The first is to remove unwanted startup items.

When you PC boots up, a variety of programs are scheduled to open and run automatically. Many of these are important Windows applications, which are required for normal PC operations.

Also notable are your security programs, which load automatically and maintain a constant scan of your computer.

However, most computers are full of startup items that are completely unnecessary. Every program which loads on startup adds more strain to your computer. They all take up a certain amount of memory, a certain amount of processing power, and cause a slow startup speed.

To get a faster startup, prune away the unwanted and unneeded startup items. For example, many media players are scheduled to run on startup, to take advantage of quick access hot keys. But is this worth a slower start up time?

Have a look at your startup items – if you don’t need it, turn it off!

Another helpful way to get a faster startup speed is optimizing your Windows registry. The Windows registry, also referred to as the Windows Database, is a central hub of all Windows preferences, settings, and options for the operating system and installed programs. The Window registry can drag down your start speed and overall performance when errors crop up.

Often, when installing and uninstalling software, when updating, and just through regular computer use, old registry keys will be left behind. These, along with other registry errors, can clutter up the Windows database. The result? Your computer slows down, particularly with regard to the startup speed.

To clean up your startup items and optimize your registry, it’s recommended to use special software. PC utilities provide easy access to the Windows startup schedule, and benefit from built in backups. Startup Speed Boost recommends SpeedyPC. The program provides an easy to use registry cleaner, a quick access startup editor, and a safety net in case anything goes wrong.

To check it out, please use the free download link below, or check out our downloads section.

If your PC is suffering from slow startup, you’ve come to the right place.

The first step to remedying your slow startup is removing startup launch items that you don’t need.

Many programs are automatically set to load on startup.

For example, your anti-virus security software launches automatically when Windows starts up.

Along with this, a number of vital Windows processes also kick into gear.

However, a slow startup can result when you have simply too many items set to start automatically on startup. Each item that is scheduled to automatically load takes a portion of your computer’s processing power. Add them up, and your startup slows down.

As you might expect, the solution is quite simple – remove the startup items you don’t need!

Unfortunately, actually doing this can be a little tricky. Many programs don’t offer the option to disable their startup launch. Still, you could uninstall them, but this is a fairly drastic measure.

The best way to go about this is to use a special program to optimize your startup items. We recommend using SpeedyPC. The friendly and easy interface makes it the obvious choice for computer novices and familiar users alike. Click here to download.

The second step to fix your slow startup is to be sure you have a clean and streamlined registry. The Windows registry, often commented but little understood, is like a vast repository of all your computer’s options, preferences, settings, and so on. Whenever a program is installed, a new entry is placed here. Likewise, whenever an option is changed, or new user settings are added. When a program is uninstalled, the references to it in the registry are removed.

At least that’s the plan.

In actual fact, the registry is quite prone to errors, corruptions, and problems. Quite often programs are not fully uninstalled, leaving bits and pieces in the registry. Viruses and other malware can also damage the registry. Not only that, but regular use and accumulated registry entries can slowly build up over time.

The result is a cluttered registry, full of unnecessary entries, broken entries, and riff-raff that slows your computer down – particularly with regard to startup.

Use a reputable registry cleaner to remove errors in the registry, and get your startup speed back. As above, we do recommend SpeedyPC for this.

Along with the easy-to-use interface, the program features numerous security benefits – the category selection screen and automatic system backup ensures that your PC remains safe.

Cleaning your PC and fixing a slow startup is no more difficult that clicking a button or two. Give it a shot – try a free download of SpeedyPC today!

Want to learn more? Check out other articles on How to Fix a Windows XP Slow Startup and how you can improve start speed.

Want to learn more? Check out our articles on how to improve start speed, and get a faster startup!

You can get your own copy of SpeedyPC from our downloads section, or by clicking the link below!

Every Windows operating system has a large index of settings, preferences, program information, and records which is continually being accessed. The Windows Database, also known as the registry, is updated every time a new program is installed, when options are changed, when programs are uninstalled, and when similar large changes are made. You can think of it as one central hub of information – a vast file folder of important details.

The convenience of this kind of plan is its simplicity – important system information is kept grouped together with a cohesive style, rather than being spread around. But the Windows Database also has its drawbacks.

Occasionally, errors can occur in the Windows Database. When you uninstall a program, little pieces may be left behind. When you change system or software settings, conflicting information may be entered into the Windows Database. When you update a program, parts of the Windows Database may be duplicated.

As isolated events, this is not a serious problem. But over time, these old, unneeded, and broken pieces clutter up the Windows Database. System processes are delayed, important data is blocked, and this leads to degraded system performance, error messages, and a slower start speed.

To repair the Windows registry, advanced users can directly access it by clicking Start> Run> and typing: Regedit. From there, technically proficient users will be able to locate old, cluttered, and unwanted pieces of the Windows Database and remove them. It is strongly recommended that novice users do not attempt this. Besides being quite time consuming, there is a great chance of accidentally removing important parts of the Database, which could cripple a system.

Instead, most users should consider cleaning their system with an automatic registry cleaner. These programs utilize advanced detection methods to find errors and clutter in the Windows Database (registry) and quickly fix them. Only confirmed errors are removed, so there is less chance of problem. Registry cleaners often need little knowledge or involvement from the user – typically just click scan and the program will take care of the rest. Plus, the best programs come with a backup feature, so you can instantly undo any changes, should anything go wrong.

SpeedyPC is one of the best of these, and Startup Speed Boost recommends it for all users who want to clean their Windows Database to improve start speed. The program offers a free download, so you can evaluate it without risk.

You can get it from our downloads section, or from the link below.

Think you can’t figure out how to speed it up? Here are a few alternatives while you wait for your PC to load…

• Watch the grass grow. If you’ve got a good view from your PC, you can take in the splendor of nature and watch your grass grow, inch by inch, while your PC starts up.

• Watch paint dry. Do a little home repair, and watch your new eggshell coat dry to perfection. You might even have time for a second coat…
• Make a cup of coffee. While your at it, make a lunch, and when you come back, your computer should be about ready to go.
• Read Moby Dick. Keep a few thick novels by your computer. Every time you need to startup, just breeze through a few chapters.

The truth is, it’s easy to improve your computer’s startup time. You don’t need to keep sudoku book by your PC, or do anything else while your system starts up. Have a quick browse around the Startup Speed Boost site, and you’ll see that fixing slow startup times is possible for everyone. Even complete novices can use a few easy downloads to improve startup speed.

So what are you waiting for?

If your Windows Vista startup speed has slowed to a crawl, there are a few quick steps you can take to improve it.

Improve your Windows Vista Startup Speed

• First and foremost, control the items that launch at Startup.

Each time you load your computer, certain programs are programmed to automatically start. This is very helpful for things like anti-virus programs, which begin immediately to keep your PC safe.

However, many of the programs that launch automatically at startup are really not necessary, and can be disabled. If you disable a program from automatically launching at startup, it won’t delete it, but it will simply stop it from opening up on its own. Many programs run in the background, with a little taskbar icon – software like media players, Adobe Acrobat, photo editing software, and many other will launch at startup, taking up vital system resources from the get-go.

By removing the items you don’t need, you’ll save your system memory for more important tasks, and improve Vista’s startup time. For downloads to help you remove startup items to Improve your Computer’s Startup Speed, please visit our Downloads section.

• Change the way Windows Vista Indexes files.

The Windows Indexing service keeps a tally of all your files, for quick recall and access with the Windows Search tool. In order to do so, it scans your system, to find new and changed files. You can change the way Vista indexes files by clicking Start> Control Panel (Control Panel Home)> System and Maintenance> Indexing Options. Then click the Modify button. From there you can change your indexing settings, omit rarely used areas, or even remove all areas. Note that this will have an impact on your Windows search times.

• Consider upgrading your RAM.

Windows Vista is known for being significantly more resource-heavy than Windows XP. To run Vista properly, a minimum of two gigs of RAM is recommended.

• Run Defrag and disk cleanup.

These tools can be accessed by clicking Start> All Programs> Accessories> System Tools. The Defragment tool and Disk Cleanup tool should be run regularly to keep your PC at its best.

• Tweak Vista’s Visual Effects.

Windows Vista is a pretty flashy operating system, but all those good looks come with a cost. Disabling some of the flashier features of Vista will result in an overall performance boost.  To do so, click Start> Right-click Computer>Properties>Advanced System Settings>(Click Continue if a Windows Security message appears)>Settings>click the Visual effects tab. From here, you can select individual visual effects to tone down, or simply select the Adjust for Best Performance button.

If you’re running Windows XP, check out our recent post on how to Fix a Slow Startup on Windows XP.

1. Consider a memory upgrade. Check how much RAM you have in your system. Typically with XP, 1-1.5 gigs is enough for a snappy startup, and efficient PC performance. If you are well under that, you may want to purchase more RAM.




2. Disable the Recent Documents feature. Windows XP automatically logs and displays your most often used documents. Each time you start-up Windows, this information must be found and presented. Disabling it may shave off some time. To do so, right click anywhere in your taskbar, and click Properties. Then Click the Start Menu tab. Next to the Start Menu button (the first of two options) click the Customize button. Under the Advanced tab, simply remove the check mark next to “List my most recently opened documents.” Click OK, and then Apply.




3. CHKDSK and defrag. These two system utilities are built into Windows XP, and should be run regularly. CHKDSK can be accessed by clicking Start>Run and then typing CHKDSK. This will open a new Window, and will begin scanning automatically. Give the program a little time, and it will check your hard disk for any errors or problems.  Defrag, or disk defragmentation can be accessed by clicking Start> All Programs> Accessories> System Tools> Disk Defragmenter. This tool will allow you to compress and rearrange information on your hard drive, so as to save space and improve speeds.




4. Clean your system’s registry. This is a complex database that controls all of Windows’ settings and preferences. Errors and cluttered entries here can lead to slowdowns and error messages. You can edit this manually, if you are fairly experienced. Otherwise, SpeedyPC provides and easy way to clean the registry and fix your slow startup.




5. Control which items load at startup. Removing items from the start up schedule will free up memory and lead to a faster system. For more info, read this post on how to improve startup speed.

You can fix your Windows XP startup speed!

That’s it! These five tips should put you well on your way to starting your computer likety-split!

First, it’s important to differentiate between the bootup process of your computer, and the startup process of Windows. These are two different things, and each involve different aspects of your PC.

The bootup process it what begins immediately after you power on your computer. This does not involve Windows at all. Instead, it starts with your computer’s BIOS, which is the ground level firmware of your PC.

BIOS, Bootup, Loading Processes - what goes on when you start your PC?

As soon as it loads, the BIOS takes the time to check your hardware devices – your video card, sound card, hard disk, and so on. So, a computer with more hardware devices attached will have a marginally longer startup time.

Plus, the BIOS will also check to see which device it will boot from. Usually, the computer will boot from the hard drive (where Windows is installed), but occasionally it can boot from the DVD drive, CD drive, or USB port. This is the case when using advanced system tweakers, or when installing a new operating system.

The bootup process then checks and initializes the memory of the PC. The details of this are fairly advanced, and this Wikipedia article can be seen for more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booting

All of these bootup processes are influenced by the speed of the computer’s processor, and the amount of RAM memory. Sometimes, a hardware upgrade is required to improve bootup speeds.

The second step is the starting of Windows – the startup. This loads the various processes and applications that Windows needs in order to run. This includes loading files from the registry loading system settings, loading device drivers, loading DLL files, (and so on) and culminates in the Windows logon screen. Problems with drivers, DLL files, or corruptions within the Windows registry and settings can cause errors and delays here.

After you log in to Windows (this may be automatic, depending on your settings) the Windows startup items are launched. For more information, check out our post on how to fix a slow startup.

The Windows startup process involves a variety of different applications and settings. The Windows task scheduler queues all these programs to launch, and schedule tools in individual software programs also set them to begin automatically. This is true for all systems. However, spyware, adware, Trojans, and other malware can also be designed to run on startup.

Malware could be slowing your startup times

When malicious software launches on startup, any number of things will happen.

Adware will begin showing pop-ups, spyware will begin gathering details, connections will be made to the internet, data will be transmitted, and so on.

These nasty tasks will take up portions of your computer’s memory, hogging resource and slowing down your startup.

On top of this, malware is usually designed very poorly. They are often buggy, with coding errors and haphazard use of system resources. This puts a further strain on your system. These errors and problems in the malware code suck up more of your memory, which once again slows your start speed.

To remove malware, you have a few options. You should be running an active and up-to-date security solution. Don’t just run an anti-virus program, be sure to run an anti-spyware/anti-malware application as well.

For virus protection, you may want to consider Microsoft Security Essentials, which is provided free of charge from Microsoft. If MSE leaves some spyware behind, you can use Hijack This, or XoftSpySE. Hijack This is more of a manual solution, and required some research and PC knowledge. XoftSpySE is aimed towards the general consumer, and offers automatic scans and easy operation.