With faster processors and the introduction of SSD drives as standard for PCs, operating systems have gotten faster, especially at startup. In addition to these factors that reduce the loading time of your Windows, there are other options to speed up the turning on your PC; this feature is called Fast Boot and is in the BIOS of many PCs to boot your operating system faster. But what does Fast Boot mean in BIOS?
This feature was introduced with the release of Windows 8, as this operating system supported this new feature to save time on startup. When Windows 8 was released, it was not so common to have an SSD to start the system, and booting the computer could become tedious, with waiting times of more than a minute. Then came Fast Boot, a feature that reduced this time.
What does Fast Boot do?
With Fast Boot, this time-saving is achieved at startup since the system will save a snapshot of what is necessary to recover it later at the next start of the computer. This reduces the waiting time until you can use Windows. If you don’t choose to use Fast Boot, Windows will close all open software to shut down the system.
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Fast Boot allows you to save a snapshot, leaving only what is necessary for the operating system to work. After passing the BIOS check, Windows loads this snapshot into RAM to expand and start using the system as soon as possible. The startup is faster since RAM is more rapid than reading everything from the storage device.
We can say that it is an option between complete shutdown and hibernation since with complete shutdown, as we have mentioned, all the software used is closed, and with hibernation, the system saves a snapshot with all the software that was being used. In this last option, starting Windows will be as it was before hibernating.
How to activate Fast Boot in Bios
To use Fast Boot, you must have it enabled in BIOS; you have to change it to enabled in the option you will find in the BIOS of your PC. But not only in BIOS; you will also have to allow it in Windows to work correctly.
To enable it in BIOS, each manufacturer places it in a different place, usually in the BIOS boot options, which is the most common but can also be included in the Windows options in BIOS.
In Windows, it is enabled as follows:
You must enter the Control Panel in the Windows search engine.
Look for power options and access the Change the actions of the power buttons.
Please make sure the Turn on fast startup option is checked. Otherwise, you will have to click Change settings currently unavailable to permit you to activate it.
We only have to Save Changes, and we will have everything ready.
On your next reboot, you will notice that the system takes less time to start Windows, but you must bear in mind that with Fast Boot enabled, you will not be able to:
Boot from USB Devices, Networks or CDs/DVDs
The monitor and USB or PS2 will not be available during startup until Windows is loaded.
You will not be able to access the BIOS in the usual way; to access it, leave the button to access the BIOS (F2, F10, Delete) pressed before turning on the computer.
It is also not recommended to use Fast Boot if you have encrypted your drive where Windows is installed or if you are going to hibernate the computer.
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