Boot Times WTF

[Lazzer408]

For those who don't know this trick. Open notepad and paste the following into it.

set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
cd\windows\system32
start devmgmt.msc

Save the file as "show_hidden_dev.bat"

Run the file and it will apply the variable to show devices that arn't in the system anymore. This can be external drives, removed volumes, removed hardware, things of that nature. It's kinda like when you looked in the device manager from safemode in Windows 98 and saw doubbles of things.

After devicemanager is open don't forget to tick "show hidden devices" from the view menu. (see pic). You will see the removed hardware as grayed out. Be careful and only removed things like unused harddrives and generic volumes. Don't remove EVERY grayed out item. Stay out of the "Sound video and game controllers" and the "non-plug and play drivers" for example.

This made a noticable improvement (50%) in my boot time on my other computer. I had that system for over 2 1/2 years with the same install and I had 75 volumes that were not in use and over 40 harddrives that weren't in the system anymore!! Windows remembers EVERYTHING.

EDIT - See the attached pic to see what I'm talking about. Those drives have been removed from the system. I have a feeling Windows might "verify" there non-exhistance when it boots hence removing them improved bootup time.

 

[TUngsten]

that's interesting indeed.

On a side note, I'm getting to the windows screen in 45s and fully operational in 60s in XPx64

 

[Sasqui]

Sounds like a device time-out... I had a similar problem with my rig when a drive wasn't plugged in correctly. If you have a DVD/CD or any other drive (USB, floppy, etc) - disconnect them one at a time, you might find a culprit.

The other thing is if you have any device enabled in BIOS that for some reason can't be found, it'll wait till the time-out period.

Worth a shot. Luck.

 

[ex_reven]

Sounds like a device time-out... I had a similar problem with my rig when a drive wasn't plugged in correctly. If you have a DVD/CD or any other drive (USB, floppy, etc) - disconnect them one at a time, you might find a culprit.

The other thing is if you have any device enabled in BIOS that for some reason can't be found, it'll wait till the time-out period.

Worth a shot. Luck.

device time out ay....sounds just like my dvd burner

ive been having constant problems since i got it.
it exists in my computer, but when i try to explore a cd/copy files it says "device I/O error"
sometimes a reboot fixes it, but most time it stays screwed...i fixed it one time, but it just went back to the error after the next boot

il measure startup time with and without dvd drive now

 

[ex_reven]

i unplugged the dvd drive...

boot times dropped by 1 Minute
to 1:30, which is slightly more reasonable

what the hell do i do about the drive?

 

[Lazzer408]

i unplugged the dvd drive...

boot times dropped by 1 Minute
to 1:30, which is slightly more reasonable

what the hell do i do about the drive?

That's crazy how one dvd drive could slow you down. Maybe try another brand? Is there another drive on that cable or just the dvd? Try turning on or off dma for that channel. Device manager>ide ata/atapi controllers> choose properties for the channel the drive is on and on the advanced tab set the transfer mode to dma or pio. Try changing that.

 

[Sasqui]

The DVD drive, eh? Either a cabling problem, a faulty drive, conflict with another device or incorrect drive settings in the BIOS - I was going to ask if you were having problems with it and then read above. Process of eliminitation... could even be a jumper setting on the drive.

I assume it's IDE - do you have any other drives on the same channel/cable?

Could also be access mode settings in BIOS causing compatibility problems.

I'd start with the cable - including the power cable (I actually think my original problem was a bad molex connection - intermittent power)

 

[Zero Cool]

try some simple things too, like derfregmanting you hdd and deleting all nessescary shit from it/

 

[ex_reven]

The DVD drive, eh? Either a cabling problem, a faulty drive, conflict with another device or incorrect drive settings in the BIOS - I was going to ask if you were having problems with it and then read above. Process of eliminitation... could even be a jumper setting on the drive.

I assume it's IDE - do you have any other drives on the same channel/cable?

Could also be access mode settings in BIOS causing compatibility problems.

I'd start with the cable - including the power cable (I actually think my original problem was a bad molex connection - intermittent power)

its IDE

its a new cable, but i could try another

cant be the power as ive used three powersupplies in this rig

il check bios, photograph some stuff so you guys can check my settings in case i miss something

 

[ex_reven]

That's crazy how one dvd drive could slow you down. Maybe try another brand? Is there another drive on that cable or just the dvd? Try turning on or off dma for that channel. Device manager>ide ata/atapi controllers> choose properties for the channel the drive is on and on the advanced tab set the transfer mode to dma or pio. Try changing that.

its all set to PIO
when i went back to my computer, now the drive is not even being picked up
il reboot and check

and its not a fragment problem
this computer has only been booted 20 times in its lifespan

 

[Alec§taar]

Eventvwr.msc is your pal: Use it - it may show what is what here, like some service going nuts trying to start, or device driver etc. et al, as well... clueing you into what is up here!

It may help... especially the SYSTEM & APPLICATIONS sections, based on what you're telling us here!

GOOD LUCK!

APK

P.S.=> Lazzer408, neat trick:

You've made my personal documents archive in that one... thanks, & good job!

I've always just used the menu from the photo you note, & didn't realize a DOS batch "SET" statement could do the job here, & I had NO IDEA this tool has environmental %variable% items... good to see it does, & that they can be controlled thus! I use that to remove device drivers!

(gmer antirootkit being the latest example in fact, to uninstall it so other AntiRootkit tools would work, since some complain if its driver is active (it usually isn't, but is a PnP type, activated on demand only))...

I find THIS particular feature of device manager VERY handy - it's GREAT if you use diff. hardware profiles, because you can make drivers active/inactive, based on the logon you use (say, a home logon or network logon for a laptop you may use in both places & if they have diff. networking types etc.)... apk

 

[ex_reven]

Eventvwr.msc is your pal: Use it - it may show what is what here, like some service going nuts trying to start, or device driver etc. et al, as well... clueing you into what is up here!

It may help... especially the SYSTEM & APPLICATIONS sections, based on what you're telling us here!

GOOD LUCK!

APK

P.S.=> Lazzer408, neat trick:

You've made my personal documents archive in that one... thanks, & good job!

I've always just used the menu from the photo you note, & didn't realize a DOS batch "SET" statement could do the job here, & I had NO IDEA this tool has environmental %variable% items... good to see it does, & that they can be controlled thus! I use that to remove device drivers!

(gmer antirootkit being the latest example in fact, to uninstall it so other AntiRootkit tools would work, since some complain if its driver is active (it usually isn't, but is a PnP type, activated on demand only))...

I find THIS particular feature of device manager VERY handy - it's GREAT if you use diff. hardware profiles, because you can make drivers active/inactive, based on the logon you use (say, a home logon or network logon for a laptop you may use in both places & if they have diff. networking types etc.)... apk

ok alec, no anger directed your way, i have absolutely no f--king idea how to use this

HOWEVER, just from taking a peek around i see directories labelled:
Application
Security
System
ACEEventLog

there are ZERO events in security, but in the three other directories there are literally
more than 2400 "Information" events in application about 2400 in the system directory.
Each of these events is no more than 2 seconds after the one that came before it.

The information on these comes from EAPOL...what is that supposed to be?

 

[Alec§taar]

ok alec, no anger directed your way, i have absolutely no f--king idea how to use this

HOWEVER, just from taking a peek around i see directories labelled:
Application
Security
System
ACEEventLog

there are ZERO events in security, but in the three other directories there are literally
more than 2400 "Information" events in application about 2400 in the system directory.
Each of these events is no more than 2 seconds after the one that came before it.

The information on these comes from EAPOL...what is that supposed to be?

You'll want to SORT the entries present: Sorry for my not mentioning that above, I really should have!

(Disregard the INFORMATION ones, but pay attention to the ERROR & WARNING ones!)

You sort them by clicking on the TYPE columns in the right-hand side pane, where the messages themselves are for the SYSTEM & APPLICATION categories, once you select & highlite them in the left-hand side pane that is!

Once they're sorted, scroll up & down thru them... see what they say!

(Security log section/tree item in left-hand side pane doesn't apply here anyhow, MOST LIKELY, & the ACEEventLog one? I have never seen that one before - probably some application specific one, like IE7 has in Windows Server 2003, & like IIS + other Server OS processes can & do have!)

TIP: What can help you here, is to highlite a particular eventlog, & CLEAR the log... reboot again, & it will be FAR LESS MESSAGES FOR YOU TO PARSE THRU!

* Good luck, but this SHOULD help you "zero-in" quite possibly, on the offending process here slowing up your bootup!

APK

P.S.=> Back to "Dr. Who" & the "Ark in Space" (Tom Baker as the good doctor) episode, & time to 'sign off' for tonite, for me... good nite all! apk

 

[ex_reven]

You'll want to SORT the entries present: Sorry for my not mentioning that above, I really should have!

(Disregard the INFORMATION ones, but pay attention to the ERROR & WARNING ones!)

I will try just that...thankyou and goodnight

 

[GLD]

Excuse me if I suggest something already mentioned in the thread. I was having real slow boot times with my system. I unchecked NCQ for my hdd(s) in the device manager and it solved my problem.

Also, your ide primary/secondary, master slave settings correct?

 

[ex_reven]

Excuse me if I suggest something already mentioned in the thread. I was having real slow boot times with my system. I unchecked NCQ for my hdd(s) in the device manager and it solved my problem.

Also, your ide primary/secondary, master slave settings correct?

i would have been concerned with the primary/master settings
but my DVD is the primary IDE, due to the fact that my hard drive is SATA

 

[GLD]

Your hdd support NCQ? Mine doesn't and so seemed to be my boot anchor.

 

[ex_reven]

Your hdd support NCQ? Mine doesn't and so seemed to be my boot anchor.

i cant see any option for NCQ in device manager, what is it exactly?

 

[Wile E]

& the ACEEventLog one? I have never seen that one before - probably some application specific one, like IE7 has in Windows Server 2003, & like IIS + other Server OS processes can & do have!)

iirc, ACEEventlog has to do with the ATI drivers

 

[GLD]

Native command queuing. Under your sata controller. Sorry, I said hdd earlier.

 

[Scavar]

Have you done something like Memtest, or a Diskcheck on all your HDDs? More importantly the one with XP on it.

My system completely boots up into perfect using in 40s or so. 22 programs up on boot. 23 as I type this, because of Opera

 

[ex_reven]

Native command queuing. Under your sata controller. Sorry, I said hdd earlier.

under the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers list i have:
Intel(R) ICH8 2 Port Sserial ATA storage controller - 2825
and
Intel(R) ICH8 4 Port Serial ATA storage controller - 2820

neither of them have anything like NCQ in their properties tabs

i also have 2 Primary IDE Channels and 2 Secondary IDE Channels
but they are irrelevant in this im guessing, since we are talking about SATA

 

[ex_reven]

Have you done something like Memtest, or a Diskcheck on all your HDDs? More importantly the one with XP on it.

My system completely boots up into perfect using in 40s or so. 22 programs up on boot. 23 as I type this, because of Opera

Cant run memtest, i dont have any boot mediums/floppy drives

 

[GLD]

In the SCSI and Raid controllers tree, in device manager. Is there a box somewhere to uncheck "enable command queuing"?

 

[ex_reven]

In the SCSI and Raid controllers tree, in device manager. Is there a box somewhere to uncheck "enable command queuing"?

the only object in that tree is:
jmicron jmb36x controller
which im pretty sure is a raid controller