Dell XPS Boot Time Improver & Records

Dell XPS Boot Time Improver & Records​

By: Scott Bennett
First Written: 24 June 2008

~~Introduction~~
I started this thread to shed light on the average XPS boot time and how it can be improved without harming your system or more so this is a more in depth expansion of Les’s guide. I will also record your boot times if you post them up as well as any hints you may have to improve this guide.
Note: This involves Dell XPS notebooks but can be used for others as there is a bit of dell software that slows down the boot time. & not to mention hog RAM

~~Speeding up Your Boot Time & get RAM back for Vista ~~
Lets start with a little background Dell XPS systems will include many items that start at boot and slow the system down heavily, and hog valuable RAM. Why would dell do this you wonder well there is an easy solution dell wants their computers to be “easily accessible (easy to use)” ext. Yer that’s all good if you want to take 50+ seconds to boot and have an idle RAM usage of 1.25GB. But don’t worry both these numbers can be reduced as I will explain know.

~~Start up Inspector~~
http://www.windowsstartup.com/ for starters download & install Start up Inspector know open it. Along the top you will find
Refresh: refreshes the current list of items running at start up
Consult: This goes on line to find out what the program is and if its required I personally don’t trust its best to check for your self by clicking of the program and then clicking on the find more on Google link.
Apply: this saves the current settings of what runs at start up.
It also lists its Name, Filename, Start up Location & Memory usage.



To turn a Program off simple uncheck the box beside its name. and click apply

I have turned off the following on my system and had no errors or bugs:
Note: I have Vista Ultimate (Red) version
QuickSet: Dell related program (not needed) DelllSupportCenter: This can be started manually if needed. ehTray: windows program (not required) swg: related to Google sidebar (sure it looks kool but it can drain performance turn it off) Google Desktop: also related to Google side bar (turn it off) Bluetooth: turn this off and only run it when you need it unless you use a Bluetooth mouse. Dell Webcam Manager: not required can be started manually if required. Windows Defender: if you have it off also turn this off. PSQ Launcher: Related to finger print reader turn it off if you don’t use you reader. PCMService: Related to Mediadirect may be useful to some but can be turned off.

Anything to do with Dell support can be turned off as well as they can also be started manually. For any that aren’t of that list Google them you’re self by clicking on the program and finding the find more on Google option.

Advice: I recommend not touching anything to do with drivers like Apoint & SigmateSysTrayApp as they control the dell touch pad and your sound options ext.

~~msconfig Startup Options~~
Ok you may not have know this and I was surprised when I found it to here you will again find a list of programs that run at Startup and maybe even more then what is listed in Startup Inspector.
To get their hit (windows key + R) then click on Startup. And shebang your hit with another big list of things running at start up lol.



You should be able to tell what all of these are by their manufacturer I have discussed this list in another post and have concluded you could cut it down to just AlpsPointing-device Driver, IDT Audio, RAID Event Monitor, McAfee SecurityCenter & ECenter.

~~Services~~
these also slow down boot time but are covered perfectly in the Vista Tips & Tweaks Guide so just go their and do what he says.

~~Results~~
Ok know that’s over and done with we can get on to results mine are

Before:
Boot Time To Logon Screen: 47.827 secs
Idle RAM Usage At Boot (check in task manager): 1.2-1.3GB

After:
Boot Time To Logon Screen: 35.320 secs
Idle RAM Usage At Boot (check in task manager): 800-900MB

Well the results speak for them selves a 15.502 sec time improvement as for memory I am using 400-500mbs less yay!

~~Records~~
This is where ill post the current Startup recorded both for the M1330 & the M1530.
Remember that is you have a mouse plugged in ExpressCard in this will slow your load up time.

~~M1330 Records~~
Name: beena
Boot Time To Logon Screen: 34.21
Idle RAM Usage At Boot (check in task manager): 1.08GB

~~M1530 Records~~
Name: fonduekid
Boot Time To Logon Screen: 28.34
Idle RAM Usage At Boot (check in task manager): 900MB

SSD time:
Name: Les
Boot Time To Logon Screen: 27sec

~~Conclusion~~
Well I hope I’ve helped lower your start time and reduce your idle ram usage and I must say I enjoyed writing this guide its just so easy with the slanted keyboard mmm. I love the 9cell battery (get one lol).

 

Interesting article, good job! I'm gonna try it out and hopefully shave a few seconds off of my boot time. +rep

 

Thanks CeeNote. & fonduekid

 

Thanks for this thread.. Nice

 

Would anyone like to upload some times.

Steps:
1. shut your computer down completely.
2. Remove all of your USB, Expresscard, VGA devices.
3. get a stopwatch Ipod or watch will do.
4. Press the reboot button and start your watch at the same time.
5. stop it when you reach the login screen.
6. login, go straight to ctrl+alt+delete
7. look at your idle ram usage.
8. done.

 

quick question, if you turn off quickset, can you start it again manually later? you say that all the dell support can be started manually but not quickset?

reason being that i'm constantly changing all my options about, and it's a realtively handy option, i'm more than happy to spare 20mbs or so idle ram to have it on, but if i can turn it on manually that'd be even better.

 

The biggest reduction in start-up time comes from uninstalling anti-virus software. Not recommended for unwary users, but pro's should be safe (and have everything important backed up already!).

 

somehow like a duplication of Les' thread...but still, the OP did put the effort.

 

Nice to have a kinda records thread out here I've been playing around and tweaking and tricking and everything a bit since the time I got my laptop - Its been perfectly well behaved and absolutely no problems whatsoever after following the tweaks n tricks word to word.. anyway, Here are my timings as of now:

Boot Time To Logon Screen: 33.42 seconds
Idle RAM Usage At Boot (check in task manager): ~ 900MB (on average)

 

Idle Ram Usage At Boot: 790MB

My boot time to the login screen sucks though, its about 49 seconds, and my guess is its because of the Finger Print Scanner Software and also the service used for LoJack.

 

Just checked some more services and stuff again, and this time I clocked 30.21 seconds from boot time to Logon screen.. Idle RAM Usage at boot remains the same though, at ~ 900 MB.

 

Sorry guy i live in australia and opposite time zones you know ive been sleeping but i can tell you that. quickset can easily be started manually just look it up under "Dell QuickSet" (seems like a bit of a odd program what do dell do with it?)

Fonduekid nice time would be nice to go sub 30 but you've probably already turned everything off.

Ill edit the records section when i get back from school, and remember to try turning off some unnecessary services which is covered in sufficient detail in the vista tips and tweaks guide.

And i don't think this is like les's guide this is a more in depth look and is more detailed

 

Well, to be honest, No, I haven't turned 'everything' off yet. There are still some stuff running at startup, which was recommended by others to be "ok if its turned off", but I haven't. I was just going step by step, and the current time I have is with some more stuff still running. I must say I am quiet surprised at this speed and response time of this beast. For example, the PSQ launcher you mentioned, I did not turn it off (This is just a quick example). And I did not follow the point in Les' guide about the services (where he talkes about using blackvipers settings). This was simply because I was bit scared to mess around with that stuff, and I was personally advised not to mess around too much with it. So for that point, for instance, I just stopped where Les suggested Trebuin's safe changes, and I did just that. Anyway, good to know that the machine we get is really great. Cheers

 

Fonduekid i dident use black vipers stuff as you will disable some good windows components. yer is seems that 30-38 seconds is optimal with this machine if you run virus software im not game to turn mine off so if anyone doesent have any virus software could you please submit a tiem you should get sub 30.

 

hmm... my idle ram usage - 650 MB
but boot time is like 59 secs..

 

Good thread, but boot time varies a lot. What if you have SSD hard drives?

 

yer ill have to account for that but im really busy at the moment school reports subject picking ext. so ill get around to it on the weekend. thanks for the input and keep posting

 

dang, my m1530 is 31 seconds to the DESKTOP =]. I did a clean install

 

StuntDragon: Dang??? 31 seconds is a very good time if you get near 30 you are at probably the most optimal time unless you dont have virus softwear.

Uptated: I just updated the times and added one for SSD's anyone got an SSD XPS????????

 

Yeah I've used my stopwatch to record it like 10 times so it gets 31 all the time, maybe 30 or 32 once

 

36.65 seconds for me with all those stuff enabled.
(Remember, I've got all those Quick Set, Fingerprint, Webcam Manager and all those stuff enabled )

- Mouse is connected
- Windows Vista 64bit
- 4 GB Kingston RAM ( Has this thinggy got anything to do with it?) I heard that Dell's RAM performed better than Corsair's

Dell XPS M1330

 

Yeahhhhhh.. the record is mine!!!!! ;-) hehe..

Yeah, by the way, I have still lots of stuff enabled.. may be I could try to take out a few more (I cant think of what to take off though!! But just for the time I can try to do it!) see what the time and RAM usage is like. Theoretically it should be quicker. But I think the optimal time and RAM usage should be got from a laptop where the user has all the stuff he is using / needs / requires. Not just turn off everything and look at the boot time. Anyway, lets see

Cheers and good morning (its morning here in my place!) to everyone.

 

benna:
Nice time considering what you have enabled and you have your mouse in this slows it down because during startup vista checks for all connected devices thus the more you have the more searching capeash.

fonduekid:
yes the record is yours and im thinking if you do what you say your going to do you will definitely get -30's which when i think about it is truly awsome my desktop takes well over 1min to start lol

P.S. I'm going to try and lower my time even more and get the record for my self hehehe.

Note: Vista 'apparently' uses a fair bit of ram for 'No reason' so you may get to a point where we will just not see anything lower then XXXmb Ram This number also differs accross versions so i think you should start putting up what Vista OS you run 32-64, basic ultimate ext.

Thanks for the posts.

 

Well @ Scott. You are right. Probably when I turn off the other things recommended as safe by the experts, I'd probably hit 20s (though I am not sure).. and I use Vista Ultimate (32 bit).. But seriously, I have never seen anyone saying the boot time to be around 30 or below that, and I must accept I am pretty surprised with the speed of my system!!! But feel good with my lappy, though Its awesome.

 

If you use your laptop only for 2D business apps (Excel, Word, Outlook), uninstall Nvidia display drivers and use the one supplied with Windows (Vista, not sure XP has a driver that accelerates 2D). That should kill the big pause during Windows boot that usually happens a few seconds after the boot logo appears.

 

Mmm thanks for that could come in handy for some people.

Benna: sorry mate ill add you to the records dident nitice the m1330 at the bottom of your post

 

Hey man, its ok. No Problems Noticed my record over there now

Lets come to the point,
Scott, since i received the PM form you for the boot time RAM usage, so i decided to check the start up time once again disconnecting the mouse. (Startup entries still enabled, the fingerprint stuff is to be enabled just before loading the welcome screen, so i guess that might also make a delay)

New time: 34.21 Seconds
RAM Usage: 1.08 GB

 

Thanks for that benna updated the main page

cheers.

 

Isn't timing to the logon screen a little bit redundant? Afterall, there is still more time taken after logging in before you can actually use the system. I'm not sure on this either, but I'm fairly sure services are loaded after login.

I'm running XP with auto-login enabled so the whole process is much more streamlined. But real timing should be to when windows is at the point where you can start a program. I would say to the point when HD activity stops, but that is a little hard with Vista having to load superfetch.

Anyway just some food for thought.

 

Udi thanks for the input but i did think of that and i disided upon logon screen because everyone has one right recording after login has way to many variables what if your have a password ext. thats why i chose log on screen.
This just makes it easier for everyone to recored a good time.

 

Same as the following thread if anyone wants to see more results:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=234987

Regarding the ssd query, I still get around 27 seconds and have been better. I also know of a few hds that got under 30 sec. You need to ensure its from the push of the button until the last activity completes on your desktop, which is the internet confirmation in my case.

Many judge from push to login screen or push to appearance of the desktop which is 'cheating' in my opinion.

 

As I posted in Les' thread just now, I just hit a time of 28.34 seconds

Still, this is the time when everything is up and running and fully functional (including internet confirmation as Les mentioned!)

Btw, no cheat tricks here. I still have all the services and startup' _which I need for my daily use_ like before.. just made 'manual' a couple more than the last time, because I figured out it was not needed at startup...

Cheers.

 

sweet thanks Les for a SSD Time i updated the main page.

fonduekid sweet great time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!