Windows 10’s Fast Start-up (called Fast Boot in Windows 8) works similarly to the Hybrid sleep mode of previous versions of Windows. By saving the operating system state to a hibernation file, it can make your computer boot up even faster, saving valuable seconds every time you turn your machine on.
Fast Start-up is enabled by default in a clean Windows installation on most laptops and some desktops, but it doesn’t always work perfectly, and there are some downsides that might convince you to turn it off. Here’s what you need to know.
How Fast Start-up Works
Fast Start-up combines elements of a cold shutdown and the Hibernate feature. When you shut down your computer with Fast Start-up enabled, Windows closes all applications and logs off all users, just as in a normal cold shutdown. At this point, Windows is in a state very similar to when it’s freshly booted up: No users have logged in and started programs, but the Windows kernel is loaded and the system session is running. Windows then alerts device drivers that support it to prepare for hibernation, saves the current system state to the hibernation file, and turns off the computer.
When you start the computer again, Windows does not have to reload the kernel, drivers, and system state individually. Instead, it just refreshes your RAM with the loaded image from the hibernation file and delivers you to the login screen. This technique can save considerable time off your start up.
This is different from the regular hibernate feature. When you put your computer into hibernation mode, it also saves open folders and applications, as well as currently logged in users. Hibernation is great if you want to return your computer to the exact state it was in when you turned it off. Fast Start-up offers a freshly-started Windows, just more quickly. And don’t forget, Windows offers various shutdown options too. It pays to understand how they differ.
Why You Might Want to Disable Fast Start-up?
Sounds awesome, right? Well, it is. But Fast Start-up also has its problems, so you should take the following caveats into consideration before enabling it:
When Fast Start-up is enabled, your computer doesn’t perform a regular shut down. Since applying new system updates often requires a shutdown, you may not be able to apply updates and turn your computer off. Restart is unaffected, though, so it still performs a full cold shutdown and restart of your system. If a shutdown doesn’t apply your updates, a restart still will.
Systems that don’t support hibernation won’t support Fast Start-up either. Some devices just don’t play well with hibernation. You’ll have to experiment with it to see whether your devices respond well or not.
When you shut down a computer with Fast Start-up enabled, Windows locks down the Windows hard disk. You won’t be able to access it from other operating systems if you have your computer configured to dual-boot. Even worse, if you boot into another OS and then access or change anything on the hard disk (or partition) that the hibernating Windows installation uses, it can cause corruption. If you’re dual booting, it’s best not to use Fast Start-up or Hibernation at all.
Depending on your system, you may not be able to access BIOS/UEFI settings when you shut down a computer with Fast Start-up enabled. When a computer hibernates, it does not enter a fully powered down mode. Some versions of BIOS/UEFI work with a system in hibernation and some do not. If yours doesn’t, you can always restart the computer to access BIOS, since the restart cycle will still perform a full shutdown.
If none of these issues apply to you, or you can live with them, go ahead and try Fast Start-up out. If it doesn’t work how you expect, it’s easy to turn off. And if you decide you just don’t want to use Fast Start-up, there are plenty of other ways to make your Windows 10 PC boot.
Thank you for reading. Hope to see you again in my next Post!
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