Windows 7 Beta Boasts Sub-30 Second Boot Time

[darkassain]

The Windows 7 beta offers a speedier startup than its predecessor: for me the beta boots to a fully functional desktop in under 30 seconds, faster than the preview or Vista. On the same exact computer, where I'm triple-booting Vista, XP, and now the Windows 7 beta (build 7000), I ran a set of startup tests to pit the beta against the rest, using my previous measurements. Here's what I found.

The hardware: My test system has an Intel Core 2 Duo processor running at 3.16GHz with 4GB of RAM. Windows XP, Vista, and the Windows 7 beta build 7000 are all installed on the same, physical SATA hard drive (partitioned, of course).
The test: Since I'm triple-booting the three operating systems, I used a simple handheld timer to get my numbers, starting at the "Choose your operating system" screen (which comes after the BIOS startup) and ending at a fully functional desktop in my first set of tests, then the user login screen in my second. I timed each OS startup three times and averaged the results to account for my fat fingers.





via Windows Startup Showdown: Windows 7 Beta Boasts Sub-30 Second Boot Time

 

[Mark]

I just ran a new test for my reboot time on build 7000 and compared to 6801 and there was a 21 second difference and I would say I have more apps running at start up then I did before, I'm running 61 processes now and my reboot time is 71 seconds.

 

[garysgold]

These times have to be for a clean install of the OS with nothing else added, but Seven is definitely faster than Vista.

Gary

 

[Adamd]

I run my "tests' like this.

I have a stop watch and start it as soon as I push the power button and stop it when Firefox opens and loads my home page.

I click FF as soon as I can.

not 100% perfect but it's the best real world test I can come up with.

Most of my tests in 7 and vista are still way to long. Over 1 min... between 1:05 to 1:30 pending on how fresh the install is.


2.5gig core 2 duo
4gigs DDR2 ram

 

[davehc]

I think it is becoming accepted that the speed tests, which are now mushrooming on the web, are from the start of the boot menu (if you are running a dual boot) or altenatively from after the bios has loaded.
If you browse around and study the reports, many also are based on a desktop without conecting to the internet or lan. In your case, you are applying both of these, which are in many cases not delendant on your OS, but more on your make of computer motherboard (Bios, for example) and the speed of your ISP and router or ethernet card. As you are including both of these factors, I reckon your time is not too shady.
The differences you read are also subject to the amount and type of Ram and the speed of the CPU.
One of the truer ways to get a comparative performance, is to dual boot on the same computer, with a legacy OS and Windows 7. Even then, it could be influenced to a few seconds, by the actual positioning on the HD of each OS.

 

[baarod]

I run my "tests' like this.

I have a stop watch and start it as soon as I push the power button and stop it when Firefox opens and loads my home page.

I click FF as soon as I can.

not 100% perfect but it's the best real world test I can come up with.

Most of my tests in 7 and vista are still way to long. Over 1 min... between 1:05 to 1:30 pending on how fresh the install is.


2.5gig core 2 duo
4gigs DDR2 ram

Not fair to judge the OS boot speed partly on the speed of your motherboard BIOS firmware and settings, the speed of your internet connection and the size and speed of your homepage.

Just for comparison, I disabled all bus scanning, POST checks and optional junk from my BIOS settings and have a pretty fast cable connection that loads iGoogle from the Startup folder. I get 40sec flat with a 3.2GHz Core 2 Quad and 2GB DDR2. You've either got to tweak up that BIOS, alter that homepage or connection to it and cut out all the other junk you've got starting up along with the OS to get where I'm at.

 

[baarod]

The differences you read are also subject to the amount and type of Ram and the speed of the CPU.

I think the HDD speed really influences it the most though!

 

[Adamd]

Not fair to judge the OS boot speed partly on the speed of your motherboard BIOS firmware and settings, the speed of your internet connection and the size and speed of your homepage.

Just for comparison, I disabled all bus scanning, POST checks and optional junk from my BIOS settings and have a pretty fast cable connection that loads iGoogle from the Startup folder. I get 40sec flat with a 3.2GHz Core 2 Quad and 2GB DDR2. You've either got to tweak up that BIOS, alter that homepage or connection to it and cut out all the other junk you've got starting up along with the OS to get where I'm at.

I have been trying lol.

I do the same test every time so at least with my computer it is a standard test and the results should only change pending what I do. The bios etc are always the same so that get included in the test since it's part of the boot up. I understand it's not "fair" but since I have to wait for it anyways it gets included lol.

I will try and speed up my Bios if possible.