Windows Xp boot & shut down speeds

[E.T.]

Just curious about whats considered "normal" for Xps [home ed] boot up & shut down times.

I previously had Win 98se on a P3 500mhz 128ram; the boot up time was relatively slow, aprox a full minute. Shut down on the other hand was quick , 25-30 seconds or so.

My new system runs XP, P4 2.66mhz 512rd ram; the boot up time is nearly instantaneous! Aprox 15-20 secs [maybe the CPU speed here] Contrast that to a slow shut down time of nearly a minute.

Why is XP so slow to shut down? Is it possible the contrats between the two OSs is due to the method of file saving [XP is more thorough, hence slower]?
Aside from this, I have no issuse w/Xp.

[Aku]

Shutdown for me in XP is about the same as startup, around 20 seconds. Perhaps you have a lot of processes running when you shut down?

[Lara]

E.T. I believe Aku is right. Each running process (like antivirus software etc.) takes about 20 seconds as Windows XP shuts down.

There are ways to mess with the registry files, to force your computer to shut down quicker, but that could cause more problems! As long as your computer shuts down in less than a minute, I suggest you don't do anything :cool:

[E.T.]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Shutdown for me in XP is about the same as startup, around 20 seconds. Perhaps you have a lot of processes running when you shut down?</div>

Ok AKU, that makes sense. I did disable Norton '03 [it messed w/EmperorDune install]. I take a look at whats running prior to shut down.
Thanks
BTW, did you get your PSU installed & system back on line?

[E.T.]

<div class=\"smallfont\">E.T. I believe Aku is right. Each running process (like antivirus software etc.) takes about 20 seconds as Windows XP shuts down.

There are ways to mess with the registry files, to force your computer to shut down quicker, but that could cause more problems! As long as your computer shuts down in less than a minute, I suggest you don't do anything :cool:</div>

Hey Lara, I aint scared of no registry files! [I know a Wizardess of all things tech, lol].

My post was more of an observation than a problem. If you think aprox one minute is ok, I'll "let sleeping dogs lie"...

...and now, some plagiarism nonsense just for you:

"One OS to rule them, one OS to find them.
One OS to bring them, into darkness bind them"
;)

[moya]

From the Windows XP guide "From reformat to relax" at www.tweaktown.com

"Dramatically improve menu speeds and application and system shutdown/restart speeds:

Open registry editor (Start>Run>Regedit) and find the following key:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\Desktop]

Change to the following values in the right hand pane of regedit:

HungAppTimeout = 4000 Delay before a hung application is allowed to terminate (each 1000 = 1 sec)

WaitToKillAppTimeout = 4000 Delay before windows finally starts to shutdown (each 1000 = 1 sec)

MenuShowDelay = 20 Delay before a menu pops open (each 1000 = 1 sec)

AutoEndTasks = 1 Automatically closes running applications when Windows shuts down"

AS ALWAYS: TAKE CARE WHEN EDITING YOUR REGISTRY, AND KEEP A BACKUP!

Alternatively, you could download Cacheman (http://www.outertech.com/) which is a more user-friendly way to tweak the same settings without going into your registry yourself.

Besides that, I recommend methodically going through the Windows XP tweak guides (esp. Reformat to Relax and Relax to Righteous) over at tweaktown (address above). Hope that helps!

[Lara]

Most important part of moya's post .....
"AS ALWAYS: TAKE CARE WHEN EDITING YOUR REGISTRY, AND KEEP A BACKUP!" ;)

[E.T.]

<div class=\"smallfont\">From the Windows XP guide "From reformat to relax" at www.tweaktown.com
Hope that helps!</div>

Thanks loads Moya! Ive bookmarked the URL. Im always a little nervous messing w'my PC, but tweaktown will improve my understanding of XP OS. ;)

[ShotgunShy]

It's funny, I play around with my registry too every now and then (especially during that awful week with the blaster virus and all) but I never keep a backup of anything. I haven't had any setbacks (yet ;) ) but maybe someday I'll really be sorry.

Keeping fingers crossed...

[moya]

Keeping a backup is easy. You just run regedit, go file>export, select All under export range, then choose a directory and name for your backup file. Again, this is from the tweaktown guide. It's better to be safe than sorry!

You could use system resore I suppose, if you're on XP and have it enabled.