SZ6xx: How long for Vista to boot?

How long does it take your Windows Vista to boot, from BIOS to desktop (with no busy pointer)?

Please also list your model and hard drive (?7200 rpm), and installation method (factory, clean or semi-clean).

 

60 seconds (45-50 seconds til the Logon screen), then another 10-15 til the desktop.

Model: SZ680
Processor: T7700 (2,4Ghz)
RAM: 4GB DDR2
HD: Hitachi Travelstar 7k200 200GB @ 7200rpm

Installation method: Factory (PortableOne)

HD space is about one third full already. And I've already installed/uninstalled a few proggies (including MS Office 2007 Enterprise which may have added a tiny extra boot-up time also).

I did run TuneXP 2 days ago though but not sure whether that really speeded up the process that much...

Anyways, I'm going to try setting up Vista 64-bit on the machine today and report as to all the problems I encounter, if too many I'm reverting to 32-bit.

 

Synthesia, that does not seem very fast to me, considering you have a clean install and the fastest harddrive available.

Is it maybe because of the 4GB? Have you tried it with 2GB?

 

No its not a clean install, its how it arrived with all the factory settings. Gonna try a clean install now.

Haven't tried with 2GB but I don't really wanna take out the RAM from the laptop. Also because of Windows 32-bit only 3GB shows up...not sure if that could slow things down. Anyways I find it takes longest from pressing the power on to the logon, once I've logged on I find the lappy very fast despite all the stuff installed...not exactly sure what is installed yet and what not...I just see a lot of programs I 'could' install in the Welcome screen...

Anyways, will report a bit later after trying 64-bit.

 

Before you install 64bit OS, go into the BIOS and check how much you have installed as reported by BIOS. If you see 4GB there, you are good to install 64bit OS. Otherwise, dont bother.

 

That Welcome Center is the devil. I believe the stuff that is in the welcome center including AIM and NAV are already installed. Some of the stuff are trial-ware.

Good luck with the 64-bit!!! I look forward to the report as I too have 4GB RAM.

 

starting from the VAIO/Phoenix/and soemthing screen, takes about about 31~35 sec to the login screen. about 45 sec (including the time to scan fingerprint. 1 try success) to reach the windows where I can start moving the mouse.

T7700 7200rpm HDD 4gb DDR2 800 (PC2-6400) memory. 32.bit
I didn't do semi-clean nor clean install.
I simply removed programs I didn't want. etc.

I wouldn't bother trying 64bit... unless you are sure all the drivers works with 64bit.

 

See Tweak Numero 2.

 

I checked in the BIOS and it only showed up 3GB there too, upon which I opened up the RAM slots of my laptop where I did find 2x 2GB RAM sticks...

Is there a way to let the BIOS let the laptop use 4GB instead of 3? I already thought of it that Vista will probably not use the full 4GB if the BIOS does not list so much...

Hmm...do you know what the options are?

 

Bah, even with Santa Rosa chips, it looks like SZ6xx is still as limited as SZ4xx in terms of max memory supported. Unless you can somehow modify the BIOS yourself or persuade Sony to provide 4GB support (very unlikely), I am afraid there is nothing you can do really. If you search the forum, you will find that my SZ480 is also stuck at 3GB

 

With a clean install on the OS I had about
60 sec to the desktop with Vista (though it was clearly still working hard, hammering the drive and maxing out the CPU for much longer) and
30 sec with XP (another 10sec or so and XP'd be idle.)


RAM limits are 4GB by hardware and 3GB with a 32bit OS. You need a 64 bit OS to access more than 3GB, has nothing to do with hardware. Since Sony has no support for 64bit XP or Vista (no way you'll get all the drivers until Sony does support it) I'd say their 'maximum' ram spec is a bit misleading.

 

If the BIOS doesn't support a full 4GB, even a 64-bit OS won't see the full 4GB.

 

My BIOS indicates all 4GB are present in my 650N/C