Windows 10 Fast Startup: Pros and Cons - Is It Right For You?
Understanding Windows 10's Fast Startup Feature
The Fast Startup function in Windows 10, previously known as Fast Boot in Windows 8, operates on principles akin to the hybrid sleep functionality found in earlier Windows iterations.
This feature achieves quicker boot times by preserving the system's state within a hibernation file. Consequently, your computer can initiate the startup process with increased speed, potentially saving you precious seconds with each power-on.
How Fast Startup is Initially Configured
Generally, Fast Startup is activated by default during a fresh Windows installation on the majority of laptop computers and a selection of desktop systems.
However, its performance isn't consistently flawless, and certain drawbacks may lead you to consider disabling it. It's important to be aware of these aspects.
Potential Issues and Considerations
While designed for convenience, Fast Startup doesn't always function as expected. There are scenarios where it can cause unexpected behavior.
Several disadvantages exist that might prompt a user to deactivate this feature. Understanding these is key to making an informed decision.
- Compatibility Issues: Some hardware or software may not interact correctly with Fast Startup enabled.
- Delayed Updates: It can sometimes interfere with the proper installation of Windows updates.
- Dual-Boot Problems: If you have a dual-boot system, Fast Startup can cause issues accessing other operating systems.
Understanding Fast Startup Functionality
Fast Startup represents a hybrid approach, integrating aspects of both traditional cold shutdowns and the hibernation process. Upon initiating a shutdown with Fast Startup activated, Windows gracefully terminates all running applications and disconnects user sessions, mirroring a standard cold shutdown procedure.
However, unlike a complete shutdown, the Windows kernel remains loaded and the system session continues to operate. This results in a state akin to a freshly booted system, devoid of active user sessions or running programs.
Subsequently, Windows signals compatible device drivers to prepare for hibernation, preserving the current system configuration within the hibernation file before powering down the computer.
The Startup Process with Fast Startup Enabled
When the computer is powered on, Windows bypasses the conventional process of individually reloading the kernel, drivers, and system state. Instead, it efficiently restores the system image from the hibernation file into RAM, swiftly presenting the login screen to the user.
This streamlined method significantly reduces startup times compared to a traditional boot sequence. Fast Startup offers a noticeable improvement in system responsiveness.
Related: Should You Shut Down, Sleep, or Hibernate Your Laptop?
Distinguishing Fast Startup from Hibernation
It’s important to differentiate Fast Startup from standard hibernation. While hibernation also saves the system state, it additionally preserves open folders, running applications, and logged-in user sessions.
Hibernation is ideal for resuming work precisely where you left off. Conversely, Fast Startup delivers a clean Windows environment, albeit with a faster boot time. Understanding the nuances of these shutdown options is beneficial.
Windows provides a variety of shutdown choices, each with its own characteristics. Choosing the right option depends on your specific needs and preferences.
Reasons to Consider Disabling Fast Startup
The Fast Startup feature in Windows offers a quicker boot time, which is certainly advantageous. However, it's crucial to understand potential drawbacks before enabling it. Several caveats should be considered.
Potential Issues with Fast Startup
- Update Application Challenges: When Fast Startup is active, a complete shutdown isn't performed. Because many system updates necessitate a full shutdown to implement correctly, applying these updates may be hindered. A restart, however, initiates a complete shutdown and restart cycle, ensuring updates are applied.
- Impact on Encrypted Drives: Fast Startup can sometimes cause issues with mounted encrypted disk images. Users utilizing encryption software like TrueCrypt have reported automatic remounting of previously mounted drives upon system startup. A simple workaround is to manually dismount these drives prior to shutdown. (Note: this primarily affects disk images, not full disk encryption like BitLocker).
- Hibernation Dependency: Systems lacking hibernation support will also be unable to utilize Fast Startup. Compatibility with hibernation varies between devices, so testing is recommended to determine optimal performance.
- Dual-Booting Conflicts: Fast Startup locks the Windows system disk during shutdown. This prevents access from other operating systems in a dual-boot configuration. Accessing or modifying the Windows partition from another OS can lead to data corruption. Disabling Fast Startup and Hibernation is recommended for dual-boot setups.
- BIOS/UEFI Access Limitations: Accessing BIOS/UEFI settings may be restricted when Fast Startup is enabled. Hibernation doesn't fully power down the system, and some BIOS/UEFI versions are incompatible with this state. A restart will always allow access to the BIOS, as it performs a full shutdown.
It's important to note that a restart will always perform a full cold shutdown and restart of your system.
Related: Optimizing Windows 10 Boot Speed
If these issues don't affect your setup, or you're willing to work around them, feel free to experiment with Fast Startup. If it doesn't behave as expected, disabling it is straightforward. Furthermore, numerous alternative methods exist to accelerate your Windows 10 PC's boot process if you choose not to use Fast Startup.
Enabling or Disabling Fast Startup in Windows
The decision of whether to utilize Fast Startup can, paradoxically, require more consideration than the actual process of enabling or disabling it. Begin by accessing your power options. This can be achieved by pressing the Windows key + X, or by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting "Power Options." Within the Power Options window, select "Choose what the power buttons do."
Should this be your initial interaction with these settings, you will first need to click "Change settings that are currently unavailable." This action unlocks the Fast Startup option, making it configurable.
Navigate to the bottom of the window. There, you will find "Turn on fast startup (recommended)," alongside other shutdown-related settings. A simple check or uncheck of the box allows you to enable or disable Fast Startup. Remember to save your changes and then shut down your computer to verify the effect.
If the option is absent, it indicates that hibernation is currently disabled on your system. Consequently, only Sleep and Lock options will be visible. To quickly enable hibernation, close the Power Settings window. Then, press Windows+X and select "Command Prompt (Admin)." Within the Command Prompt, execute the following command:
powercfg /hibernate on
Following the activation of hibernation, repeat the initial steps. Both the Hibernate and Fast Startup options should now be displayed.
Optimizing Hibernate File Size with Fast Startup
For users who leverage the benefits of Fast Startup but do not utilize the hibernation feature, it's possible to reclaim significant disk space by adjusting the size of the hibernation file. This file, typically hiberfile.sys, can consume a substantial portion of your storage – approximately 75% of your system’s RAM by default. While this may not be a concern for systems with ample storage, it can be critical when working with storage-constrained devices like Solid State Drives (SSDs).
Reducing Hibernation File Size
Decreasing the hibernation file size to the 'reduced' setting will lower its footprint to roughly 37% of your installed RAM. This adjustment can free up valuable space without impacting the functionality of Fast Startup. To modify the hibernation file size, administrative privileges are required.
Begin by accessing the Command Prompt as an administrator. This can be achieved by pressing the Windows+X keys and selecting "Command Prompt (Admin)" from the menu.
Utilizing Powercfg Commands
Within the Command Prompt window, execute one of the following commands to manage the hibernation file size:
- To set the hibernation file to a reduced size, enter:
powercfg /h /type reduced - To revert to the full-size hibernation file, use the command:
powercfg /h /type full
These commands directly instruct the system to adjust the hibernation file according to your preference.
The process is straightforward and reversible. Feel free to enable Fast Startup and experiment with these settings to determine the optimal configuration for your system. Should any issues arise, you can easily restore the previous settings.
Related: Guidance on disabling hibernation in Windows 10 is also available.
