How to speed up a slow start up?

[pur3h8r3d]

I have a Macbook Pro 2.2Ghz, 200GB, 4GB, Leopard 10.5.2
It used to be pretty fast on start up and would be pretty quick a loading up apps (first run). But now it seems to be pretty slow on the initial start-up and the first run of apps. After initial log in and any apps have been opened and cached it's always speedy. My girlfriend just got a Macbook and its much quicker at first run of apps. With me its always just within the first 5 minutes of use. Is there anything I can do to help or speed it up?

I use Onyx at least once a month to try and keep things in order. Here is a list of login item. (I am also aware that onyx can cause temporary slowness of some apps after its been run)

Air Port Base Station Agent
Byte Controller
Google Notifier
Lab Tick
SMC Fan Control
Growl
Weathervane
Quicksilver

 

[72930]

How much HD space is free?
I recommend XSlimmer to reduce the load of Applications. Possibly even a reinstall of Leopard getting rid of the languages etc that you don't use.

 

[richard.mac]

this is what i do to speed up my boots times. a bit technical.

download Onyx and run the Automation feature. reboot to rewrite all the system and boot caches. cache all binaries by opening all your apps. reboot until OS has cached 3 or 4 times. download iDefrag and boot into the boot CD or boot into an an external drive install with iDefrag installed on it and defrag your main hard drive. reboot a couple of times more.

 

[pur3h8r3d]

I have about 119GB of free space. 10GB is being used by Boot Camp. I have tried xslimmer before and al it did was ruin my programs and make them even slower. Luckily I made backups.

I wouldnt mind trying to defrag but I'm probably going to wait a little while before I spend any money on this problem without trying some free alternatives. Thanks for your info

 

[Amdahl]

I wonder if some of these complaints on speed are due to the fact that 10.5.2 has a bug in the caching code? After 10.5.2 is installed, the system stops using the ~/Library/Cache directory for certain things.

Don't believe me? Go look how many folders haven't been touched since the day you installed 10.5.2 or earlier. The system is using new locations in /private/var/folders

 

[pur3h8r3d]

But would using a new location for cache change how fast programs load? I have thought about backing up and reinstalling everything. But The Leopard disk I have is the "Upgrade DVD" When I bought my MBP it had tiger and I got a free upgrade to Leopard because I bought it 20 days before it came out. Would this disk work or would I have to install Tiger then install Leopard?

Also what would be the best way to do it? I have a 750GB External that I can use to back up.

 

[Amdahl]

But would using a new location for cache change how fast programs load? I have thought about backing up and reinstalling everything. But The Leopard disk I have is the "Upgrade DVD" When I bought my MBP it had tiger and I got a free upgrade to Leopard because I bought it 20 days before it came out. Would this disk work or would I have to install Tiger then install Leopard?

Also what would be the best way to do it? I have a 750GB External that I can use to back up.

The upgrade and cache changes could have temporary effects. If a couple reboots haven't cleared it, a backup/restore might help.

If you decide to wipe the drive, you could use your external disk to make a Time Machine backup, and the Upgrade DVD might let you restore it in one go, without installing Tiger first. If not, those upgrade discs are junk.