Ron Schenone

Windows Vista With Multi-Core Processor – Try This

Posted by on Jan 14, 2009 | 5 Comments

I was roaming around looking for something else, when I stumbled on this tip that I thought I would share. If you are using Vista and also have a multi-core processor, give this tip and try and see if it reduces boot time for you. I tried it on my laptop running Vista and boot time does appear quicker.

Type msconfig in Vista’s Start Menu search bar and hit Enter. Select the Boot Tab and click on the Advanced button.

Check the Number of processors box and see the drop down menu. Here select 2 or 4 as the case may be. Click OK > Apply > OK > Reboot. Now from the next reboot onwards you may see a difference. Some have seen their reboot time halve while some have found nil or minimal difference. You may have to disable the UAC. To reverse the change, simply uncheck the Number of processors box, and Click OK > Apply > OK > Reboot.

Give it a try and see if it works for you and let us know.

Comments welcome.

Source.

  • Lee

    I went with the much improved, more featureful solution: if you have Vista, install a decent OS over the top of it.

  • Anon

    Lee:

    Get off the bandwagon already.

  • RSW

    This change makes no difference as it was in prev versions of windows. Windows boots using max cores this is a debug feature to restrict the number it uses on boot
    http://lifehacker.com/396904/make-vista-use-multiple-cores-to-speed-boot-time

  • Emlock

    Interesting anomalie? I tried the MSConfig tip, changing the amount of processors on my dual-core processor to two. Seemed the boot time was about the same. So I went back in th MSConfig with the intention of changing back to 1 processor. Well, there was, and still is, only One listed. Strange?
    any suggestions?
    Thank you in advance and thank you for all of your great work.
    Sincerely,
    Emlock

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hello Emlock,
    I was unable to find out anything about the problem you asked about. I agree with your assessment though. It is an anomalie. :-) As long as Windows is seeing both cores I wouldn’t lose any sleep over this. Most likely a glitch on the BIOS. BIOS update? Just a thought.

    Have a good one, Ron