If your Windows PC is sluggish at boot-up, the following steps can significantly improve your startup time:

1. Enable Fast Startup: This combines shutdown and hibernation to preload essential components, reducing boot time. Go to Control Panel > Power Options > Change what the power buttons do, click Change settings that are currently unavailable, and check Turn on fast startup.
2. Disable Startup Programs: Disable unnecessary programs that automatically launch during startup. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), navigate to the Startup tab, and disable non-essential programs.
3. Disable Unnecessary Services: Some background services use system resources unnecessarily. Open the Run dialog (Windows + R), type msconfig, and disable non-essential services under the Services tab, making sure to Hide all Microsoft services.
4. Reduce OS Selection Timeout (for dual-boot systems): If you dual-boot, reduce the timeout for OS selection. Open Run (Windows + R), type sysdm.cpl, go to Advanced > Startup and Recovery, and set the time to display OS options to 5-10 seconds.
5. Clean Your System: Uninstall bloatware and clean temporary files. Use Disk Cleanup and manually delete temp files using temp and %temp% commands in the Run dialog.
6. Scan for Malware: Malware can slow down boot times. Perform a full system scan via Windows Security or third-party anti-malware software.
7. Adjust Virtual Memory Settings: If you have limited RAM, adjust your virtual memory settings to optimize the system. Open System Properties, go to Performance Settings > Advanced > Virtual Memory, and set a custom size based on your RAM.
8. Defragment Your Hard Drive (HDD only): HDDs benefit from defragmentation. Open Defragment and Optimize Drives, analyze and optimize your system drive if needed.
9. Keep Your System Updated: Regular updates fix bugs and optimize performance. Go to Settings > Windows Update and install available updates.
10. Use Hibernate or Sleep Mode: Instead of shutting down, use Hibernate or Sleep to resume faster. This helps keep your work intact and reduces startup time.
11. Upgrade Your Hardware: If your PC is still slow, upgrading from an HDD to an SSD and adding more RAM can dramatically improve startup speed and overall performance.

By applying these steps, your Windows PC’s boot time should become faster, making your system more responsive and improving overall productivity.