Bootvis 'Optimize System' Restart

[Guest bonapardo]

Hi,

 

I have had the following issue with my PC for about a year…

 

During startup, Windows often takes a long time to leave the XP splash (or

logo) screen before kicking in to the welcome screen. I’m not too bothered

about slow load times in themselves – my PC is not the newest and it is to be

expected. Sometimes however, the computer loads fine – the splash screen is

up for a short period before Windows proper kicks in. It tends to go through

periods of loading slowly, occasionally being okay if restarted – mostly not

though. Around a year ago, I found that whenever the machine had loaded

slowly, the frame rate when playing DirectX games was seriously degraded

(about halved). When loaded quickly, everything ran like a dream. Later

investigations showed that encoding an MP3 took twice as long as well. This

made me think that whatever the problem, it was affecting my processor –

effectively halving its power.

 

I have tried everything, from physically removing internal components one by

one, preventing unnecessary services from starting, clean boots (msconfig),

system restores, repair installations, full virus and spyware scans, defrags,

all the usual stuff (all at least ten times) apart from a complete rebuild.

A rebuild is not the answer for me because it provides no answers – after all

this time, I NEED to know what is going on.

 

Testing has been a problem because the system would sometimes load okay for

one or two times after a change, leading me to think it resolved the issue,

only to find a day or two later that the problem returns.

 

For the record, without fail, loading into safe mode is almost instant, not

a problem at all.

 

So then I ran Bootvis. The results from bootvis were uninspiring – simply

showed absolutely no activity during the period at the splash screen.

 

HOWEVER…

 

Using Bootvis, I found a workaround which has worked on five separate

occasions – though I accept this may still be chance. When specifically

using the ‘Optimize System’ option, NOT running a Trace, the reboot that

Bootvis performs prior to the optimization loads my system quickly and I get

the full performance from Windows (FPS benchmark and MP3 encoding) every

time. After such a restart, another restart (not through Bootvis) exhibits

the same slow loading. Bear in mind I am writing about an Optimize System

restart and not a Trace restart (which still loads slowly).

 

Once successfully loaded quickly, I have to kill the BootvisSleep process

and delete it from the Bootvis program files directory. To enable me to

restart again using Bootvis, I have to select ‘Optimize System’ again, allow

the (post-restart) optimization to begin then I can kill the Bootvis process.

Only by doing this can I force a restart next time I ‘Optimize System’ in

Bootvis.

 

After all the above, my question is… what does Bootvis do during an

‘Optimize System’ restart which differs from what XP would do normally? And

is there any way, without performing this workaround using Bootvis, that I

can replicate such a restart of my system?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Ben.

[Guest John John (MVP)]

Re: Bootvis 'Optimize System' Restart

 

bonapardo wrote:

> [snippage]

> After all the above, my question is… what does Bootvis do during an

> ‘Optimize System’ restart which differs from what XP would do normally? And

> is there any way, without performing this workaround using Bootvis, that I

> can replicate such a restart of my system?

 

It just defrags the prefetch files and the files/applications that load

at boot time and moves them closer to the begining of the hard drive so

that they can be accessed more quickly when Windows boots. Windows XP

does this automatically every 3 days but you can do the same thing by

running defrag c: -b at Command Prompt.

 

John

[Guest bonapardo]

Re: Bootvis 'Optimize System' Restart

 

Thanks for your swift response John, but as I understand it, that is what

happens during the optimisation process itself, not during the initial

re-boot of the system before windows restarts and begins optimisation. I've

just re-read my post and it does seem a bit vague to be honest. Basically,

when using this workaround and Bootvis has restarted my PC and I've logged

into Windows, I kill Bootvis before it gets a chance to actually optimise my

system.

 

What I'm really interested in is if Bootvis, when specifically using the

'Optimize System' option, performs a restart that differs from a normal

restart. It would appear from my benchmarking that it does...

 

Thanks again,

 

Ben.

[Guest Kelly]

Re: Bootvis 'Optimize System' Restart

 

Bootvis is a Boot performance trace visualization tool for use with Windows

XP systems. It gives a graphical view of what processes are doing what and

when during boot and allow you to optimize your boot up.

 

BootVis - Performance Trace Visualization Tool (Line 113)

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

 

If that doesn't help, run:

 

Windows XP Startup Programs Tracker

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_u.htm#xp_util

 

Added info from a previous post made by David Candy:

 

defrag c: -b

which rearranges files according to the current layout.ini

 

and

 

Start/Run: rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks

 

which rebuilds layout.ini from the information in the prefetch folder and

and rearranges files according to the newly generated layout.ini. It also

does other tasks (such as some System Restore stuff) that windows does when

the computer is idle.

 

Bootvis calls ProcessIdleTasks function in advapi32.dll so automated tasks

don't kick in affect the boot monitoring and so the boot monitoring is done

on an optimised machine.

 

You can read about it here

http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/fastboot/download/fastboot-winxp.ZIP

which will explain what thiose .pf files are in prefetch folder and the

registry keys that control it.

 

The technical documentation on ProcessIdleTask is below from the platform

SDK

 

Idle Task Scheduling: The ProcessIdleTask API

 

The file placement optimization, which is done no more often than once every

three days, is an example of a task that is carried out when the system is

deemed to be idle. System Restore and other features of Windows XP also

attempt to defer some work until the system is deemed to be idle. There are

also some done-once-after-setup work items that also operate under the Idle

Task Scheduling mechanisms.

 

All of these "idle tasks" are controllable by a system API in advapi32.dll,

ProcessIdleTasks. The API’s sole purpose is to allow benchmarks a simple way

to force any pending idle tasks to be executed immediately, without having

to wait a lengthy period of time.

 

The API ProcessIdleTasks can be called in one of two ways, from the command

line or synchronously from a program. To call ProcessIdleTasks from the

command line, use this syntax:

 

Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks

When called from the command line, the ProcessIdleTasks work is done in the

background asynchronously. It can take 10 to 15 minutes for idle tasks to

complete. Task Manager will report processes running, and the disk will

likely be active during this time.

 

The ProcessIdleTasks API takes no arguments and returns a standard Win32

error code. The definition is:

 

DWORD

ProcessIdleTasks()

 

The API itself is synchronous, so it won’t return until the idle tasks have

completed.

 

 

 

--

 

All the Best,

Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

 

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

SupportSpace

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/supportspace.htm

 

 

"bonapardo" <bonapardo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:26E2E176-B515-4072-8C3B-174E59C2A124@microsoft.com...

> Thanks for your swift response John, but as I understand it, that is what

> happens during the optimisation process itself, not during the initial

> re-boot of the system before windows restarts and begins optimisation.

> I've

> just re-read my post and it does seem a bit vague to be honest.

> Basically,

> when using this workaround and Bootvis has restarted my PC and I've logged

> into Windows, I kill Bootvis before it gets a chance to actually optimise

> my

> system.

>

> What I'm really interested in is if Bootvis, when specifically using the

> 'Optimize System' option, performs a restart that differs from a normal

> restart. It would appear from my benchmarking that it does...

>

> Thanks again,

>

> Ben.

[Guest bonapardo]

Re: Bootvis 'Optimize System' Restart

 

Thanks for your post, Kelly. I have found that after an optimisation, the

machine still boots slowly so I suspect the problem is not due to the

physical arrangement of my boot files. I repeated this test using the

command line call in your post and still booted slowly. I also repeated the

Bootvis restart workaround before and after the above forced boot defrag with

successful, quick restarts on both occasions.

 

Bearing in mind that the slow boot symptoms are spotted at the logo screen

(i.e. the low-res, black-backgrounded XP logo screen prior to my high-res XP

welcome), is this prior to when any of the automated processes have even

started or are idle processes kicked off at the logo screen? I wonder if,

during one of these fast boots, Bootvis writes something to the boot sector

to prepare for optimisation somehow? Seems unlikely, but if it does, I want

to keep it there!

 

On a slow boot, my CPU usage is at 30-50% usage when idle (0-7% after a fast

boot). In the list of processes nothing appears to be using the CPU. I'm

happy that my machine is clean. I have run countless virus and skyware scans

and regularly use hijackthis and other startup utilities to monitor that kind

of activity.

 

That seems to point to a hidden process running. I'm not convinced that a

Windows virus, or any Windows process, could start up before the operating

system has fully loaded but my knowledge is limited on that side of things.

Not wanting to be bumped to a security forum, I still think that whatever

ill-happenings are taking place behind the xp logo screen (or soft blue

alternative using the /sos boot.ini flag) is avoided by following the Bootvis

workaround procedure. My CPU is happy when fast-booted so I don't think it's

a simple hardware fault.

 

This must mean Bootvis does something outside of the scope of the boot file

optimisation it is trying to achieve before Windows has fully loaded (i.e. at

the logo screen).

 

Please help!

[Guest bonapardo]

Re: Bootvis 'Optimize System' Restart

 

Hi,

 

Anyone got any ideas on this? The key point is that my CPU is being used

constantly after a slow boot - suggesting a dodgy process running on my

machine. What would Bootvis be doing that would block such processes from

running (as early as the splash screen)?

 

As a workaround, I have since written a startup batch file to perform a

Bootvis optimisation restart on first login. While infinitely better than

having to perform all the tasks manually, it still requires me to log in

before the restart can take place and means I'm looking at AT LEAST seven

minutes after I first turn my computer on before I can continue using it.

 

I will post the code tomorrow (it's on my home PC) as whatever Bootvis is

doing, it can (I hope) be considered a clean boot so may be useful for others

experiencing slow boot issues.

 

Thanks,

 

Ben.

[Guest bonapardo]

Re: Bootvis 'Optimize System' Restart

 

Hi,

 

I have posted the contents of three batch files required for the Bootvis

Workaround below. As I said previously, this is not ideal, but provides a

clean boot for me every time without fail. I cannot guarantee this would

work for everyone.

 

The contents of my D:\Bootvis_Workaround directory are as follows:

 

Bootvis_Restart.bat - The main batch file, set as a startup script to be run

on every log in.

processes.txt - A text file used to store a list of running proccesses.

Reset_BVWStatus.bat - A batch file, set as a shutdown script, run to change

the workaround status.

Restart_Warning.jpg - A full screen JPEG warning the user a restart is about

to take place.

ScheduledRestart.bat - A batch file which runs Reset_BVWStatus.bat then

Bootvis_Restart.bat. For when a restart must be instigated by a user (using

a shortcut).

status.txt - A text file used for storing the status of the workaround.

 

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING IF USING THIS WORKAROUND:

 

1. Microsoft Bootvis must be installed

2. Bootvis Trace functionality can no longer be used due to the detection of

the Bootvis_Sleep process

3. Requires a warning .jpg - a full screen image

4. All users on the machine are required to have admin access so they can

all run the startup script successfully

5. If a system restart is required, an install for example, automated

restarts should be cancelled and later performed manually by running the

shutdown batch file then the startup script. Creating a shortcut that runs

yet another batch file (ScheduledRestart.bat) makes this easier

6. Path constants in each batch file may have to be changed depending on

where files are stored.

7. Ensure Reset_BVWStatus.bat is set as a shutdown script PRIOR to setting

Bootvis_Restart.bat otherwise a restart will be performed on every log in

rather than every boot.

 

 

------------------------Reset_BVWStatus.bat-----------------------------

 

@ECHO off

 

REM ** BOOTVIS RESTART WORKAROUND RESTARTS PC ON FIRST LOGIN **

REM ** USING OPTIMISE SYSTEM RESTART. THIS ENSURES QUICK **

REM ** RESTART AND MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE FROM CPU - A CLEAN BOOT **

 

REM ** This batch file is run on every shutdown to reset the **

REM ** status text file so on next login, the startup batch **

REM ** file will run code to restart the computer **

 

:BEGIN

 

REM ** DEFINE CONSTANT FOR FILE PATH TO WORKAROUND FILES **

set BVW_FilePath = D:\Bootvis_Workaround\

 

REM ** SET STATUS TO OUTSTANDING, SO STARTUP CODE IS **

REM ** RUN ON NEXT LOGIN **

echo OUTSTANDING > %BVW_FilePath%status.txt

 

:END

 

 

 

------------------------Bootvis_ReStart.bat-----------------------------

 

@ECHO off

 

REM ** BOOTVIS RESTART WORKAROUND RESTARTS PC ON FIRST LOG IN **

REM ** USING OPTIMISE SYSTEM RESTART. THIS ENSURES QUICK **

REM ** RESTART AND MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE FROM CPU - A CLEAN BOOT **

 

REM ** There are a number of points to note **

REM ** 1. Microsoft Bootvis must be installed **

REM ** 2. When using this workaround, Bootvis Trace **

REM ** functionality can no longer be used due to the **

REM ** detection of the Bootvis_Sleep process **

REM ** 3. Requires a warning .jpg - a full screen image **

REM ** 4. Uses a second, one line shut down script to set **

REM ** the status text file to OUTSTANDING. **

REM ** Windows is set up to run the script on shutdown **

REM ** 5. All users on the machine are required to have **

rem ** admin access so they can all run the startup **

REM ** script successfully **

REM ** 6. If a system restart is required, for an install **

REM ** for example, automated restarts should be stopped **

REM ** and later performed manually by running the **

REM ** shutdown batch file then this one. Creating a **

REM ** shortcut that runs yet another batch file **

REM ** (ScheduledRestart.bat) makes this easier **

REM ** 7. The BVW_FilePath constant is the path to where all **

REM ** files required for ths script are stored. Change **

REM ** to a relevant path. Final backslash is required **

 

:BEGIN

 

REM ** DEFINE CONSTANT FOR FILE PATH TO WORKAROUND FILES **

set BVW_FilePath = D:\Bootvis_Workaround\

 

REM ** INSTIGATE DELAY TO ALLOW STARTUP PROCESSES TO BEGIN **

REM ** I.E. THE BOOTVIS_SLEEP PROCESS **

ping 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 1000 > null

 

REM ** LOAD LIST OF RUNNING PROCESSES INTO A TEXT FILE **

%SystemRoot%\system32\pv.exe > %BVW_FilePath%processes.txt

 

REM ** SEARCH THE STATUS TEXT FILE FOR A STATUS OF OUTSTANDING **

REM ** AN OUTSTANDING STATUS IS SET BY A SHUTDOWN SCRIPT ON **

REM ** EVERY SHUTDOWN **

FIND "OUTSTANDING" %BVW_FilePath%status.txt

 

REM ** IF A STATUS OF OUTSTANDING IS NOT FOUND, THE STATUS FILE **

REM ** MUST HAVE BEEN SET TO ANOTHER STATUS DURING A CLEAN BOOT **

REM ** THIS IS HERE IN CASE THE STARTUP SCRIPT IS RUN BY A **

REM ** DIFFERENT WINDOWS USER WHEN A CLEAN BOOT HAS ALREADY **

REM ** TAKEN PLACE - WE DON'T WANT TO RESTART ON EVERY LOG IN, **

REM ** JUST THE FIRST **

IF ERRORLEVEL 1 (

REM ** DUMMY LINE **

echo NOT OUTSTANDING

) ELSE (

 

REM ** SEARCH THE PROCESSES TEXT FILE FOR THE BOOTVIS_SLEEP **

REM ** PROCESS. IF IT IS FOUND, THE PROCESS IS RUNNING, SO **

REM ** AN OPTIMISE SYSTEM RESTART MUST HAVE JUST TAKEN PLACE **

FIND "Bootvis_Sleep.exe" %BVW_FilePath%processes.txt

 

REM ** IF THE BOOTVIS_SLEEP PROCESS IS NOT FOUND, THE OPTIMISE **

REM ** SYSTEM RESTART HAS NOT YET TAKEN PLACE AND MUST BE PERFORMED **

IF ERRORLEVEL 1 (

 

REM ** OPEN THE FULL SCREEN JPG WANRING USER RESTART IS **

REM ** ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE **

START %BVW_FilePath%RestartWarning.jpg

 

REM ** START TO OPTIMISE SYSTEM USING BOOTVIS **

START "TEMP WINDOW" "D:\Program Files\Microsoft Bootvis\BootVis.exe"

-prepsystem

 

REM ****************************************************************

REM ** THIS SECTION NOT REQUIRED AS SECOND OPTIMISE CALL RESTARTS **

REM ** HOWEVER, KEPT IN FOR CLARITY **

REM ** DELAYS WHILE OPTIMISATION PROCESSES START THEN KILLS THEM **

ping 1.1.1.1 -n 2 -w 1000 > null

TASKKILL /F /IM "bootvis.exe"

TASKKILL /F /IM "defrag.exe"

TASKKILL /F /IM "dfrgntfs.exe"

REM ****************************************************************

 

REM ** SECOND OPTMIMISATION CALL WILL RESTART SYSTEM **

START "TEMP WINDOW" "D:\Program Files\Microsoft Bootvis\BootVis.exe"

-prepsystem

 

REM ** OPEN JPG WARNING AGAIN IN CASE IT FALLS BEHIND **

REM ** OTHER WINDOWS**

START %BVW_FilePath%RestartWarning.jpg

 

REM ** SET STATUS TO HALFWAY. NOT REALLY REQUIRED AS THE RESTART **

REM ** WILL SET THE STATUS TO OUTSTANDING. KEPT HERE IN CASE **

REM ** THERE IS A FAILURE FOR SOME REASON **

echo HALFWAY > %BVW_FilePath%status.txt

) ELSE (

 

REM ** AN OPTIMISE SYSTEM RESTART HAS JUST TAKEN PLACE, SO **

REM ** THE BOOTVIS SLEEP PROCESS MUST BE KILLED AND IT'S **

REM ** TEMPORARY EXE FILE DELETED FROM THE BOOTVIS DIR **

TASKKILL /F /IM "Bootvis_Sleep.exe"

DEL "D:\Program Files\Microsoft Bootvis\Bootvis_Sleep.exe"

 

REM ** SET STATUS TO DONE, SO SUBSEQUENT LOG INS DON'T **

REM ** INSTIGATE RESTART **

echo DONE > %BVW_FilePath%status.txt

)

)

 

 

:END

 

 

------------------------Bootvis_ReStart.bat-----------------------------

 

@ECHO off

 

REM ** BOOTVIS RESTART WORKAROUND RESTARTS PC ON FIRST LOGIN **

REM ** USING OPTIMISE SYSTEM RESTART. THIS ENSURES QUICK **

REM ** RESTART AND MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE FROM CPU - A CLEAN BOOT **

 

REM ** This scheduled restart batch file allows a clean boot **

REM ** to be manually performed by a user. Simply create a **

REM ** shortcut to this file **

 

:BEGIN

 

REM ** DEFINE CONSTANT FOR FILE PATH TO WORKAROUND FILES **

set BVW_FilePath = D:\Bootvis_Workaround\

 

REM ** RUN THE SHUTDOWN BATCH FILE TO SET STATUS TO OUTSTANDING **

START %BVW_FilePath%Reset_BVWStatus.bat

 

REM ** RUN THE RESTART BATCH FILE TO PERFORM A CLEAN BOOT **

START %BVW_FilePath%Bootvis_Restart.bat

 

:END

 

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

 

 

Regards,

 

Ben.