Solved Slow SSD Boot with long OtherKernelInitDuration delay

[Raillex]

I built my first SSD based PC last week and was blown away by how fast it booted into Windows. After a few days, however, my boot times became noticeably slower, rising from around 18 seconds to 42 seconds according to Windows Diagnostics-Performance logs. On further inspection, I discovered that most of the extra delay is associated with an event called "OtherKernelInitDuration," which rose from under a second to around 23 seconds.

Any suggestions as to what may be causing this? I've tried just about every solution I could find on the net for fixing slow SSD boots (making sure the desktop has wallpaper, enabling EHCI handoff in bios, unplugging my DVD burner, running a Windows repair, turning off unused peripherals in bios, etc.) and am getting frustrated.

BTW, my Crucial SSD has the latest firmware and scored a 7.9 on the Windows experience index.

 

[Cyberwolf]

Have you followed the guide on this website regarding disabling page file, super fetch, prefetch and so forth.

I've ran three different types of SSDs...from Intel to OCZ SATA 2 to my more recent OCZ SATA3. I haven't once experienced any delayed boot times spanning multiple Win7 installs.

It's possible the issue could be related to mobo / controller issues. I would highly recommend contact the HDD manufacturer to ensure there isn't a hardware issue that might require patching in a future firmware update

 

[essenbe]

I have 2 Crucial M4's and have experienced no problems with them. Is your sata controller in ahci mode? Firmware 0009 is out now, maybe that would help. Check your alignment and make sure trim is enabled. If you need help in doing that, let us know.

For trim in an elevated command prompt, type/copy-paste fsutil behavior query disabledeletenotify if it returns fsutil behavior query disabledeletenotify=0 then trim is enabled.
To check alignment in an elevated command prompt type diskpart (press enter) type list disk (press enter) type select disk # (where # is the number of your SSD) then type list partition. you will get a screen that lists the partition size and the offset. The offset is alignment. Mine is 1024 it looks like this.


You may also want to run sfc /scannow from an elevated command prompt to check system files. The scan now tutorial.

 

[carwiz]

If you added a TV card, that will do it. Mine went from about 18 seconds to about 42 seconds after adding a Hauppage card.

 

[pbcopter]

If you added a TV card, that will do it. Mine went from about 18 seconds to about 42 seconds after adding a Hauppage card.

Mine also. I have two HVR 2250's.
Any mapped drives will also increase the boot time.

 

[Raillex]

I used somebody else's guide, but yes, I did disable prefetch, superfetch and the rest. I also ran a Google search on OtherKernelInitDuration, and no help there, either. The Google search did show that folks experiencing boot delay have OtherKernelInitDuration times below five seconds, which is why I am getting frustrated

 

[Raillex]

If you added a TV card, that will do it. Mine went from about 18 seconds to about 42 seconds after adding a Hauppage card.

No TV card here. I do have a D-Link Wifi card in the first PCIE slot, a Radeon 6870 in the PCIEX16 slot right below it, and a Microsoft USB mouse/keyboard transmitter in one of the USB ports. My Windows experience score is still 7.9, and my DiskMark64 scores are like 520MB/s sequential read, 200MB/s sequential write, so it seems the SSD is working just fine once I boot into Windows. It's the boot lag that's not right.

Anyone know what OtherKernelInitDuratiion is supposed to signify, anyway?

 

[Raillex]

I have 2 Crucial M4's and have experienced no problems with them. Is your sata controller in ahci mode? Firmware 0009 is out now, maybe that would help. Check your alignment and make sure trim is enabled. If you need help in doing that, let us know.

For trim in an elevated command prompt, type/copy-paste fsutil behavior query disabledeletenotify if it returns fsutil behavior query disabledeletenotify=0 then trim is enabled.
To check alignment in an elevated command prompt type diskpart (press enter) type list disk (press enter) type select disk # (where # is the number of your SSD) then type list partition. you will get a screen that lists the partition size and the offset. The offset is alignment. Mine is 1024 it looks like this.
View attachment 180128

You may also want to run sfc /scannow from an elevated command prompt to check system files. The scan now tutorial.

The firmware is 0009, trim is enabled, alignment is 1024, and I'm in AHCI mode. I did a repair install and an error check through Windows, and couldn't find anything wrong.

 

[carwiz]

About all I can say is post a list of your processes and services and we'll have a look. Do you use any special Group Policies? How many users do you have defined?

 

[Raillex]

About all I can say is post a list of your processes and services and we'll have a look. Do you use any special Group Policies? How many users do you have defined?

I don't have any group policies (I don't think I even can with Windows 7 Home Premum) and there is only one user account.

How do I go about copying my processes and services and posting them? When I try to export the entries, I end up with unformatted text files that are basically unreadable.

In the meantime, here is my diagnostics performance event log.

-
EventData


BootTsVersion
2
BootStartTime
2011-10-22T15:16:04.624800200Z
BootEndTime
2011-10-22T15:18:04.743659000Z
SystemBootInstance
68
UserBootInstance
62
BootTime
42087
MainPathBootTime
29587
BootKernelInitTime
15
BootDriverInitTime
227
BootDevicesInitTime
1201
BootPrefetchInitTime
0
BootPrefetchBytes
0
BootAutoChkTime
0
BootSmssInitTime
3418
BootCriticalServicesInitTime
259
BootUserProfileProcessingTime
793
BootMachineProfileProcessingTime
0
BootExplorerInitTime
886
BootNumStartupApps
11
BootPostBootTime
12500
BootIsRebootAfterInstall
false
BootRootCauseStepImprovementBits
0
BootRootCauseGradualImprovementBits
0
BootRootCauseStepDegradationBits
0
BootRootCauseGradualDegradationBits
0
BootIsDegradation
false
BootIsStepDegradation
false
BootIsGradualDegradation
false
BootImprovementDelta
0
BootDegradationDelta
0
BootIsRootCauseIdentified
false
OSLoaderDuration
556
BootPNPInitStartTimeMS
15
BootPNPInitDuration
1223
OtherKernelInitDuration
22589
SystemPNPInitStartTimeMS
23808
SystemPNPInitDuration
205
SessionInitStartTimeMS
24019
Session0InitDuration
2865
Session1InitDuration
206
SessionInitOtherDuration
345
WinLogonStartTimeMS
27437
OtherLogonInitActivityDuration
470
UserLogonWaitDuration
159

 

[essenbe]

What Asus utility programs do you have installed? Sometimes they can slow down boot times.

 

[Raillex]

What Asus utility programs do you have installed? Sometimes they can slow down boot times.

I had the Asus AI Suite for a while, and then uninstalled it. There were also three Asus services set to run automatically even after I uninstalled all Asus software, and unchecking those didn't improve my boot times.

Here are my services.

Name Status Startup Type Log On As
ActiveX Installer (AxInstSV) Manual Local System
Adaptive Brightness Manual Local Service
Adobe Acrobat Update Service Started Automatic Local System
AMD External Events Utility Started Automatic Local System
Apple Mobile Device Started Automatic Local System
Application Experience Started Manual Local System
Application Identity Manual Local Service
Application Information Manual Local System
Application Layer Gateway Service Manual Local Service
ASUS Com Service Started Automatic Local System
ASUS HM Com Service Started Automatic Local System
ASUS System Control Service Started Automatic Local System
Background Intelligent Transfer Service Started Manual Local System
Base Filtering Engine Started Automatic Local Service
BitLocker Drive Encryption Service Manual Local System
Block Level Backup Engine Service Manual Local System
Bluetooth Support Service Manual Local Service
Bonjour Service Started Automatic Local System
Certificate Propagation Manual Local System
CNG Key Isolation Started Manual Local System
COM+ Event System Started Automatic Local Service
COM+ System Application Manual Local System
Computer Browser Manual Local System
Credential Manager Manual Local System
Cryptographic Services Started Automatic Network Service
DCOM Server Process Launcher Started Automatic Local System
Desktop Window Manager Session Manager Started Automatic Local System
DHCP Client Started Automatic Local Service
Diagnostic Policy Service Started Automatic Local Service
Diagnostic Service Host Started Manual Local Service
Diagnostic System Host Manual Local System
Disk Defragmenter Manual Local System
Distributed Link Tracking Client Started Automatic Local System
Distributed Transaction Coordinator Manual Network Service
DNS Client Started Automatic Network Service
Encrypting File System (EFS) Manual Local System
Extensible Authentication Protocol Started Manual Local System
Fax Manual Network Service
Function Discovery Provider Host Started Manual Local Service
Function Discovery Resource Publication Started Automatic Local Service
Futuremark SystemInfo Service Manual Local System
Google Update Service (gupdate) Automatic (Delayed Start) Local System
Google Update Service (gupdatem) Manual Local System
Group Policy Client Started Automatic Local System
Health Key and Certificate Management Manual Local System
HomeGroup Listener Started Manual Local System
HomeGroup Provider Started Manual Local Service
Human Interface Device Access Started Manual Local System
IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules Manual Local System
Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology Started Automatic (Delayed Start) Local System
Intel® PROSet Monitoring Service Started Automatic Local System
Interactive Services Detection Manual Local System
Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) Disabled Local System
IP Helper Started Automatic Local System
iPod Service Started Manual Local System
IPsec Policy Agent Manual Network Service
JumpStart Wi-Fi Protected Setup Manual Local System
KtmRm for Distributed Transaction Coordinator Manual Network Service
Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper Manual Local Service
Media Center Extender Service Disabled Local Service
Microsoft .NET Framework NGEN v2.0.50727_X64 Disabled Local System
Microsoft .NET Framework NGEN v2.0.50727_X86 Disabled Local System
Microsoft .NET Framework NGEN v4.0.30319_X64 Automatic (Delayed Start) Local System
Microsoft .NET Framework NGEN v4.0.30319_X86 Automatic (Delayed Start) Local System
Microsoft Antimalware Service Started Automatic Local System
Microsoft iSCSI Initiator Service Manual Local System
Microsoft Network Inspection Manual Local Service
Microsoft Office Diagnostics Service Manual Local System
Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider Manual Local System
Multimedia Class Scheduler Started Automatic Local System
Net Driver HPZ12 Disabled Local Service
Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service Disabled Local Service
Netlogon Manual Local System
Network Access Protection Agent Manual Network Service
Network Connections Started Manual Local System
Network List Service Started Manual Local Service
Network Location Awareness Started Automatic Network Service
Network Store Interface Service Started Automatic Local Service
Office Source Engine Manual Local System
Parental Controls Manual Local Service
Peer Name Resolution Protocol Started Manual Local Service
Peer Networking Grouping Started Manual Local Service
Peer Networking Identity Manager Started Manual Local Service
Performance Counter DLL Host Manual Local Service
Performance Logs & Alerts Manual Local Service
Plug and Play Started Automatic Local System
Pml Driver HPZ12 Disabled Local Service
PnP-X IP Bus Enumerator Manual Local System
PNRP Machine Name Publication Service Manual Local Service
Portable Device Enumerator Service Manual Local System
Power Started Automatic Local System
Print Spooler Started Automatic Local System
Problem Reports and Solutions Control Panel Support Manual Local System
Program Compatibility Assistant Service Started Automatic Local System
Protected Storage Manual Local System
Quality Windows Audio Video Experience Manual Local Service
Remote Access Auto Connection Manager Manual Local System
Remote Access Connection Manager Manual Local System
Remote Desktop Configuration Manual Local System
Remote Desktop Services Manual Network Service
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Started Automatic Network Service
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator Manual Network Service
Remote Registry Manual Local Service
Routing and Remote Access Disabled Local System
RPC Endpoint Mapper Started Automatic Network Service
Secondary Logon Manual Local System
Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol Service Manual Local Service
Security Accounts Manager Started Automatic Local System
Security Center Started Automatic (Delayed Start) Local Service
Server Started Automatic Local System
Shell Hardware Detection Started Automatic Local System
Smart Card Manual Local Service
Smart Card Removal Policy Manual Local System
SNMP Trap Manual Local Service
Software Protection Automatic (Delayed Start) Network Service
SPP Notification Service Manual Local Service
SSDP Discovery Started Manual Local Service
Superfetch Manual Local System
System Event Notification Service Started Automatic Local System
Tablet PC Input Service Manual Local System
Task Scheduler Started Automatic Local System
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Started Automatic Local Service
Telephony Manual Network Service
Themes Started Automatic Local System
Thread Ordering Server Manual Local Service
TPM Base Services Manual Local Service
UPnP Device Host Manual Local Service
User Profile Service Started Automatic Local System
Virtual Disk Manual Local System
Volume Shadow Copy Manual Local System
WebClient Manual Local Service
Windows Activation Technologies Service Manual Local System
Windows Audio Started Automatic Local Service
Windows Audio Endpoint Builder Started Automatic Local System
Windows Backup Started Manual Local System
Windows Biometric Service Manual Local System
Windows CardSpace Manual Local System
Windows Color System Manual Local Service
Windows Connect Now - Config Registrar Started Manual Local Service
Windows Defender Manual Local System
Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework Manual Local System
Windows Error Reporting Service Manual Local System
Windows Event Collector Manual Network Service
Windows Event Log Started Automatic Local Service
Windows Firewall Started Automatic Local Service
Windows Font Cache Service Started Automatic (Delayed Start) Local Service
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) Manual Local Service
Windows Installer Manual Local System
Windows Management Instrumentation Started Automatic Local System
Windows Media Center Receiver Service Manual Network Service
Windows Media Center Scheduler Service Manual Network Service
Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service Disabled Network Service
Windows Modules Installer Manual Local System
Windows Remote Management (WS-Management) Manual Network Service
Windows Search Started Automatic (Delayed Start) Local System
Windows Time Manual Local Service
Windows Update Started Automatic (Delayed Start) Local System
WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Service Manual Local Service
Wired AutoConfig Manual Local System
WLAN AutoConfig Started Automatic Local System
WMI Performance Adapter Manual Local System
Workstation Started Automatic Network Service
WWAN AutoConfig Manual Local Service

 

[essenbe]

Try this. hold down the Windows key (the one with the flag) and press the R key, type in msconfig. give approval and go to the startup tab. Uncheck everything except windows OS, your A/V program and CCC. Click apply and OK. it will ask for a restart. restart The first restart may be slow as it is making changes, after that see if startup times improve.

 

[carwiz]

Your PNP, Kernel and Session times are all high. These are also all disk bound too. I don't think it's any particular driver as much as the disk itself. Did you image the system disk from another disk? Reload Windows? What changed during the week?

Download and run AS-SSD. This will put the drive through a read/write test with timings and provide an alignment check. Snip the results and post the image. Also post a snip of your Disk Management screen.

You can get AS-SSD here: Alex Intelligent Software - Downloads
Click the Download Box at the bottom of the page. Unzip and execute--There's no install.

 

[Raillex]

Your PNP, Kernel and Session times are all high. These are also all disk bound too. I don't think it's any particular driver as much as the disk itself. Did you image the system disk from another disk? Reload Windows? What changed during the week?

Download and run AS-SSD. This will put the drive through a read/write test with timings and provide an alignment check. Snip the results and post the image. Also post a snip of your Disk Management screen.

You can get AS-SSD here: Alex Intelligent Software - Downloads
Click the Download Box at the bottom of the page. Unzip and execute--There's no install.

OK, I'll try both of your suggestions.

As to what happened in the last week, I ran a Windows repair install thinking that might fix the slow boot times, but boot times were pretty much identical after I ran it.

I did a clean install of Windows 7 64bit on my SSD last Saturday with the SSD and DVD drives as my only SATA components. I added a 2TB WD drive a little later, and my boot times were still quick. I started noticing slower boot times after I added the D-Link Wifi card and an HP all in one printer. The printer and printer software are now gone, and all I have left are the Radeon card, D-Link card and Microsoft USB/Keyboard bluetooth transmitter.

The only other thing I can think of is that my WD storage drive is listed as a primary partition in Windows Disk Management. I usually set up my storage drives as logical partitions, but forgot to do so on this build. Could this be the reason?

 

[essenbe]

The primary on the WDis not an issue. It will have little to no affect on boot times. I am assuming the SSD is connected to the intel 6GB/s port 0. If you will run AS SSD as carwiz recommended, we should be able to tell if it is a problem with the SSD.

 

[carwiz]

Must be that Apple stuff slowing it down. Just kidding.

I don't see anything glaring in the services. I was expecting to see some HP stuff but the un-install must have worked. Lets see some drive times.

 

[Raillex]

The primary on the WDis not an issue. It will have little to no affect on boot times. I am assuming the SSD is connected to the intel 6GB/s port 0. If you will run AS SSD as carwiz recommended, we should be able to tell if it is a problem with the SSD.

The SSD is on an Intel Controller 6GB/s port, and it's port 0.

Here are my results:

 

[essenbe]

It is not the SSD. The speeds and access times are good. The score is very good.

 

[carwiz]

Ditto that. Those are blazing fast! Driver-good, Offset-good. Just had to have a look.

Why is your pagefile on E? Also, how large is it? (Your setting)