncing and Sticky Notes appeared. Obviously I don't know what you can and can't see using that trace as I'm techy but not THAT techy, but my BIOS start-up time was quicker than usual. It was 2.5 seconds according to Task Manager this particular boot but is normally around the 3.5 seconds mark.

[Zinou]

The boot trace shows a high disk I/O during all the boot phases.

According to the call stack this is caused by calling the Prefetcher functions.

I guess there is something broken in the Prefetch mechanism !

I'll not suggest you to disable the Superfetch, because when it's run correctly it can increase your spin disk I/O performance.

I would suggest to repair it by running this command, as an admin user, from the command line:

xbootmgr -trace boot -prepSystem -verboseReadyBoot

Your system will reboot 6 times and reanrrange the prefetch files...

After the 6 boot take another boot trace to see how much you gained...

[bethjm]

Hi,

So I ran the command code as you said and for the first two reboots, everything was fine. However, since the second one, I have been left with a useable desktop with the programme open that says "Preparing system..." for the last fifteen minutes. 

Thus far I have left it alone and haven't done anything beyond upon Chrome to tell you this. Is this normal? Has the programme froze? Etc, etc.

[Zinou]

As I said this command will restart the system 6 times, while reordering the Prefetch files. 

Yes it can take a certain amount of time, depending on the data stored in the Disk.

Has the command finished the six steps ?

[bethjm]

Yes, so far it's restarted twice and is seemingly preparing to restart for a third time. I merely figured, as the first two times hadn't taken so long to complete this phase of "Preparing System", it wouldn't be so long for the third.

As for the six steps, if you're referring to it restarting 6 times, it has only completed two of the six restarts.

[Zinou]

Ok, let it finish the six restarts.

while the prefetch is reordering his files, you can't easily use your computer as the disk I/O will go to the roof ...

After the sixth reboot you'll normally notice an improvement...Take a boot trace after the end of the precess to mesure this improvement.

[bethjm]

I'm not trying to rush the process or anything, just curious as to how long you expect the entire process to take? I have since found and booted up another laptop to use for working today (a Toshiba Satellite from 2008!!) so I have left the HP Pavilion to do its thing. It is, however, still "Preparing System" according to the programme. 

Thank you very much so for your help thus far!

[Zinou]

If the HDD light is flashes it's a good sign that the process is running ...