Hybrid Boot is a new feature of Windows 8 that was recently discovered in one of the latest builds. It uses the basic idea of hibernation but utilizes it solely for core operating systems files. This speeds up the start of the operating system considerably but comes without the privacy implications.

Hibernation should not be confused with sleep mode. Sleep Mode is a low power mode that does not shut down the computer completely.

Hybrid Boot is enabled by default in the latest builds, and you use it automatically when you press the shutdown button of the start menu.

So, the difference between Hybrid Boot and Hibernation is the data that’s saved for a faster system start.

Hybrid Boot reduced the startup time on systems to about 20 seconds, according to Windows 8 News. It is to early to say if this is an average figure or achieved with high-end Solid State Disks or Raid setups.

It seems however as if all Windows 8 users could benefit from reduced startup times if Microsoft makes the decision to keep the feature included in the operating system.

Multi-boot computer users will notice a downside of Hybrid Boot: The boot manager of the system is not displayed if Windows 8 was shut down with Hybrid Boot enabled.

That’s why there is an option to disable Hybrid Boot in Windows 8. The feature can be disabled in the Control Panel under Power Options.

Keep in mind that the information that we currently have may change at anytime during development. We keep you posted.

In other news: The Windows 8 Enterprise edition will feature an option to run the operating system from a portable drive (see Windows 8 Portable Workspace Allows OS To Run From USB).

You can start the Event Viewer in Windows using the keyboard shortcut [Windows R], typing [eventvwr.msc] and hitting [enter]. Navigate in the Event Manager using the menu on the left side using the following path: Applications and Services Logs => Microsoft => Windows => Diagnostics-Performance => Operational. This will lead directly to the location that contains performance diagnostics not only for the Windows shutdown but also for standby and boot performance issues.

A good way to start is to sort the columns by Task Category. Click on the Task Category title and look for Shutdown Performance Monitoring entries. Each entry will contain information about the application or process that was causing problems during shutdown including the time it took to shutdown that process. A process that takes very long to shutdown is usually the problem for the shutdown problems.

Once the process or application has been identified it is a matter of finding out why it is causing the delay. It could be outdated or incompatible with that version of Windows and to a lesser extent a faulty version or driver. A good way to start is to look for updates for that software and install those if they are available. It might be easier on the other hand to simply deactivate or uninstall the software if that is possible.

The Windows timer can be configured to reset, shutdown, suspend or play an audio signal at a specified time or after time has passed. It is possible to set a counter or specify seconds, minutes, hours and even days before the configured action starts.

Another option is to set an alarm clock to specify a certain hour of the day. While reset, shutdown or suspend do not require explanation the audio signal mode does. This mode can be used to select an mp3 or other audio file which will be played when the time is met.

The timer software will display a visual reminder and run the defined action at the specified time afterwards.