XP Recovery Console - How to Speed Up Windows Boot Time




So you were asked to install the Recovery Console on your XP system (which is highly recommended by the way) and now when you boot the computer up you're faced with a screen asking you which operating system you want to start.

If you wait 30 seconds and do nothing, it will boot to XP by default.
If you sit there, wait and watch it, you get to hit enter and boot to XP.

Here's a simple tweak to cut that 30 seconds down to 10 or 5 seconds:

Before doing any changes to your computer, I always recommend you have a good system restore point…..even if you have to create one now. Create System Restore Point


Here's the tweak:

Go to Start > Run > type sysdm.cpl > click OK

Click on the Advanced tab

Go down to Startup and Recovery

Click Settings

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Near the top you'll see:

Time to display list of operating systems: 30 seconds

Use the up or down arrows to change the setting. (you'll find that 5-10 seconds works the best, it depends on your system)

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Now click OK and OK in the next window.

You're done!

Now your computer will boot up faster and you'll still have a chance to enter the Recovery Console.

Good Luck, MrC