FAQ for UpTime v2.00

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How does UpTime handle Windows Fast Startup?

Certain features like Windows Fast Startup can affect the accuracy of the UpTime calculation as they do not perform a full system restart during shutdown. For a truly accurate representation of the system's UpTime since the last full restart, it's best to disable Fast Startup or use the "Restart" option instead of "Shut down".

Windows Fast Startup (also known as Hiberboot or Hybrid Shutdown) is a feature designed to reduce the time it takes for your Windows computer to boot up after a shutdown.

How it works:

• Hybrid Shutdown: When you shut down your computer with Fast Startup enabled, Windows closes all applications and logs off user sessions.
• Hibernation of the Kernel: Instead of performing a full shutdown, Windows saves a snapshot of the Windows kernel (the core of the operating system) and loaded device drivers into a hibernation file (hiberfil.sys) on the hard drive.
• Faster Boot: Upon restarting, Windows uses the information in the hibernation file to quickly load the kernel and drivers, bypassing some of the standard startup procedures and resulting in a faster boot time.

Essentially, Fast Startup is a hybrid between a full shutdown and hibernation, where the core system information is preserved to speed up the boot process.

Benefits:

Faster startup times: The primary benefit is a significant reduction in the time it takes for your computer to become usable after being turned off.

Considerations:

• Incomplete shutdown: Fast Startup does not perform a full shutdown, which can sometimes cause issues with certain hardware or software, including updates that require a full shutdown to be properly installed.
• May affect dual-boot systems: Fast Startup can potentially cause problems with dual-boot configurations because the Windows partition is not fully unmounted during shutdown.
• May affect accessing BIOS/UEFI settings: It might be difficult to access your BIOS/UEFI settings when booting from a shutdown with Fast Startup enabled.

Note: If you encounter issues with UpTime related to Fast Startup, you can disable it through the Power Options in the Control Panel