First Boot Performance

  • Article

Applies To: Windows 8, Windows 8.1

The First Boot Performance assessment identifies issues that affect the time that Windows® takes to boot and display the Start screen the first time that the end user starts the computer. The assessment examines the Event Trace Log (ETL) files that Windows creates when it processes image customizations during the Setup process, during the out-of-box experience (OOBE), and after OOBE. The assessment creates result metrics based on logged events. For more information about results that are produced by this assessment, see Results for the First Boot Performance Assessment.

The following diagram describes the workflow for the assessment.

In this topic:

  • Before You Begin

  • Settings

Before You Begin

Warning

The first-run help tips in Windows 8.1 can negatively affect assessment results. To disable these, run the following command from an elevated command prompt, and reboot the computer:
reg.exe add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\EdgeUI" /v DisableHelpSticker /t REG_DWORD /d "1" /f

Warning

Run this assessment only while the desktop is full screen. Do not run this assessment if you have another Windows Store app opened side-by-side with the desktop.

You can run the First Boot Performance assessment any time after all of the following events occur:

  • Windows 8 is installed (that is, Windows Setup has finished).

  • The computer is booted for the first time.

  • The Start screen appears.

Note

If the user profile of the user who completed OOBE is deleted, the results for post OOBE might not be accurate.

System Requirements

You can run this assessment on the following operating systems:

  • Windows 8 clean installation

Important

This assessment does not work on a computer that has been upgraded to Windows 8. The Windows installation must be a clean installation.

Supported architecture includes x86-based, x64-based, and ARM-based computers.

Settings

This assessment has no configurable settings. To analyze and report on the first-boot performance, this assessment uses the ETL files that are available on the computer after the first boot.

See Also

Concepts

Results for the First Boot Performance Assessment
Assessments

Other Resources

Windows Assessment Toolkit Technical Reference
Windows Assessments Console Step-by-Step Guide