In Windows 8/10, Microsoft has introduced a way to start your computer. This feature is called Fast Startup. Currently, in Windows 7, users could either shut down their computers, put it to Sleep or Hibernate. According to usage data it had, it found that a very small percentage of users actually preferred to use the Hibernate option.
Fast Startup in Windows 10
This new Fast Startup mode is a hybrid of the traditional cold boot and resuming from hibernate option. In Windows 7, during a shutdown, the OS closes the user session and the kernel session. But in Windows 8, the kernel session is not closed, but it is hibernated. Unlike the full hibernate data, whose file size is very large, this “kernel only” or 0 Hibernation data file is much smaller. As a result, it takes much less time to write it to disk. Using this file during boot gives a substantial time-advantage while starting Windows 10/8.
Enable or Disable Fast Startup in Windows 10
The Fast Startup option is enabled by default in Windows 10/8. You can access its settings here. Press Win+W key, start typing Power and hit Enter to open Power Options. You can learn more about such Windows search tips here. Alternatively, you could click on the Power icon in your notification area and select More Power Options.
Clicking on Power Options will open the following window.
In the left pane, you will see the option: Choose what the power buttons do. Click on it.
Here, you will see that the default recommended setting box Turn on fast startup (recommended) is checked. This is one of the reasons, why Windows 8 starts faster.
Do note the Fast startup settings come into play only when you are shutting down the computer and not when you are restarting it. To fully reinitialize Windows 8/10, you have to force a full shutdown.
10 Comments
So, if I buy W8 I can save, what, 30 seconds of my life every time I start up? Why, that’s almost enough time to … er … um … yeah, maybe I’ll just stick to W7!
To activate and add Windows 8 Normal Shutdown and Hybrid Shutdown in your context menu you can copy registry entry below. Then save as shutdown.reg and double click it and enjoy! Right click on desktop and see the Power Menu at the bottom of your context menu.
—————-copy file below —————————-
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDesktopBackgroundShellPower Menu]
“MUIVerb”=”Power Menu”
“SubCommands”=”shutdown;hybridshutdown”
“Icon”=”shell32.dll,215”
“Position”=”bottom”
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCommandStore
shellshutdown]
@=”Shut Down (Normal)”
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCommandStore
shellshutdowncommand]
@=”Shutdown -s -f -t 00″
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCommandStore
shellhybridshutdown]
@=”Shut Down (Hybrid)”
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCommandStore
shellhybridshutdowncommand]
@=”Shutdown -s -f -t 00 -hybrid”
Also noticed on my Desktop, when ‘Turn on fast startup’ is ticked, the PC starts as soon as UPS Power is On even W/O PC’s Power button is pressed.
I use the power button to shut down, in this case which shut down is working? Normal or hybrid?
Thanks.
Power button in charms bar? Then its Hybrid.
Not in charms bar. On the computer physical button. 🙂
Oh – that should result in a full shut down, imo.
Eeeek!!!! I ended up turning off “Fast Startup” after I upgraded to 8.1 Whenever I booted back up from sleep, my screen would start dark. Would ultimately have to force a hard shutdown then turn everything back on. This happened repeatedly until my tech support person recommended this – after downloading and installing a ton of new drivers, including video drivers
never worked never will
how complicated and stupid
So, if I keep on using fast boot is there any chance of loosing data when it looses power source?