Why is My Ubuntu 18.04 Boot Taking So Long on My Core i3 Laptop?

Many factors can contribute to a slower-than-expected boot time on an Ubuntu 18.04 system, especially on a Core i3 laptop. This article aims to help you diagnose and potentially improve this issue using a systematic approach.

Common Causes and Diagnostics

While there could be a host of reasons, a good starting point is to use the systemd-analyze command. It not only measures the time taken by the systemd initialization process but also other stages of boot-up. Here are some commands and tips to get you started:

Using systemd-analyze

You can run systemd-analyze to get a breakdown of the boot process:

systemd-analyze

This will provide a timing breakdown similar to:

Startup finished in 13.576s firmware  6.977s loader  7.187s kernel  4.332s userspace  32.074s

Most of the delay is due to slow initialization of the firmware. If systemd itself is the potential culprit, run:

systemd-analyze blame to identify the services that are taking the most time. systemd-analyze critical-chain to trace the boot process and identify potential bottlenecks.

These commands will give you valuable insights into what might be causing the delay.

Checking Kernel Logs

To further diagnose any kernel issues, you can check the kernel logs:

/var/log/kern.log

Look for any warnings or error messages during the initial seconds of boot-up. This can provide clues about potential hardware or software issues.

Model Information and Hardware Support

Some detailed information about your laptop model and any modifications would be helpful. If this is a stock Core i3 laptop, the model details are crucial. Keep in mind:

Ubuntu may not support all hardware as well as Windows does. Some i3 CPUs might not perform as well as expected, especially if they are comparable to a Pentium 4.

Hardware Upgrades and Benchmarks

Here are some potential hardware-related causes and solutions:

1. Slow Hard Disk

A 5400 RPM SATA disk can significantly impact boot times. Consider upgrading to an SSD for a noticeable improvement.

2. Insufficient RAM

2GB is the absolute minimum, and 4GB would be the recommended amount. Insufficient RAM will force the system to use the swap partition more frequently, leading to longer boot times.

3. Insufficient Swap Partition

A 2GB swap partition is typically sufficient, but a larger partition can help manage memory more effectively.

To improve boot time, consider the following steps:

Identify the specific areas causing the delay using the above diagnostics. Wipe the drive and reinstall Ubuntu to eliminate any potential performance issues from previous installations. Install an SSD as the primary storage drive, if possible, to significantly boost boot times. Upgrade RAM to 4GB or more, which will allow the system to handle more processes before needing to use the swap partition.

For comparison, my daily driver laptop dual boots Windows 10 and Pop!_OS with a stop watch. However, both operate from their own SSDs backed by 16GB of RAM and an Intel i9-9900K CPU, resulting in very fast boot times.

Conclusion

By systematically diagnosing the potential causes using tools like systemd-analyze, kernel logs, and hardware upgrades, you can identify and mitigate the factors contributing to slow boot times on your Ubuntu 18.04 system.