Fast Startup promises faster boot times in Windows, but it can cause more problems than it solves—especially for users with dual-boot setups, USB issues, or custom hardware.
What Fast Startup Actually Does
- Fast Startup is a hybrid shutdown that stores system state to
hiberfil.sys. - It bypasses full hardware reinitialization, making boot faster—but not cleaner.
- This causes problems if you’ve changed hardware, BIOS settings, or booted into another OS.
When You Should Disable Fast Startup
- If you’re dual-booting with Linux or another OS.
- If USB devices (e.g. mice, audio interfaces) don’t work properly after boot.
- If system restore or rollback doesn’t seem to fully apply.
- If updates or driver changes don’t take effect after reboot.
How to Disable It Safely
- Go to Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what power buttons do.
- Click “Change settings that are currently unavailable”.
- Uncheck Turn on fast startup.
- Click Save and reboot your system.
Expert Tip
- Want fast boots without Fast Startup? Use a high-speed SSD and clean up startup apps instead.
- Keep BIOS “Fast Boot” enabled for true cold boot acceleration.
Fast Startup isn’t bad—but it’s not for everyone. If you value full system resets and hardware compatibility, disable it and configure your system for clean boots instead.