Win 8.1 Build 9431 slow Boot

hi, since installing win 8.1 pro preview my boot speeds are double what they were in win 7, in win 7 i booted to desktop in 18 seconds but its always 36 seconds now, i no its still fast enough but from what i've been reading i should be booting faster, all drivers up to date, intel toolbox optimized, 4k aligned but always 36 seconds, all help appreciated, cheers, Drew
i7 2600k turbo to 4.4Ghz
sabertooth p67
xtreme 2133Mhz 2x4GB
intel 60GB 330 SSD
sandisk 240GB extreme SSD
GTX 770

Have you updated to the latest BIOS (3602) which is intended to improves win 8 compatibility?
Did you do a Legacy or UEFI install?
Which SSD is your boot/OS drive? Is it set to run AHCI?
Is fast boot enabled in your power options?

hi, bios is 3602, legacy or uefi install, not a clue, just loaded disk n hit enter n installed from there as i would from win 7 retail disk, windows on intel ssd, ahci is set in bios. fast boot in power options i dont have. from what i just read fast start up is just some sort of sleep mode which i never use, full shut down i always do, same as win 7, cold boot win 7 18 seconds, win 8 cold boot 36+ seconds

DR3WST3R said:

hi, bios is 3602, legacy or uefi install, not a clue, just loaded disk n hit enter n installed from there as i would from win 7 retail disk, windows on intel ssd, ahci is set in bios. fast boot in power options i dont have

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If you see the windows logo on boot, then it is a Legacy install. If you see ASUS logo (or blank screen), then it is most likely a UEFI install. If you can provide a screenshot of your Disk Management, then we would know for sure. here's my Legacy install:



You do have a fast boot option. It is actually called fast startup. Sorry for that. Anyway, go to Control Panel> Power Options> Click "Choose what the power buttons do" (top right), click "Change settings that are currently unavailable", scroll down to fast boot/startup option:



Make sure it is checked.

hi, legacy install and like i said on power options dont have what you point me to

now after clicking unavailable settings, nothing changes

I have no idea why that option is missing. It may have something to do with the fact that your mobo was manufactured circa late 2010 and is not listed as fully compatible with win 8; however, I have a 2011 laptop, running Win 8.1, and I have that option. Moreover, the fact that your last BIOS update was an attempt (by the manufacturer) to improve win 8 compatibility may have something to do with it as well. In any event, if you can't take advantage of the fast startup option then there is no sense in continuing... hey, one more guess... did you perhaps delete the hibernation file (hiberfil.sys) thinking it was not needed? If so, that might erase that option because that file is definitely required for fast startup from a cold boot. FYI, fast startup does not apply to a warm restart.

Well, I just deleted my hiberfil.sys by opening an elevated command prompt and entering the following command:

powercfg /h off

and guess what? My fast startup option was removed and my display now looks like yours so here's how to fix that and get your fast startup option back:

Again, open up an elevated command prompt and type/enter to following:

powercfg /h on

(at this point, you should have the fast startup option again)

Next you can shrink the hibefil.sys file because you don't use hibernation and all that room is not required for fast startup:

(elevated command prompt again) and type: powercfg /h /size 50

This will shrink your hiberfil.sys file and recover a few gigs of storage space for you.

Now, check your fast startup option and reboot a few times. I'm hoping you'll see noticeable difference.

That is normal for win8. It is slower than win7. The hibernate trick thing is there to make up for it. I don't use it for a number of reasons, one of them being I am multibooting.

hi, guess what, and this is odd, WinDirStat tells me Hiberfill is there

but fast boot option still not there

but many thanks, i'll just carry on with the problems its giving me see if they get ironed out

Reset your power plan to default values.

SIW2 said:

That is normal for win8. It is slower than win7. The hibernate trick thing is there to make up for it. I don't use it for a number of reasons, one of them being I am multibooting.

Click to expand...

Conversely, I have found that Win 8 boots faster than Win 7 (even with fast startup disabled). I guess that's why Win 7 offers a ready-boost trick to try and improve its own boot performance.