Boot Slows Down (Some) when there are more Windows Backups

[windude99]

I back up my main computer to one of the hard drives inside it (a Seagate ST310005) now instead of a Western Digital WDC WD10 EADX-00TDHB0 hard drive. This boot slowdown occurs when these backup points (or system images, maybe both?) build up. I can use the clean up function in Disk Cleanup in the System Restore and Shadow Copies section under More Options to clean up old backup points. After I do that, my boot times are faster for a little bit, then they slow down and I have to repeat the process. Is there any way to fix this without having to keep cleaning up those old files? The PC with this issue is the PC in my System Specs below.
Also, this issue occurred when I used the Western Digital drive as my backup drive.

 

[Stephanie]

Hi windude99

How many backup archives do you keep and are these separate (not incremental)

 

[windude99]

Hi windude99

How many backup archives do you keep and are these separate (not incremental)

It stores a backup file and has a folder for system images. These may be incremental. I am not sure. When I open "Select another backup to restore files from" it shows a backup period. Hopefully this answers your question. Also, I have the hotfix KB2555428 that deals with a slowdown in startup because of too many system restore points.

 

[Stephanie]

It stores a backup file and has a folder for system images

What size is this folder ? and you could delete all but say the last two restore points.

 

[cluberti]

If this is the enumeration of volume snapshot mount points during boot issue, this fix is included in KB2775511 and that rollup package should be installed (technically, since there are 90 or so fixes for performance issues in there, I generally recommend all Win7 SP1 and 2008 R2 SP1 boxes should get it installed unless it's found to break something). This is public, but not offered via Windows Update. You have to download it from the catalog directly:

Microsoft Update Catalog

This update is available from the Microsoft Update Catalog
- Type 2775511 in the search field that is located in the upper-right corner of the catalog webpage.

 

[windude99]

I installed that update, then I uninstalled it and the hotfix that deals with system restore points slowing down the boot process. I then reinstalled the update that you suggested. I used to have that one installed, I believe, but I removed it and installed the older hotfix that deals with the system restore points slowing down the boot. My boot time has improved, but it isn't quite as good (2 seconds off maybe) as it used to be. It might slow down more again, so feel free to post more suggestions in case it does. I'll see how it goes for a little while.

 

[cluberti]

The only suggestions I can make are to install that particular update, update all drivers to the latest windows 7 certified version from the computer manufacturer or the hardware manufacturer (depending on OEM machine versus homebrew), and make sure certain services are enabled (SuperFetch, Disk Defragmenter, Windows Firewall). Do a full antivirus scan after updating to the latest definitions, and then run a full disk defrag using the inbox disk defragmenter tool defrag.exe from an elevated cmd prompt (this updates superfetch and readyboot with file location information), and then reboot, logon, and wait for 120 seconds or more after the desktop appears - !!! *7* times !!! - to update the boot plan.

After that, you should be as good as Windows itself is going to get on that hardware with that software configuration without additional tweaking, which would require a boot trace to analyze further.

 

[windude99]

The only suggestions I can make are to install that particular update, update all drivers to the latest windows 7 certified version from the computer manufacturer or the hardware manufacturer (depending on OEM machine versus homebrew), and make sure certain services are enabled (SuperFetch, Disk Defragmenter, Windows Firewall). Do a full antivirus scan after updating to the latest definitions, and then run a full disk defrag using the inbox disk defragmenter tool defrag.exe from an elevated cmd prompt (this updates superfetch and readyboot with file location information), and then reboot, logon, and wait for 120 seconds or more after the desktop appears - !!! *7* times !!! - to update the boot plan.

After that, you should be as good as Windows itself is going to get on that hardware with that software configuration without additional tweaking, which would require a boot trace to analyze further.

My boot drive is a Crucial M4 SSD, so defragging is not an option. I will check for an updated sata driver on AMD's website.

 

[windude99]

I still am having this problem. I have the enterprise hotfix rollup KB2775511 installed. Sorry for the late reply. Any thoughts?
Also, the startup time only slows down by a few seconds (so far) but I want it to stay faster. Thanks!

 

[cluberti]

You'll have to define what "fast" and "slow" are to you, what you're making those comparisons based off of, and then, if necessary, get boot traces of the boot sequence to show what you're seeing. A few seconds could be caused by almost anything .

 

[windude99]

It is a very small slowdown (just a few seconds maybe 4-5 at most but maybe less than that) but the Windows boot animation is faster after I clear old Windows backup points using Disk Cleanup.