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    Laptop take 1 minute to boot

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Haulero, Sep 18, 2009.

  1. Haulero

    Haulero Notebook Consultant

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    Hey guys, few days ago I noticed that my laptop takes 1 minute to boot, you know when the black screen with windows xp logo appears, stays like that for 1 minute before I get to the blue screen where I can log in by choosing a user.

    I remember my laptop used to take almost 30 seconds to boot and now is taking twice the time. What do you guys think the problem may be?

    My system is a dell inspiron b120 with:

    Windows XP Home Edition, Version 2002 Service pack 3.
    Intel Celeron processor 1.40 Ghz, 1.24GB of ram

    I have had this laptop for few years so I know its getting old but sometimes we can do something to make it work better :) Thanks guys for your help!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 8, 2015
    Haulero, Sep 18, 2009
    #1
  2. Fragilexx

    Fragilexx Get'cha head in the game

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    Download and run ccleaner to get rid of erroneous registry entries that could be slowing it down slowly. Run msconfig to check that the programs being run at startup are still needed, over time these can mount up. Run a defrag.
     
    Fragilexx, Sep 19, 2009
    #2
  3. Ice Cold

    Ice Cold Notebook Deity

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    if you have an open pci expres mini card slot

    buy one of these I've seen the 2GB for $20

    http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Intel-Full-...in_0?hash=item4a9a52de9e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14


    it has Intel Ready Boost and Ready Drive

    the drivers are here

    http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/itm/


    basically think of it as your hard drive having 2Gigs of cache buffer instead of 8MB or 16MB

    works much better and faster than Vista ReadyBoost


    the also sell the Half-Mini card sizes but those are half as small and cost more.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 8, 2015
    Ice Cold, Sep 19, 2009
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  4. Haulero

    Haulero Notebook Consultant

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    which one is the good one? the one coming from c-cleaner.org or ccleaner.com?
    I google it and I got those those results
     
    Haulero, Sep 19, 2009
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  5. Fragilexx

    Fragilexx Get'cha head in the game

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    Fragilexx, Sep 19, 2009
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  6. Haulero

    Haulero Notebook Consultant

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    Ok I have downloaded that program and it help my computer to work a little better in some things! but the boot still the same. any more ideas amigos?
     
    Haulero, Sep 19, 2009
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  7. Ice Cold

    Ice Cold Notebook Deity

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    #1. Go into BIOS or setup, make sure Quick Boot is selected

    #2. Also make sure your boot sequence starts with the HDD, not the Floppy, the CD-ROM, then HDD

    #3. Reformat/resinstall, that helps

    #4. Get a faster 7200 RPM HDD with 16MB cache you can get once for $40 now adays 5400RPM 8Mb cache has slow boots

    #5. Or try re-partioning the OS to a small 4GB partition.
     
    Ice Cold, Sep 19, 2009
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  8. Fragilexx

    Fragilexx Get'cha head in the game

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    The problem with all except number 3 is that the op was able to boot in 30 seconds before. None of the above should be necessary to get back to that.
     
    Fragilexx, Sep 20, 2009
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  9. Ice Cold

    Ice Cold Notebook Deity

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    How does he have 1.24GB or RAM

    just get an even 2GB of DDR each dimm should be same size

    Go to DELL's site Flash the BIOS, who knows it may help.


    type msconfig in the RUN window, and uncheck everything except stuff that says Microsoft.
     
    Ice Cold, Sep 20, 2009
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  10. Fragilexx

    Fragilexx Get'cha head in the game

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    As I said, check for any unrequired startup programs and run a defrag.
     
    Fragilexx, Sep 20, 2009
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  11. Haulero

    Haulero Notebook Consultant

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    I would, if I had the money to add more memory. I only added 1GB because thats all I could afford haha
     
    Haulero, Sep 20, 2009
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  12. Haulero

    Haulero Notebook Consultant

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    Yes I did the msconfig thing and it helped a little, to load up all the files after I click on my username. black screen with windows xp logo still take 1 minute
     
    Haulero, Sep 20, 2009
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  13. Haulero

    Haulero Notebook Consultant

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    May be is the computer itself just getting old and this is normal??
     
    Haulero, Sep 20, 2009
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  14. KingRaptor

    KingRaptor Notebook Evangelist

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    1.24GB of ram might have something to do with integrated graphics. XP doesn't think the RAM is there when it's allocated for integrated GPUs.
     
    KingRaptor, Sep 22, 2009
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  15. Haulero

    Haulero Notebook Consultant

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    I don't think. I added extra memory one year ago and it always say that from the beggining. right when I installed and check properties, its says 1.24GB and it was working fine, until weeks ago. So I don't think that could be the problem
     
    Haulero, Sep 22, 2009
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  16. Fragilexx

    Fragilexx Get'cha head in the game

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    And the defrag?

    No, I would not expect the RAM is to be the issue - it would have been like that in the first place.

    To be honest, over time, as more apps gets installed and service packs get applied, you will find that your computer is less responsive. For it to double in the amount of time it takes to boot is really not that uncommon.

    Like I said, reg clean via ccleaner, get rid of non essential startup programs in msconfig and defrag. Other than that there is not an awful lot else you can do.
     
    Fragilexx, Sep 22, 2009
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  17. Ice Cold

    Ice Cold Notebook Deity

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    i say spend $40 and get a 7200 RPM HDD with 16MB cache buffer.
     
    Ice Cold, Sep 22, 2009
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  18. Haulero

    Haulero Notebook Consultant

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    Yes, I did the defrag too.. anyway, if there is no easy way to fix this I guess I just have to wait 2.30 minutes for my laptop to be fully ready to work :)
     
    Haulero, Sep 22, 2009
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  19. Haulero

    Haulero Notebook Consultant

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    Nah, I don't really need to spend more money on this laptop, I have had it for 4 years so the 450 that I paid for it are finally giving it up lol... I better save for a new one, windows xp is gonna be old soon since windows 7 is coming (or is here)
     
    Haulero, Sep 22, 2009
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  20. Ice Cold

    Ice Cold Notebook Deity

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    Call DELL either buy yourself an extended warranty as a courtesy by DELL, then let them fix it or exchange you for a new one.

    it may take some luck but call in act as if you know everything, and just ask "Who can I speak with to purchase an extended warranty?"

    if you get denied by that guy for whatever reason ask for a supervisor to authorize as a 1 time courtesy.

    thats how my co-worker went from a Celeron to a Core 2 Duo for like $100 dollars only. From 1GB of RAm to 4GB.
     
    Ice Cold, Sep 22, 2009
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  21. Haulero

    Haulero Notebook Consultant

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    Oh... may be I need to try that :) but if I do it, would I get windows 7 or I still would have windows xp? my computer is 4 year old may not be possible to buy a warranty?
     
    Haulero, Sep 22, 2009
    #21