Complete Guide to Resolve Slow Boot on Windows 10 After an Update

How can I resolve slow boot issues in Windows 10? Don't worry! Here are 8 proven tips to fix the Windows 10 slow boot issue. Keep reading to discover the solution that works for you.

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Why Does Windows 10 Experience Slow Boot After an Update?

Before delving into the solutions, it's essential to understand why your Windows might be booting slowly after an update. Some common reasons behind the slow boot issue include:

• Malware or spyware
• Windows startup programs
• Fragmented files
• Corrupted system files
• Incompatibility between your current drivers and the Windows 10 update
• Incorrect configuration in BIOS

Not sure about the specific reasons causing slow boot on your Windows 10 computer? If that's the case, follow the suggestions below step by step. Before beginning, ensure that your Windows is updated to the latest version. As mentioned, Windows updates often include fixes for known issues. To check and install the latest Windows update: 1. Press the 'Windows' key + 'I' on your keyboard to open Settings. 2. In the Settings app, click on 'Update & Security.' 3. Select 'Windows Update' from the left pane. 4. Click on 'Check for updates' in the right pane. 5. If there are any available updates, follow the on-screen instructions to download and install them. Once you've installed the latest updates, proceed with the following tips to troubleshoot the slow boot problem: 1. **Disable unnecessary startup programs**: Many apps automatically run at startup, slowing down the boot process. You can manage these apps: - Press 'Ctrl' + 'Shift' + 'Esc' to open Task Manager. - Click on the 'Startup' tab. - Disable apps that you don't need to run at startup by right-clicking on them and selecting 'Disable.' 2. **Scan for malware**: Malware can significantly impact system performance. Use a trusted antivirus software to scan your system: - Install an antivirus (e.g., Windows Defender, Avast, or Norton). - Run a full system scan. - Remove any detected threats. 3. **Defragment your hard drive**: Defragmentation helps optimize file storage, improving system performance: - Press 'Windows' key + 'X' and choose 'Disk Defragmenter' (for HDD) or 'Optimize Drives' (for SSD). - Select your primary drive and click 'Optimize' or 'Defragment.' 4. **Update drivers**: Outdated drivers can cause performance issues. Update them using Device Manager: - Press 'Windows' key + 'X' and select 'Device Manager.' - Expand categories like 'Display adapters,' 'Sound, video and game controllers,' etc. - Right-click on each driver, then choose 'Update driver.' - Follow the prompts to complete the update. 5. **Run a System File Checker (SFC) scan**: This tool checks for and repairs system files: - Open Command Prompt as an administrator (press 'Windows' key + 'X' and choose 'Command Prompt (Admin).' - Type "sfc /scannow" and press Enter. - Wait for the scan to finish, then restart your computer. 6. **Perform a clean boot**: A clean boot helps identify if any third-party services are causing the issue: - Press 'Windows' key + 'R' to open the Run dialog box. - Type "msconfig" and hit Enter. - Go to the 'Services' tab, check 'Hide all Microsoft services,' and click 'Disable all.' - Go to the 'Startup' tab and click 'Open Task Manager.' - Disable all startup items. - Restart your PC and check if the issue persists. 7. **Update BIOS**: Updating your BIOS can resolve compatibility issues: - Visit your computer manufacturer's website and search for the latest BIOS update. - Download and follow the installation instructions carefully. 8. **Reset or refresh Windows 10**: If all else fails, consider resetting or refreshing your PC. This will keep your personal files but remove apps and settings: - Press 'Windows' key + 'I' to open Settings. - Click on 'Update & Security' > 'Recovery.' - Under 'Reset this PC,' click 'Get started' and follow the prompts. Remember, always create a system restore point or backup before making significant changes to your system.

Step 1. Click "Start" and type "update."

Step 2. Select "Check for updates."

Step 3. Windows will display any available updates. Click "Install now" to update your Windows system.

If there's no available Windows update or the update fails to resolve the slow Windows 10 boot issue, don't worry. You have more effective methods to try.

Tip 1: Remove Virus/Malware to Fix Slow Startup in Windows 10

Viruses and malware can harm your computer through various means, such as deleting your files, encrypting your folders, and causing your system to run slowly. To detect any potential viruses or malware present on your computer, you can utilize Windows Defender or an antivirus software that you have installed. Here's how to use Windows Defender: 1. **Access Windows Defender**: - On your keyboard, press the "Windows key + I" to open Settings. - Click on "Update & Security." - Select "Windows Security" from the left panel. 2. **Run a Scan**: - In the Windows Security window, click on "Virus & threat protection." - Under "Current threats," click on "Quick scan." - Windows Defender will now scan your system for any malicious items. 3. **Review Results**: - Once the scan is complete, the results will be displayed. - If any threats are found, follow the on-screen instructions to remove or quarantine them. Alternatively, if you have a third-party antivirus software installed, the process might differ slightly. Typically, you would launch the software, navigate to its scanning feature, and initiate a full or quick scan. The software will then provide guidance on handling any detected threats. Remember to keep both your operating system and antivirus software up to date to ensure optimal protection against evolving threats.

Step 1. Navigate to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Security".

Step 2. Click on "Virus & threat protection".

Step 3. In the "Threat history" section, click "Scan now" to initiate a virus scan on your computer.

Step 4. If viruses or malware are detected, follow the on-screen instructions to remove them.

Translation: "Scan and remove virus"

Tip 2: Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs in Task Manager

A startup program is a software application or utility that automatically launches when a computer powers on. Some programs are configured to run at startup during installation, often without the user's explicit awareness. The reasoning behind this is quite straightforward: the more startup programs you have, the longer it will take for your computer to boot. Consequently, to speed up the boot process of your Windows 10 computer, you can disable certain unnecessary startup programs.

Step 1. Right-click on any empty space on your taskbar and select "Task Manager."

Step 2. In the "Task Manager" window, navigate to the "Startup" tab.

Step 3. Choose the programs you rarely use or don't need to run at startup, and click "Disable" to remove them from the list of startup programs.

Tip 3: Upgrade to an SSD to Speed Up Windows 10 Startup

If you're using a mechanical hard drive and looking to speed up your computer's boot time, upgrading to an SSD is a wise option, and the results are immediate. Despite their lesser capacity, SSDs outperform HDDs significantly in terms of performance. By switching to an SSD, Windows 10 will boot up much faster.

If you want to give it a try, you can use a partition manager tool to migrate OS to SSD without reinstalling Windows.

Steps to migrate OS to HDD/SSD: 1. **Backup Important Data**: Before starting the migration process, ensure that you have backed up all important files and documents to an external storage device or cloud service. 2. **Choose a Migration Tool**: Select a reliable OS migration software such as Clonezilla, Macrium Reflect, or Microsoft's built-in tool (for Windows 10/11). Ensure the tool supports both your source and target drives. 3. **Prepare the Target Drive**: Format the new HDD or SSD if necessary. Make sure it has enough space to accommodate the existing operating system and its associated files. 4. **Connect the Target Drive**: Connect the new HDD or SSD to your computer. This can be done via an internal connection or using an external enclosure or dock. 5. **Boot from Migration Software**: If required, create a bootable USB or CD/DVD with the migration tool and restart your computer. Boot from this media to initiate the migration process. 6. **Start Migration Process**: Follow the software's instructions to select the source drive (your current OS drive) and the destination drive (the new HDD/SSD). Choose the appropriate migration option, usually "clone" or "copy disk." 7. **Wait for the Process to Complete**: The migration tool will now copy the operating system, applications, and system settings from the source drive to the target drive. This may take some time depending on the size of your data. 8. **Configure BIOS/UEFI Settings**: After the migration is complete, restart your computer and enter the BIOS or UEFI settings. Change the boot order to prioritize the new HDD/SSD. 9. **Boot into the New Drive**: Save and exit the BIOS/UEFI settings, and your computer should now boot from the migrated OS on the new HDD/SSD. 10. **Post-Migration Tasks**: Once booted, update the system drivers to ensure compatibility with the new drive. Also, check and adjust any system settings that might be affected by the change. 11. **Optional: Remove Old Drive**: After confirming everything is working correctly, you can safely disconnect or remove the old HDD, if desired. Remember, always exercise caution when dealing with disk migrations, and make sure to double-check your steps to avoid data loss.

1. Run the tool Partition Master and select "Clone" from the left-hand menu. 2. Check "Migrate OS" and click "Next." 3. Choose the SSD or HDD as the destination disk and click "Next." 4. Warning: All data and partitions on the target disk will be erased. Ensure you have backed up important data beforehand. If not, do so now. 5. Click "Yes" to proceed. 6. Preview the layout of the target disk, then click "Start" to commence migrating your OS to the new disk.

After this, click "Reboot Now" or "Done" to choose whether you want to restart the computer from the new disk immediately.

"Reboot Now"意味着立即保存更改，而"Done"则表示您需要稍后手动重新启动计算机。

注意:如果目标磁盘上的未分配空间不足，将操作系统迁移到SSD或HDD的操作会删除和移除目标磁盘上现有的分区和数据。如果在其中保存了重要数据，请提前将其备份到外部硬盘。

Aside from OS migration, this software also supports hard drive partitioning. The following video tutorial demonstrates how to partition a hard drive using Partition Master. You can learn how to resize or move a partition, create a new partition, and delete a partition.

Tip 4: Defragment Computer Hard Drive to Fix Windows 10 Slow Boot

Fragmentation occurs when a file is saved across non-adjacent sections on your disk, leading to inefficient use of storage space and decreased hard drive performance. In simple terms, defragmentation is the method of eliminating this fragmentation, optimizing file read and write speeds, and ultimately boosting your computer's performance.

Step 1. Type "defrag" in the search bar.

Step 2. Select "Defragment and Optimize Drives" from the search results.

Step 3. Select the hard drive you want to optimize and click the "Optimize" button.

Alternatively, you can also optimize your system disk using tools like CleanGenius, a free third-party utility that provides other ways to help you speed up your Windows 10 boot, such as cleaning up junk files on the system disk.

Step 1. Download and install Partition Master Suite.

Step 2. Click on PC Cleaner and install the tool CleanGinus. Next, click on "Cleanup" and then "Scan" to commence cleaning the system and restore your PC to its optimal condition.

Step 3. The software will scan your entire computer to locate idle data files that occupy a significant amount of disk space. You can choose to remove unnecessary large files, system junk files, and Windows invalid entries by clicking "Clean" to initiate the system cleanup process.

Step 4. When the scan is complete, click "Done" to finish cleaning system junk files.

Tip 5: Use System File Checker to Fix Windows 10 Slowness After an Update

Missing or corrupted system files can lead to common issues such as Windows 10 boot failures, system crashes, and slow startup times. Don't be alarmed by the presence of corrupted system files; you can easily check and repair any missing or damaged files using the Windows System File Checker utility.

Step 1. Click "Start" and type cmd.

Step 2. Right-click "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator."

Step 3. If you're using Windows 10, run DISM.exe first to create a Windows image to protect your data: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth.

```javascript $(function() { $('.click_copy_box .click_button').click(function() { var self = $(this); var Url2 = $(this).parent().find('textarea'); Url2.val(Url2.val()); Url2.select(); document.execCommand("Copy"); $(this).html('Copied'); setTimeout(function() { self.html('Click to copy'); Url2.blur(); }, 3000); }) }) ``` This is a JavaScript code snippet using jQuery library. It sets up a function that runs when the page is loaded. When a button with the class 'click_button' inside an element with the class 'click_copy_box' is clicked, the following actions occur: 1. The variable `self` is assigned to the clicked button. 2. The textarea within the button's parent element is found and stored in `Url2`. 3. The value of the textarea is set to itself (essentially refreshing the content). 4. The entire text in the textarea is selected. 5. The browser's built-in copy command is executed, copying the selected text. 6. The text content of the clicked button is changed to 'Copied' with an icon. 7. After 3 seconds, a timeout function runs to reset the button's text back to 'Click to copy' and blurs the textarea to remove the selection. This code is typically used for a copy-to-clipboard functionality on a webpage.

Step 4. Once the DISM command is finished, type sfc /scannow to initiate a scan and repair of your system files.

```javascript $(function() { $('.click_copy_box .click_button').click(function() { var self = $(this); var Url2 = $(this).parent().find('textarea'); Url2.val(Url2.val()); Url2.select(); document.execCommand("Copy"); $(this).html('Copied'); setTimeout(function() { self.html('Click to copy'); Url2.blur(); }, 3000); }); }) ``` This is a JavaScript code snippet using jQuery library. It defines a function that runs when the page is loaded, which listens for a click event on elements with the class "click_button" inside elements with the class "click_copy_box". When clicked, it selects the text in the nearest textarea, copies it to the clipboard using `document.execCommand("Copy")`, changes the button's text to "Copied" for 3 seconds, and then reverts it back to "Click to copy".

Tip 6: Update Graphics Driver to Resolve Windows 10 Slow Boot

If your Windows 10 is experiencing slow boot times after an update, it might indicate an incompatibility between the latest Windows update and your computer drivers, particularly the graphics driver. In such a case, you could benefit from a utility tool. DriverHandy is a tool that can assist you in updating graphics drivers effortlessly with just one click. Download this tool now and follow the steps below.

Step 1. Click on the open DriverHandy tool and click "Scan" to begin.

Step 2. Locate your graphics driver and click "Update."

Tip 7: Alter the Boot Order in BIOS to Resolve Slow Windows 10 Performance After an Update

If the BIOS is not configured correctly, it can impact your PC's startup process. Ensure that the first boot device is set to the system hard disk.

Step 1. Start the computer and press ESC, F1, F2, F8, or F10 during the initial startup screen. Depending on the BIOS manufacturer, a menu may appear.

Step 2. Choose to enter the BIOS setup. The BIOS setup utility screen appears.

Step 3. Use the arrow keys to select the "BOOT" tab. System devices are listed in order of priority.

Step 4. To prioritize the boot sequence for the drive and speed up the Windows 10 boot time, move it to the top of the list.

Step 5. Save the changes and exit the BIOS setup utility. The computer will restart with the updated settings.

The six tips above correspond to the potential causes mentioned earlier. If your Windows system still boots slowly, don't despair. There are additional, tried-and-tested methods to enhance your computer's performance.

Tip 8: Increase the Page File Size

The page file is a hidden system file situated on your system drive. When your RAM reaches its capacity, Windows transfers some data from the RAM to the page file on your hard disk. This virtual memory helps your computer run more smoothly by relieving the workload on the physical memory, RAM. By increasing the size of the page file, you may be able to optimize your Windows 10 computer's startup time.

Step 1. Type "advanced system" in the search bar and click on "View advanced system settings".

Step 2. Under Advanced, click "Settings" in the "Performance" section.

Step 3. Navigate to the "Advanced" tab and click on "Change..."

Step 4. Deselect "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives" and click "Custom size".

Step 5. Set the Initial size and Maximum size. (You can refer to the Microsoft guide on how to determine appropriate page file size.)

Step 6. Click "Set" > "OK," then restart your computer.

底线

I'm confident that you can resolve the Windows 10 slow boot issue by implementing one or more of the comprehensive tips provided. In terms of additional information on the solutions, upgrading your system disk to an SSD is the most efficient method to boost your computer's performance. If you're planning to upgrade from HDD to SSD, HDD to a larger HDD, or even from a larger HDD to a smaller SSD, consider using the Partition Master tool for assistance.

Everything About Windows Update Errors

Microsoft consistently enhances its Windows operating system by releasing updates, such as Windows 10 v20H2 (November 2020 Update), Windows 10 v2004 (May 2020 Update), and the earlier Windows 10 v1909 (October 2019 Update). Generally, these updates include improvements to existing features, services, or applications, bug fixes for known issues, and the introduction of new functionalities, all designed to provide users with enhanced system performance. However, Windows updates often come with a variety of significant or minor problems. Some of these issues are specific to the particular version, such as:

1. An error occurred during or after updating devices with Conexant ISST audio drivers following the v2004 update
2. Unable to launch the Camera app after the Windows v1903 update
3. Windows deletes files in users' Documents folder following the v1809 update
4. Intermittent printing issues are experienced after the Windows v1709 update

But some others seem to be a universal problem caused by Windows update, including:

1. Updates may fail to install, and you might encounter Error 0x80073701
2. Windows crashes with a blue screen following an update
3. Inconsistent loss of Wi-Fi connectivity

The one we'll address here is: "Windows 10 slow to boot/startup after the update". While issues with Windows updates are not uncommon, they can be genuinely frustrating if they impact your productivity or study. If you're planning an update, familiarizing yourself with some Windows update tips could prove beneficial. If you've updated Windows and are experiencing slow startup after the update, this article offers troubleshooting guidance.

Extra Tips - Other Windows Slow Issues

Aside from the issue of Windows 10 slow to start up, there are numerous other performance-related issues with Windows that bother many users. Here's a quick overview:

1. Slow response time in Windows 10
2. Slow file opening in Windows 10
3. Slow network connection in Windows 10
4. Slow deletion of files/folders in Windows 10
5. Slow program loading in Windows 10

If your Windows 10 is running slowly, you can also apply the methods mentioned above to enhance its performance. Alternatively, you can refer to the comprehensive guide on how to speed up Windows 10 for a more in-depth approach.

"Windows 10 Takes Forever to Boot After Update" FAQs

One of the most frustrating issues with Windows is a slow startup. You may have resolved your issue with the 8 solutions provided above. If you're seeking further assistance, consider reviewing the related questions below.

How can I make Windows 10 start up more quickly?

To accomplish this, please follow these steps:

1. Search for and open "Power options" in the Start Menu. 2. Click "Choose what the power buttons do" on the left side of the window. 3. Click "Change settings that are currently unavailable." 4. Under "Shutdown settings", ensure that "Turn on fast startup" is enabled.

How long should it take for Windows 10 to start up?

Between about 30 and 90 seconds

With a conventional hard drive, you can expect your computer to take around 30 to 90 seconds to boot up. It's important to emphasize that there is no fixed time frame, and the boot time may vary depending on your specific system configuration.

Should I enable Fast Startup in Windows 10?

Leaving fast startup enabled should not cause any harm to your PC, as it is a built-in feature of Windows. However, there are a few reasons why you might want to disable it. One significant reason is if you rely on Wake-on-LAN, which might encounter issues when your PC is shut down with fast startup activated.

How do I resolve slow boot issues with Windows 10 in BIOS?

8 Ways to Resolve Slow Boot Times in Windows 10:

1. Tip 1. Run Windows Defender
2. Tip 2. Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs
3. Tip 3. Defragment Computer Hard Drive
4. Tip 4. Run System File Checker Tool
5. Tip 5. Update Graphics Driver
6. Tip 6. Change Boot Order in BIOS
7. Tip 7. Increase the Page File Size
8. Tip 8. Upgrade to SSD