Fix slow start-ups in OS X

Sometimes after adding new system components or otherwise changing the hardware configuration of your system you may find that the OS will load rather slowly. Usually this will only happen after the first restart as the system configures the kernel extensions needed for the new hardware; however, there are times when it can persist.

Via MacFixIt

A decent semi-advanced troubleshooting article from MacFixIt that covers troubleshooting slow start-up issues in OS X.

If you’re somewhat Terminal.app savvy, it’s worth looking at. For those who shy away from the nerdy underbelly of OS X (a.k.a. Unix), I plan to add this to the system cache cleaning routines of Yasu in the very near future.

• MacFixIt ‘General Maintenance’ Recommendations
• Yasu Updated to Version 2.7.3
• Playing It Safe When Booting Up Mac OS X

Is it a software or hardware issue? You may not be able to determine this with certainty before troubleshooting. Troubleshoot software before hardware unless the issue prevents any software troubleshooting. See Mac OS X Troubleshooting: How to Isolate an Issue for more information.

A good Apple support article outlining a smart way to deal with system issues. Every Mac user should learn how to troubleshoot like this.

• Fixing Slow Start-ups in Mac OS X
• Troubleshooting Mac OS X Startup Issues
• Playing It Safe When Booting Up Mac OS X