Tech Tip: Start your PC faster with Fast Startup

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Is your computer always so slow to boot? Windows Fast Startup mode gives your PC wings, although that speed comes at a price.

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Working with a slow PC can be very frustrating. Certainly if your computer has been on the counter for several years, you will have to exercise a little more patience when it starts up. Since Windows 8, Microsoft has found something to do with the Fast Startup mode. It does exactly what it says: shorten the boot time of your PC.

STEP 1 / Enable Fast Startup

Even if you’ve never heard of this Windows feature, chances are you’re already using it. This is because it is a default setting on many Windows PCs. To check this for your PC, open the Power Options in the Configuration menu. Quick Startup is under Control Power Button Behavior, where you choose what happens when you shut down your PC. Fast Startup will probably be checked. The setting ensures that when you shut down your computer, it doesn’t shut down completely, but goes into a deep sleep mode. This way, your PC does not have to reboot every time, which makes the boot process smoother.

STEP 2 / Disable Fast Startup 

Despite the undeniable advantages of Fast Startup, ICT experts do not recommend that you always enable the setting. Sometimes your computer needs a full reboot. For example, Fast Startup can prevent the installation of updates, which can pay off in the long run. It is also often not possible to consult your BIOS settings during a quick start. That’s why it certainly doesn’t hurt to turn off Fast Startup every now and then. You can only change the option if you click on ‘Settings that are not available.’

Speed is tempting, but sometimes you need to slow it down.

STEP 3 / Even more tips

In addition to Fast Startup, there are a few tricks to increase the starting speed of your PC. The number of startup programs also has a big influence. The more applications that have to start up, the more effort your PC has to make and the longer it will take. You can check this and disable startup programs via Task Manager. Another good trick is to allow updates to run during idle hours as much as possible. You can set this via the Update menu.