Boot Advanced Options - Number of Processors

How to Change the Number of Processors Used at Boot Up in Vista​

   Information

If you have a multiple core CPU (Ex: Intel Core Duo or Quad CPU) or multiple CPUs, then this will show you how to change the Number of Processors that will be used during boot up for troubleshooting and debugging purposes to be able to determine if there is a problem with a single processor/core, or for a programmer to test their code against a single core while running on their multi-core system.

   Note

Vista will use all your processors by default at boot up without this Number of Processors setting box checked. Using all of your available processors (cores or CPUs) durring boot allows the computer to boot faster only because a multiple core CPU or multiple CPUs can handle and do more at once than a single core or CPU. Multiple cores do not actually increase the speed, but only increase the number of processor cores working on the job which in turn has the job finish quicker. If you do not have much running at startup, then you may not notice much improvement in how long it takes to startup.

   Tip

People have reported that by checking this setting and selecting all of their available CPUs, they have seen a performance increase in boot up speed despite the Note above . See the example below. If it does not help, then you can do step 7 to undo this and go back to the default settings.

   Warning

Selecting a lower amount of processors to use at boot up than you actually have can increase the amount boot up time causing a longer boot.

EXAMPLE: Boot Up Time Before and After
NOTE: This is the before and after boot up time for my computer after I changed it to use all 4 cores. For fun you can post your results here: ReBoot Time

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Here's How:
NOTE: Before you do this, you should see what your current boot up time is so you can compare it to what it will be before and after applying this.

1. Open the Start Menu.​

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2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type msconfig and press Enter.​

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3. Click Continue in the UAC prompt.​

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4. Click on the Boot tab. (See screenshot below)​

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5. Click on the Advanced options button.​

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6. To Change the Number of Processors at Boot -​

A) Check the Number of processors box, then click on the drop down arrow and select the number of available processors (cores or CPUs) you want to have used at boot up. (See screenshots below step 7)​

NOTE: To test to see if this can speed up your boot time or not, then select the highest number listed for all of the available processors to be used at boot up and check the Detect Hal box.​

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B) Click on OK.​

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C) Go to step 8.​

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7. To Restore the Default Number of Processors at Boot -​

A) Uncheck the Number of processors box.​

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B) Click on OK.​

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8. Check the Make all boot settings permanent box and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: If you do not check this, then you will Selective startup dotted instead of Normal startup under the General tab. You can still make changes again by checking this again after any changes.​

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9. Click on Yes at the confirmation window. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: You can restore or make changes to this again later if you want. I will confirm it. Just remember or write down what you had set (checked or unchecked) before if you wanted to restore back to those settings later.​

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10. Check the Don't show this message again box. (See screenshot below step 11)​

NOTE: You will not see this again after checked.​

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11. Click on the Restart button.​

NOTE: If you checked the box and want to restore this Restart box, see: How to Restore the System Configuration Restart Prompt in Vista​

WARNING: This will restart the computer immediately. Make sure you save and close anything open you do not want to lose.​

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12. After you have started back to the desktop, you can check to see what your new boot up time is for fun.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Speed Up Shutdown in Vista
• How to Speed Up Vista Boot Up Time
• How to Speed Up the Performance of Vista
• How to Set Vista for the CPU L2 Cache Memory Size
• How to Set the Processor Affinity for a Application in Vista
• How to Make a Program or Process Run with a Higher or Lower CPU Priority in Vista
• How to See What Your Boot Up Time is in Vista
• How to Logon Automatically at Startup in Vista
• How to Check and Change the Startup Programs in Vista

 

[AndyTampa]

I tried to use the script, but it doesn't appear to work on my machine. I do have problems with boot-up anyway, but the one time it booted up from the script, it showed 230 seconds, but hadn't loaded everything yet. How reliable is the time supposed to be? After it told me 230, I still didn't have the Sidebar loaded and there wasn't a network connection. Please note that between Windows Services, Application Services, Plug-Ins, Scheduled Tasks, and Startup Programs, I have 161 process loading. The other two times I tried it, Windows froze up (that's one of my problems). However, those two times it said 405 seconds once and 233 seconds the other time.

 

[Brink]

The script doesn't include your startup programs. It's only for the amount of time it takes Windows to restart and be logged in to your account again.

If you like, you can use this below to troubleshoot with a clean startup to see if it may help ID a culprit for the slow loading of you startup programs.

Troubleshoot Application Conflicts by Performing a Clean Startup - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[AndyTampa]

Thanks, Brink. I found that the half starts are caused by a small program from TRENDNet. It is software that controls a switch so that I can switch back and forth between computers to use a single monitor, mouse, keyboard, and speakers. It's one EXE (USBKVM.exe) and two DLLs (KeyHook.dll and Msvcr71.dll). I thought initially that the msvcr71 dll would conflict with Window's own msvcr71, so I renamed it to old, but the problem remained. I think the keyhook.dll file is used for the hotkey sequence to switch using the keyboard. Something in the EXE must be conflicting with Vista.

 

[Brink]

You might see if uninstalling and reinstalling the software may help, or check to see if there's a new version available.

 

[AndyTampa]

I am using the new version. I called their tech support and they had me download the most current version (from 2010). I called them back and this is the first time they've heard of a problem with Vista, so they'd have a supervisor call back. He called back when I wasn't home and left the wrong number for me to call back. My confidence in getting help is dwindling.

 

[Brink]

May be time to find better software.

 

[AndyTampa]

I can't do that. This is the software that goes to the hardware. It's a simple switch. However, after several test reboots using MSCONFIG to enable and disable startup processes, I did figure out most of what was going on.

During boot-up, the USBKVM Switcher software conflicts with Kaspersky Internet Security, but only during boot. I found that there is no effect on boot if Kaspersky doesn't load on boot. Likewise, if I boot with Kaspersky and not the switcher software, I can then run the switcher software without a conflict.

I will present this info to TRENDNet Monday. Meanwhile, I only need to run this software if two conditions are present. First, my laptop must be connected to the switch and second, the switch's push button on my desk must be broken. Next problem...Partition Table keeps messing up but on examination appears to be fine, but that's for another forum and another thread.

Thanks. It was you who got me this far. I do appreciate it.

 

[Brink]

I'm glad I was able to help some. Might replace Kaspersky for now until a solution from either software company comes up with a solution.

 

[AndyTampa]

Yeah, I paid good money for Kaspersky. It's also for multiple devices that are being protected. Kaspersky is much more important than having that little utility running 24/7 in the background "in case" I need it. I've got bigger fish to fry now.