3 Reasons Why Your Computer Takes Forever to Start

Boot up time can seemingly be the most annoying part of the entire day. While technology has gotten much quicker, it's easy to let your computer slip to the point that it takes ten minutes to start. Here are three reasons why the process takes forever, and how to fix it.

Boot Delay
Did you know that your computer has a default startup delay of 30 seconds? This means that every time you start your machine, it's automatically programmed to add an extra 30 seconds to the process to give its startup functions some flexibility. Here's how to cut that 30 seconds down:

1. Open Start Menu
2. Click 'Run' (if you can't find it, search for it in the search bar)
3. Type 'msconfig'
4. Click the 'Boot' tab in the System Configuration menu
5. Change Timeout from 30 to 5 seconds
6. Click OK

Too Many Startup Programs
In most cases, programs that you download to your computer will automatically load when you start up your machine. All programs do however give the user an opportunity to opt out of this feature in the installation process, but who really pays attention to the fine print? When all of your programs are starting up at once, they overload your CPU power and add to the overall delayed startup time. Here's how to fix it:

1. Repeat steps 1-3 above
2. Click the 'Startup' tab in the System Configuration menu
3. Uncheck any programs that are not essential to your first daily tasks
4. Click OK

Too Much Clutter
Mom and Dad always told you to clean up your room. Now, we're telling you to clean up your computer. In a messy room, it takes forever to find your keys under the heaping piles of laundry and garbage. The same is true with computers. It takes your computer time to sift through the unnecessary items to perform the tasks that you actually want. Fortunately, Windows comes with a tool that will 'clean your room' for you, called Defrag. Here's how to use it:

1. Open Start Menu
2. Click 'Computer'
3. Right Click on C: drive
4. Click 'Properties'
5. Click 'Tools' tab
6. Click 'Defragment now...'
7. Click OK

These tasks will likely speed up your computer's startup time, if only a little. If you suspect other problems, you'll likely need service from Computerware. We'll visit your business and perform a diagnostics on your system to find out what's slowing it down. We can even do many of these procedures for you remotely with our managed IT services. Our remote IT services are the best way to keep your computer's boot time fast. To learn more about what it takes to make your workstations perform optimally, give us a call at (703) 821-8200.