A fresh Windows installation boots up in a breeze but with time, as we go on using the system, installing applications and stuff, the start up time of Windows starts increasing which increases the waiting time before you could actually use the computer after pressing the power button.

Here are 10 ultimate ways to make your Windows system boot faster than ever

1. Remove Unwanted programs from start up

This is one of the most common ways to make windows boot faster. Certain applications add them to the list of start up programs when they are installed. As you go on installing various applications, the number of entries in start-up also increase leading to slower start up.

To remove unwanted entries from start up entry,

1) Press [Window]+[R] or Start > Run to start run dialog.

2) Enter msconfig and press Enter.

3) Go to Start up tab and uncheck those entries that you do not want to load at start up and then click on Ok. You might need to restart your computer to see the changes.

Do not uncheck entries like Sound Driver or Display driver that are required to operate your computer smoothly.

2. Disable services that run at start-up

Services are applications that run in background to provide different types of functionality to Windows. Windows loads a large number of services at startup, You can also reduce boot up time by disabling those services that are not required. Here are some services that you could safely disable to speed up boot up process.

To disable services from loading at start up, type msconfig in run dialog and press Enter and then move to Services tab.

Help and Support: If you never use built in Help and Support then this entry can safely be unchecked.

Task Scheduler: This service can be safely disabled if you never schedule tasks using Scheduled Tasks  in Control Panel.

Themes: Themes service allows user to use different visual styles to make windows look more visually appealing. If you prefer performance instead of looks, then disable this service.

Wireless Zero configuration: This service is used to provide support for 802.11 Wireless connectivity. If you do not use Wi-fi to connect to other computers then this service can be safely disabled.

Windows Time: This service lets you synchronize system clock over interment. If you are not connected to Internet or never synchronize your system clock, then you can safely disable this entry.

Note: Some services are critical to operation of Windows and disabling them would hamper Windows operation.

3. Look for spyware/adware

Spywares can be the source of slow boot up of windows as they need to start up with windows to throw annoying pop ups at you. It is always wise to use an Anti-Spyware software such as Spybot Search n destroy, Super AntiSpyware etc. to keep spywares/adwares at bay.

4. Defragment your Hard disk

Over time the data on your hard disk gets fragmented which leads to greater access time of data from hard disk. Windows provides inbuilt disk defragmenter to defragment disks.

Defragmenting your hard disks regularly helps reduce file access time and speed up the performance of Windows. Remember, using Windows Disk Defragmenter can take hours to defragment if you are using FAT file system.

5. Reduce number of Fonts Installed

Windows loads each and every font installed in system at start-up so that they can be used by various applications. Keeping number of installed fonts to around 300-400 would help reduce startup time.

To remove fonts, go to C:\Windows\Fonts and copy those fonts you intend to remove and place them in another folder as a backup and then remove the fonts. By this way, your fonts will be saved for later use. Remember not to uninstall fonts pre built in Windows system as they are used by Windows.

6. Changing to Static IP

If you are using a Point to Point over Ethernet(PPPOE) to connect to broadband connection using modem, then most probably your computer is set to use DHCP which automatically assigns IP address to your computer on boot-up. By default, windows takes 120 seconds to locate IP address of your computer using DHCP on boot up.

You can save this time by assigning an IP address to your computer of the type 192.168.1.xx. To do this

1) Click on Start, Run
2) Type ncpa.cpl and press Enter to open the Network Connection Control Panel
3)  Right-click on the Local Area Connection and choose Properties
4)  Click on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties
5) You should see a screen similar to the one below.

Fill in your static IP, subnet, default gateway, and DNS server information and click OK. If you aren’t sure of your IP ranges on your router, consult your router manual or your ISP. Using DHCP is fine, although you sacrifice a few seconds for an IP to be assigned to from the network.

7. Disable Unnecessary hardware devices

Windows loads drivers necessary for operation of hardware devices connected to your computer at start up. Not all of the installed hardware is used, then why not disable those devices that are seldom used. To do this

1) Start Run Dialog(window+R) and type compmgmt.msc and press Enter.

2) From left pane, select Device Manager and then in right pane, select that hardware device you seldom use.

3) Right click on it and select Disable. This would disable that device. To use that device again, simply right click on the disabled device and select Enable.

Do not disable devices critical to system operation like Keyboard, Disk Drives etc.

8. Remove Remote - Access

Remote Access is a service that allows your computer to be accessed remotely over a network. This feature is loaded by windows during start up. But in most cases, this feature is not used. This can be disabled by following these steps.

1) Right click My computer and select Properties.

2) Then select Remote tab and uncheck Allow Remote Assistance.. to disable this feature.

9. Keep your drivers up to date

Keeping your hardware drivers up to date makes the hardware drivers more optimized and bug free than earlier versions. As hardware drivers are loaded at startup, keeping them updated would lead to better performance and faster start ups. You could use a utility like Version Tracker Pro that automatically monitors and downloads latest updates for hardware drivers and softwares.

10. Adjust BIOS settings

By default, the BIOS of computer hardware is set to use DVD/CD drive as first boot device. It first looks for a bootable disk in optical drive and if nothing is found, then moves to hard disk to start boot-up. You could save a few seconds by adjusting your BIOS setup to use hard disk as first boot device.

To do this press Delete key when the splash screen shows up when you turn on the computer. This would open up BIOS settings. Adjust the first boot device and save settings to see the effect.

These tips would help you make your Windows System boot up in a lot lesser time.

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