Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Notebooks > Long boot times. how can I...

Long boot times. how can I...
Thread Tools
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Nov 2003
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 9, 2004, 12:37 AM
 
speed things up? when i restart my pb 15" 1.25, it takes about 2 1/2 minutes to get from the first tone to my desktop image. i understand that some settings will affect boot times, but this seems a bit excessive. it takes about 2 min just to get to the first dialog box with "initializing internet connections", etc. so is this normal for the pb or can i do something to help it out? i've got 512 ram installed on the 80 gig 4200 rpm drive. thanks for any help.
15 inches of aluminum fury
     
Forum Regular
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 9, 2004, 11:16 AM
 
yeah Mine is pretty much the same. I would love some help on this..
I have a 1.25ghz 15" Powerbook with 80mb 5400 HD and 768mb of Ram.
It takes mine 2 1/2 minutes to boot up..

It slowed down after I installed the 10.3.2 update.
Powerbook G4 1.25GHZ
     
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Sep 2002
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 9, 2004, 11:53 AM
 
1. Launch Terminal

2. Type
sudo cp -p /System/Library/Extensions/BootCache.kext/Contents/Resources/BootCacheControl /usr/sbin/

You can copy and paste.

3. Key in your user password and hit enter.

4. Exit Terminal

5. You need two reboots to see the difference.
     
Professional Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Boston
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 9, 2004, 12:07 PM
 
Originally posted by agentmouthwash:
yeah Mine is pretty much the same. I would love some help on this..
I have a 1.25ghz 15" Powerbook with 80mb 5400 HD and 768mb of Ram.
It takes mine 2 1/2 minutes to boot up..

It slowed down after I installed the 10.3.2 update.
I pulled this off of the apple forum, I haven't tried so use it at your own risk but it seems to work for most poeple.

sudo cp -p /System/Library/Extensions/BootCache.kext/Contents/Resources/BootCacheControl /usr/sbin/

I don't know if that will come through but it's:

sudo<space>cp<space>-p<space>/System/Library/Extensions/BootCache.kext/Contents/Resources/BootCacheControl<space>/usr/sbin/<enter>

It asks you for your admin password.

Edit you beat me to the punch


Mike
     
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mil Wau Kee
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 9, 2004, 01:02 PM
 
That terminal comand...from waht forum on apple did you get it??? I would like to do that comand to my computer but also would like to reade what it says on the forum...is it safe in you opinion?

Thanks
     
Mac Elite
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Umbrella Research Center
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 9, 2004, 02:08 PM
 
Originally posted by jorgem4:
That terminal comand...from waht forum on apple did you get it??? I would like to do that comand to my computer but also would like to reade what it says on the forum...is it safe in you opinion?

Thanks
the command is safe but you should use is
Code:
sudo ln -s /System/Library/Extensions/BootCache.kext/Contents/Resources/BootCacheControl /usr/sbin
this makes a symbolic link to the BootCacheControl program that is called twice during startup... you will have to restart twice
     
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: The Tollbooth Capital of the US
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 9, 2004, 02:17 PM
 
There is a little script that you can download. It IS safe. Called speedstart you can get it from macupdate.com
"Evil is Powerless If the Good are Unafraid." -Ronald Reagan

Apple and Intel, the dawning of a NEW era.
     
wy4tt  (op)
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Nov 2003
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 9, 2004, 02:36 PM
 
awesome. thanks all! i'm not with my pb right now to try it, but if it cuts down on boot time, i'm happy. btw, is there an advantage to using the command vs the script?
15 inches of aluminum fury
     
Mac Elite
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Umbrella Research Center
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 9, 2004, 04:33 PM
 
Originally posted by wy4tt:
awesome. thanks all! i'm not with my pb right now to try it, but if it cuts down on boot time, i'm happy. btw, is there an advantage to using the command vs the script?
i imagine they do the same thing... i like the command i posted because it doesnt actually move any files unlike the cp
     
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: portland, tn
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 9, 2004, 06:34 PM
 
wow....I just did this and its made a huge difference in start up time! I would say it doubled it at least....thanx!
     
wy4tt  (op)
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Nov 2003
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 9, 2004, 08:49 PM
 
wow. thank you all once more. my boot times are now a minute and a half shorter! great stuff. makes me wonder what other little tricks can enhance an already incredible little machine...
15 inches of aluminum fury
     
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mil Wau Kee
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 10, 2004, 07:40 AM
 
I did it too and it works great! Thanks....

How offten should one apply this command? Just every time the startup is slow? Are there any other commands that would help improve the health of my Mac?

Thanks
     
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: The Tollbooth Capital of the US
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 10, 2004, 08:05 AM
 
Originally posted by jorgem4:
I did it too and it works great! Thanks....

How offten should one apply this command? Just every time the startup is slow? Are there any other commands that would help improve the health of my Mac?

Thanks
You shouldn't need to do it more than once.
"Evil is Powerless If the Good are Unafraid." -Ronald Reagan

Apple and Intel, the dawning of a NEW era.
     
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: GTA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 10, 2004, 12:50 PM
 
I have ordered from Apple online store two Macs: one pb 15" and one iMac 17" (yep, big investment and switching my whole household to Mac)

I wonder if this little script will work on any models (like my case, the iMac desktop).

May I also know what it actually does to speed up bootup time, like eliminate some unnecessary steps or what?

Thanks for helping out this new switcher.
     
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mil Wau Kee
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 11, 2004, 07:55 AM
 
Good job on switching!....I really don't know **** about the script...just wanted to say congratulations on the switch.

You will see....one you go Mac, you never go back.
     
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: in front of my Mac
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 11, 2004, 08:00 AM
 
Originally posted by wy4tt:
makes me wonder what other little tricks can enhance an already incredible little machine...
Well, you could try using sleep instead of booting.

A PowerBook wakes from sleep in about the time it takes to open the lid. No more long boot time.

And battery use is very low when in sleep. Just close the lid and it will go to sleep. Open the lid again and you're back to work.
     
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: The Tollbooth Capital of the US
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 12, 2004, 09:37 AM
 
Originally posted by magicbbird:
I have ordered from Apple online store two Macs: one pb 15" and one iMac 17" (yep, big investment and switching my whole household to Mac)

I wonder if this little script will work on any models (like my case, the iMac desktop).

May I also know what it actually does to speed up bootup time, like eliminate some unnecessary steps or what?

Thanks for helping out this new switcher.
Yes this will work for all your machines running 10.3.2. I used it on my upgraded G4450 and have recommended it to other with different machines with no ill effects
"Evil is Powerless If the Good are Unafraid." -Ronald Reagan

Apple and Intel, the dawning of a NEW era.
     
Mac Elite
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Umbrella Research Center
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 12, 2004, 11:21 AM
 
Originally posted by magicbbird:
May I also know what it actually does to speed up bootup time, like eliminate some unnecessary steps or what?
BootCacheControl gets called twice during startup, this just makes the call faster since it looks in /usr/sbin first
     
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 13, 2004, 05:11 AM
 
This symbolic link was apparently taken out by the 10.3.2 update but has since been replaced by the Security Update 2004-01-26.
Not compatible with Windows
     
wy4tt  (op)
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Nov 2003
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 15, 2004, 12:41 AM
 
Originally posted by Simon:
Well, you could try using sleep instead of booting.

A PowerBook wakes from sleep in about the time it takes to open the lid. No more long boot time.

And battery use is very low when in sleep. Just close the lid and it will go to sleep. Open the lid again and you're back to work.
yep. sleep is great with the pb. i rarely restart mine, but when i did...it seemed a little long. but no more.
15 inches of aluminum fury
     
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 15, 2004, 12:22 PM
 
Originally posted by Maflynn:
I don't know if that will come through but it's:

sudo<space>cp<space>-p<space>/System/Library/Extensions/BootCache.kext/Contents/Resources/BootCacheControl<space>/usr/sbin/<enter>
I've seen this before, but how exactly does copying the BootCacheControl to /usr/sbin help speed up boot times? Just out of curiousity.
The world needs more Canada.
PB 12" 867 MHz, 640 MB RAM, AE, OS 10.4.2
Black iPod nano 4GB
     
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 16, 2004, 09:55 AM
 
I haven't shut down a Mac in over two years. Sleep is the way to go.

Chris
     
Senior User
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Dallas, Texas
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 16, 2004, 11:17 AM
 
I never shut mine down either. Other than reboots due to updates, my machines are up 24x7. The sleep mode allows for little to no battery loss and 5 second or less startup times. I can pull my machine out of my bag and grab a phone number as quickly as I can with my PDA (almost)
Read my MacWebb column and other great Mac articles at Lowendmac.com

Owner of a MacBook Pro and various other Macs.
     
   
Thread Tools
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:11 AM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2011 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.7 © 2000-2011, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd., Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.3.2