Computer boots slow = bad battery?
 

We've got an older PC in our factory that boots very slowly. Some tech guy that supports a piece of software on that computer told us that it was because the battery was going to go out soon and we should replace it. That would make it boot faster.

Now - I'm by no means any computer expert. I can do this and that but I'm all self taught so keep that in mind.

But I've never heard that tidbit of info.

Nevertheless, they went to radio shack and bought a new battery and it haven't noticed any difference.

Is what the guy said true or is he full of it?

Full of it.

Well, if it's a laptop (you didn't say) and if it's not on AC power and IF it has the advanced power-management turned on (usually turned off) and IF the battery is so old and almost-dead that it registers to the computer as almost completely discharged, the computer might ramp down the CPU speed.

But I think he's full of it.

Not a laptop.

Thanks!

Full of it.

Lot's of things can cause the computer to boot slow.

I once had a tech tell me that we had to drill through a concrete wall to route Ethernet cables because the extra '8 required to go around it would slow down the network due to the longer cable length.

Like too much porn I mean too much content in the computer. If I remember correctly, there is a way to turn off certain programs that would otherwise start up at booting, but I can't remember how to do it.

At what point is is slow?
- Before or After the windows splash screen (or both)

Does it hang for a bit at some point and then resume?

Once it boots how does it run?

Start->Run->Msconfig->Startup

If the internal battery on a desktop is going bad you will get a warning that says as much.

I figured as much - but I'm always opening to learning new things.

Moonie - I'm taking your questions down to the factory to the user to see what he has to say.

Thanks for the help everyone. :)

It's slow before the splash screen.

It shows a Dell logo then goes black for 3-5 minutes... shows a blinking cursor for about 30 seconds on a blue screen.

It used to boot up lickety-split in less then a minute- and now takes 5+ minutes. Nothing has been installed or done. This is a computer that runs a cnc in the factory and that's all it does. ever. nothing ever changes on it.

Best guess:

It's a CMOS issue. The boot process is looking for something that is no longer present (like a CD-ROM drive or floppy). It's waiting for it to timeout.

How comfortable are you in poking around the boot (CMOS) menu?

There's probably more gravity out in the factory with all those giant machines around.

Meh... sounds scary! :D

It's going to go like this - see this guy from a disney-ish message board I visit online told me your guy is wrong and that I should do this to your big expensive machine that runs the factory.

I can probably do it with support - but is this something I want on my head if something goes horribly wrong?

I appreicate the advice - but I think I'll let them take care of it unless they decide they want my help - which could happen any time now - but then again - perhaps not.

And let's face it -I'm in a comfy air conditioned office and the weather outside the factory is over 100 degrees - which means inside it's probably 110 or more.

Thanks though. :cool: