Boot Windows Faster, Using Linux 369
BiOFH writes "TechNewsWorld is reporting that InterVideo has a solution for slow boot times runing Windows XP MCE. 'The new Linux-based InstantOn software -- designed to help Windows XP Media Center Edition PCs boot more quickly -- is aimed at taking advantage of the power of Intel's Pentium processors, not at fixing fragmented hard drives. The software integrates into the computer's BIOS and the operating system.'" According to this article, the software uses a small Linux partition on the user's hard drive. I wonder how BIOSes with hard-wired Microsoft-based DRM would cooperate with this scheme.
Vaporware! (Score:5, Informative)
Any CD-based Linux distro can achieve the a similar effect with far more functionality.
It doesn't boot windows faster! (Score:5, Informative)
Common sense (Score:4, Informative)
It isn't some kind of linux based boot loader... (Score:5, Informative)
"Entertainment machines" (Score:4, Informative)
why not use hibernation? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Windows is already faster than linux (Score:5, Informative)
Memory images on disk (Score:4, Informative)
Re:why not use hibernation? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Windows is already faster than linux (Score:3, Informative)
Timmy Stay in your Chair (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Vaporware! (Score:2, Informative)
Need to re-boot != instability always. THINK! (Score:3, Informative)
Stability and having to re-boot to install *certain* software packages have nothing to do with each other. Yes, the need to re-boot for certain installs is a weak point for Windows, but that's not the same thing as stability.
It's understandable that many here do not like Windows. But many people also understand that certain applications don't run on Linux, nor have *nix equivalents. We who must use these apps are stuck with Windows. But the need to re-boot is not the same as instability, and indeed many Windows machines have up-times that rival the average Linux server. It's true.
By the way, it it "instability" that after making changes in a Linux configuration, you often have to re-start services?
Harp on some other point that makes more sense.
Re:Vaporware! (Score:4, Informative)
Two things (Score:2, Informative)
2) Does it really matter? I mean, in the home environment (I hope to god our corporations aren't stupid enough to buy MCEs for workstations) what is 45 seconds at maximum to wait for the computer to boot. If you REALLY need your computer to boot that fast then just put it into standby or hibernation - both options are excellent and give you almost instant gratification. Standby in my MCE laptop takes about 1.5 seconds to get up and running and coming back from hibernation takes about 5-6 seconds.
Re:Vaporware! (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Vaporware! (Score:4, Informative)
A computer is hardly an efficient space heater. (An effective one, yes, but mostly because current systems use huge amounts of power.) If you want to save energy, turn off the PC when you're not going to be using it and use the furnace.
Too complicated... (Score:3, Informative)
The only drawback is: if you lose power, the DRAMS will be cleared. That could be solved by a UPS or maybe some built-in battery.
Re:Vaporware! (Score:5, Informative)
Since you don't install the security updates (which require a reboot) I certainly hope your computer isn't connected to the Internet. Otherwise it's probably been turned into a zombied relay for spammers who are all too happy with your 92 day uptime.
Re:Too complicated... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Vaporware! (Score:2, Informative)
Don't believe it? Electricity spikes whenever an appliance is powered-on. This is why many people rightfully recommend to turn your monitor on before turning your computer on, so to shield the computer from the electricity spike. That spike takes up a lot of electricity on its own. When I first learned about this in high school, I remember I did a test at home and had my brother turn on the vacuum at while I looked at the power meter on the house. It is true. That meter dial sped up like crazy for a few seconds, then dwindled back down to the vacuum's running electricity level (and of course slowed back down after it was turned off). As you know, it is that meter that determines your electric bill.
Oh yeah, and there are reasons to shut down XP...like when it crashes, and the only thing to do is to power it off, because not even reset works!
Re:Memory images on disk (Score:4, Informative)
"So avoid saving those caches...", well there's a reason they are saving them. If you don't save them, you have to first close all open files, and now your "suspension" isn't transparent. So you've opened the door to two "modes" of program starting, "suspended" and "not suspended", or some such other crap. And re-loading the cache with new, valid data on startup takes time, which defeats the point of this in the first place.
My point is not that there are no solutions to these problems but to try to give a taste of how these things cascade rapidly. OS design is a subtle and tricky work, which only becomes truly apparent once you actually try to sit down and code solutions to these problems.
Re:Vaporware! (Score:4, Informative)
You know, when you're not using your computer for long periods of time (say, 92 days) you should shut it off. Needless to say, my experiences with XP's stability have been a bit less sterling than yours. (Generally after a few days it's good and ready for a reboot. If I'm developing, once a day minimum).
Re:Vaporware! (Score:3, Informative)
Hibernate is called the S4 sleep state. It is still using power because some peripheals can wake the machine. Wake-on-LAN, Wake-on-Ring, etc.
Re:Vaporware! (Score:2, Informative)
My linux box is started up 8 seconds (with services) after LILO passes control to linux. My BIOS takes a bit of time to init, which is why I doubt your 15 second number. My old motherboard took exactly 15 seconds from power-on to taking the monitor out of standby. The new one takes about 3.
Anyway, I think you're lying. To be fair, though, starting services, etc. is going to be time consuming unless you happen to be using a RAM-based disk (which you're not
Re:Vaporware! (Score:2, Informative)
I'm not sure what you are running in your computer!
All the kinetic energy in your computer eventually turns to heat, unless your computer is rolling across the room or something.
A front panel LED is negligible light, less than 1 watt. That's the only light escaping the closed system, so any other light (like a CDROM) turns to heat too.
A computer is very nearly 100% efficient, compared to any other resistive heater. A heat pump will beat a resistive heater any day though.
Re:Fujitsu Lifebook (Score:2, Informative)
I wouldn't say it's the only downside. The graphics capabilities are quite slim, crippling an otherwise decent laptop.
I will admit I was surprised the first time I closed the lid and forgot about it. It didn't look like it lost any battery power whatsoever in the 10-12 hours I left it on.
Re:Vaporware! (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Vaporware! (Score:2, Informative)
Certainly. It was about semantics before I arrived and I've already admited to feeding the troll.
. . . that have nothing to do with the discussion.
The only thing I'm discussing is power consumption.
'Hibernate' uses the exact same amount of power as choosing 'Shutdown' or pushing the power button. The fact that that isn't truly 'off' isn't incredibly important to anyone.
Since I've already provided myself as a counter example this could be considered an insult I suppose.
. . . which rather obviously requires it to have power all the time.
Which supports my premise.
And there's no way in hell that airport security can tell the difference between a hiberating laptop and a powered off laptop, because a hiberating laptop is a powered off laptop...it's just one that's going to load memory from disk the next time it boots.
The test is simple. Power up the machine. Power it down. Turn the switch to the "off" position. This last they consider critical. A machine that is put into hibernation mode from the shutdown menu or by closing the lid may still be drawing current and providing functionality. See your own above comments.
And, BTW, you can have a computer that's 'hiberating' and is truely off...you just have to hiberate and pull the power cable. It will boot just as fast when you plug it back in and turn it on.
Yes, it will post and restore, and a bit faster than a normal boot because the memory image is compressed, however, while the plug is out some funtionality may well be lost that would otherwise be available because the machine has no power to provide it.
If you want to save as much power as possible turn it off.
Which is where I came into this movie.
KFG
Re:Vaporware! (Score:2, Informative)
But on a lighter note.... it is nice to think that it does make a good heater and I often use the reasoning myself when talking smack...
o)
Just cuz I spell bad and use run-ons, doesn't make me wrong... being an idiot does...