How to Speed up Windows XP Start Up Time

This brief tutorial will show you how to easily trim a second or two from the time it takes for Windows XP to start up.

  1. Each time Windows XP starts you’re presented with the Windows “boot logo” and a progress bar. Displaying these items actually causes Windows XP to load a bit more slowly – because it has to load them. This tutorial will show you how to disable that boot logo and progress bar, allowing Windows to load faster. Note: I timed my Windows XP startup with and without the boot logo and status bar. The start time averaged 1.9 seconds faster without the logo and status bar.
  2. Windows XP start up logo

  3. Click the Windows Start button and select Run from the menu.
  4. Start menu with an arrow pointing at the Run button

  5. Enter msconfig in the Run window and click OK.
  6. msconfig in the Windows XP run box

  7. Select the BOOT.INI tab. Place a check in the box labeled /NOGUIBOOT, click the Apply button and then the OK button.
  8. System Configuration Utility boot.ini tab
    click to enlarge

  9. At this point you’ll be prompted to restart your PC. Save any open work, close any open programs, and click the Restart button.
  10. restart button in a dialogue box

  11. Unless you’ve previously disabled the System Configuration Utility “warning” message, it will appear when your computer starts up again. Click OK. The System Configuration Utility will open again – you can revert your changes if anything went wrong (very unlikely, unless you made additional changes outside of the scope of this tutorial). When you close the System Configuration Utility you may be prompted to reboot your PC again – even though you didn’t make any changes this time. You don’t need to, and the “warning” message will not appear the next time you restart.
  12. Windows Configuration Utility
    click to enlarge

  13. Hope this helps this your Windows XP start up time!

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