5 Fixes for Dell Laptop with Slow Startup Windows 10

There are a few Dell laptop problems more annoying to the user than a slow startup issue. Dell laptops running Windows 10 can become slow on startup for several reasons: an aging hard drive, errors in the boot-up sequence, and update glitches. 

Below, you’ll find a guide through five fixes to help you deal with a Dell laptop with slow startup issues in a Windows 10 operating system. Read on to learn more about this issue and a few of the easiest ways to resolve it. 

The Five Fixes for a Dell Laptop with Slow Startup

Most of the time, when your Dell laptop is acting up and starting up slowly, it is very frustrating, especially if you’re on top of keeping your storage uncluttered and your computer clean. Here are the five fixes you should try if your Dell laptop has a slow startup:

1. Run a diagnostic test to find the reason for a slow startup
2. Run the SupportAssist application
3. Add a solid-state drive
4. Restart in Safe Mode
5. Perform a System Restore

If you have a Dell XPS15, you can do a few other things for a slow startup.

While doing each of these, be sure to take screenshots or photos of each thing you do in case you have to end up talking to Dell customer support, so they know the actions you’ve already taken. Keep on reading to learn how to do each of these fixes.

Run a Diagnostics Test to Determine the Problem

Before any other actions are taken on a Dell laptop with a slow startup issue in Windows 10, the first step you should take is to run a diagnostics test. A diagnostics test can pinpoint any errors in the startup sequence causing the computer to run slowly. 

To run a diagnostics test in Windows 10 on a Dell laptop, perform the following:

• Restart the computer. If the computer is booting up so slowly that it is stuck in an infinite loop, perform the restart through a hard shutdown by holding down the power button until the computer powers down, then press the power button again. 
• Press F12. When you see the Dell splash screen appear, press the F12 button. This should enter the computer’s boot menu.
• Select the Diagnostics option. Once you’re in the boot menu, highlight either the Boot to Utilities Partition or the Diagnostics and select it. This will begin the 32-bit Dell diagnostics sequence. 
• Select a test. Select Test System and press Enter to receive several options of test sequences such as Express, Extended, Custom, and Symptom Tree. These tests can point you in the direction of any errors in your computer’s hardware or software that may be causing a slow boot. 

If you’re not sure why your Dell computer is starting so slowly in Windows 10, running a diagnostics test is the fastest way to understand why. 

Run the SupportAssist Application

Another way to diagnose problems with a slow startup in Windows 10 on your Dell laptop is to install and run the SupportAssist application. Once this program is installed on your Dell computer, you can follow the program’s on-screen prompts and use it to perform advanced troubleshooting of the system.

Add a Solid-State Drive

A major reason that many older Dell laptops begin to slow down on the startup sequence is that their hard drives can’t keep up with the processing power necessary to get a booting computer off the ground. 

Defragmenting the computer’s system in the boot menu can solve some software issues that cause a laptop to slow down, but they can’t help its booting speed like a solid-state drive. The added processing power of a solid-state drive makes it much easier for the computer’s systems to operate efficiently. 

Restart in Safe Mode

If the issue with your Dell laptop is that it has developed an error in the boot-up sequence due to a failed update or another software glitch, restarting the laptop in Safe Mode can sometimes snap the computer out of a failed startup sequence. 

To restart the Dell laptop in Safe Mode from the Recovery settings, perform the following in the Settings menu: 

• Select Update & Security, then select Recovery. 
• Select Restart Now from the Advanced Startup settings.
• From the computer’s startup menu, select Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options, then Startup Settings, then Restart.
• From the Safe Mode menu, select 4 or F4 to reboot the computer in Safe Mode or 5/F5 to reboot the computer in Safe Mode with Networking.

Once you have the computer in Safe Mode, you should be able to restart the computer normally to resolve any software glitches that may be hanging up the boot-up sequence.  

Perform a System Restore

If you’ve recently made changes to your Dell laptop that are causing a new slow startup issue Windows 10, the problem could result from an incompatibility between the operating system and the new software. In this case, performing a System Restore to an earlier point before the installation can help resolve any slow booting problems resulting from a faulty install. 

A System Restore or reset can be performed on the Dell laptop from either the Safe Mode menu or the Advanced Startup menu. It’s important to note that a System Restore performed in Safe Mode cannot be undone, so be sure you want to perform one before carrying it out. 

If you can access your computer’s data, it’s a good idea to back up any important files to a zip drive or external hard drive before performing a Restore or any wipe of your computer’s systems. 

Most Startup Issues on a Dell Laptop Can Be Fixed

A slow booting sequence on your laptop can be a constant source of irritation, especially if it’s a new development. The troubleshooting options in the guide above should give you some useful pointers for potentially resolving the problem.