Official Boot Time Definition?

Having read a million threads and posts on boot times and Vista boot time complaints, I think it is important to once and for all define what boot time is. Or at least agree on a common definition.

Otherwise boot time discussions will merely be philosophical and at best entertaining.

Hence, I would like to hear from people who can tell me their take on an exact definition of boot time. Below is a small list of boot time definitions I have picked up on NBR:

1) Windows splash screen start - Windows sign in user interface.

2) Windows splash screen start - Windows desktop.

3) Windows splash screen start - Windows desktop and ability to open an application.

4) Windows splash screen start - Windows desktop and no more disk activity.

Needless to say it is also important to state the OS one is running. For example Windows Vista with its SuperFetch feature likes to fill RAM with as much as it can, in the background. Sometimes having more RAM seem to make SuperFetch run for longer as there is more potential RAM to fill.

The difference in boot times between the abovementioned definitions can be huge. I recall Zaz mentioning in a thread that his system does a boot in 20 seconds and others stating 5 minutes. We are obviously not talking about the same, unless you are comparing a 6 year old system with a brand new one. I know that bloatware can make a huge difference, but in most cases people are well aware of this.

Let me give you an example for my system.

I have a ThinkPad X61 with the following general specs:

- 2.0 Ghz T7300 Core2Duo
- 3 GB PC5300 RAM
- 120 GB 5400RPM HDD SATA
- Intel GMA X3100 Graphics
- Windows Vista Business
- NOT a clean install, I have most ThinkVantage utilities running as well as Avast Antivirus and Windows Defender.

Boot times are measured with power plug and USB broadband modem plugged in. In addition to this I use Fingerprint Windows login.

From "Windows splash screen start" to "Windows sign in" it takes 27-28 seconds.

From "Windows splash screen start" to "Windows desktop" it takes 32-33 seconds.

From "Windows splash screen start" to being able to "open Firefox" it takes approx. 1 minute and 10 seconds.

From "Windows splash screen start" until there is "no more disk activity" (from i.e. the Superfetch service) it takes up to 7 minutes. Mind you I have 3 GB of RAM that can be filled with SuperFetch data.

Huge differences.

I guess you get the picture by now

I'd appreciate constructive input here. Let's once and for all make a boot time definition so we can properly compare and diagnose.

 

My definition of boot time is the time it takes to reach the Windows Desktop and probably open an application.

3) Power on - Windows desktop and ability to open an application.

 

do remember that
1) a definition agreed upon on this forum, won't work outside this forum
2) hardware and software play a role, but also the environment (lots of dust in the PC/laptop, ...)

(3) an entertaining discussion is something i can enjoy )

 

Yes I am well aware of this.

Obviously it will never be a scientific comparison. However, the purpose is to at least come close to comparing apples with apples.

What is your definition Kwakkel?

 

i actually never timed it, nor cared about it
i think i'd have to say boot time = from pressing the power button to being able to actually use the PC (load a program or whatever)

however, if you don't have a password, you'll probably have a shorter boot time than someone who has a long one
considering that, and to eliminate some variables that have to do with software, you could go from power on untill windows login screen

 

I view it as windows start splash screen to no disk activity.(AKA no hourglass attached to the mouse arrow).

very important to NOT measure from hitting the power button. The time between hitting your power on switch till the windows Splash screen is BIOS time, and has nothing to do with windows ( the manufactures influence this - not Microsoft ).

Microsoft considers startup time as : The time it takes windows to get to the deskop and be able to click with the mouse ( launch apps ). I think that is stupid definition because what MS did to 'boost' startup times was just make things load in the background, yet still let you click around. But as you likely know the is no benefit of launching an application while all the other stuff is still loading, you could just wait for the stuff to finish loading and then launch the app, and chances are the App will be ready to use at about the same time.

 

Good point Otter.

I should re-phrase it. What I meant by "power on" was actually the time from the BIOS has ended it's run and the Windows splash screen starts. So we are speaking the same language. I will edit my initial post.

 

imo, you really have to add the time from pressing start to the splash screen
after all, booting = starting, so it's a bit weird not to add the time for the hardware components to be initialised

 

I disagree. Many people, including myself, turn off extended BIOS memory check to allow for a shorter BIOS run. Others don't know how to or simply don't disable memory check. Often you can also disable boot sequences for i.e. DVD drive, HDD, USB items, etc.

Hence in that respect I find it only logical to exclude the BIOS startup time.

 

include it, and people will learn about these things (they'll ask why you're 5 seconds faster)
exclude it, and they won't know they can speed up the entire start-up process

beside, in my experience, extended memory checks are disabled by default these days

 

It depends on what you want to measure. If you want to compare different laptops in terms of performance then measure from the splash screen. If you want to judge the speed of the BIOS it is different. If you want to know which system will turn on the fastest, then you include both.

Where I work the BIOS takes longer than the OS to boot. I kid you not, 5 min +. But then the systems also have abunch of fancy stuff on the motherboards that takes extra care to get working together

 

To me boot time = Power button is pressed to the logon screen pops up.

 

Interesting comments.

IMO, this just illustrates the need to have a common definition, otherwise boot time discussions are quite useless - unless you always explain what you mean by boot time.

Btw, I just measured my boot times again, clocking it consistently over 4 boots, and it seems I made a mistake in the original post. I have corrected the times.

Especially the last time is alarming. It takes approx. 7 minutes from the Vista splash screen until there is no disk activity left from SuperFetch. 7 minutes!

 

just start a new thread, make your own definitions and parameters, and ask people to post so you can compare based on what you want to test. Not every person wants to test the same thing.

 

Good idea TPA. I think I will do just that.

But this thread was started just as much to help others as to help myself.

There are many completely "green" ThinkPad users here who would probably think their system is not working as it should, when hearing about boot times of i.e. 40 seconds when their own system takes 5 minutes. They might not be aware of the fact that people measure in different ways.

Well at least I hope some of the confused people are now more enlightened than they were before.