Fast-startup and VeraCrypt encrypted disk

Running VeraCrypt on the entire disk, when booting it prompts for a password. It's the entire disk but not the bootloader. That option does not work with VC and UEFI systems.

Anyway, the question is --- is running a fast-boot option a security with VeraCrypt? Say the system has decrypted, mounted volumes and when it gets rebooted, the configuration is read from memory and restores the decrypted, mounted state.

OTOH, one can't boot into the system at all without the disk password. So it seems to be safe, or is it?

The follow-up question is this, exactly how much does the fastboot option help? I am running fast SSDs like Samsung 980 Pro and plus and the boot time seems to be measured in under 30 seconds with no encryption at all and about 1.5 minutes with VC encryption enabled.

correct me if I am wrong, but it seems that power options have a lot more impact on the decryption (boot) time than Fastboot.
I tried setting powercfg to balanced and decryption took noticeably longer. Also clicking on the battery bar and adjusting it for power saving had an impact.

I think I would like for the system to stay in performance mode during decryption and kick into a power saving mode when not plugged during normal usage.

I think you're referring to fast startup as per your thread title.. your thread then speaks of fastboot. It was known as fast boot in Win 8.

Fast startup is meant to help with a cold boot, not restart, and is aimed at improving cold boot times for HDDs. As you have a SSD you can disable it.. it might make a half second or so difference. It also sometimes introduces problems for a few users.

Further, if you don't use hibernation, you can disable that too- they both use the same file on disk.

As for Veracrypt, from what I've read, it prompts users or recommends that fast startup be disabled.

dictum said:

I see, so fastboot does not make any significant difference.

I noticed that the performance mode makes a far bigger difference in decryption speed and thus boot times. I have reasonable decryption speed with the performance mode and terrible speed with the power saving one.

Fastboot is a bios function whereby certain power on tests are bypassed. This is independent of the Operating system.

Fast Startup is totally different - it is basically a mini hibernation tool on Windows. i.e. Windows does not have to initialise everything when starting up.

cereberus said:

Fastboot is a bios function whereby certain power on tests are bypassed. This is independent of the Operating system.

Fast Startup is totally different - it is basically a mini hibernation tool on Windows. i.e. Windows does not have to initialise everything when starting up.

Don't know why the difference on in performance mode during decryption unless the CPU Max is less than 100%

@dictum- it will help if you are clear and careful with your terms.

Secure boot and Fast Boot - BIOS/UEFI:
How to Enable or Disable Secure Boot and Fast Boot in BIOS

Fast Startup - O/S - and independent of those.

dictum said:

some of my machines have the UEFI function and some don't.

For example the Dell 7720 and 7750 do not have it in BIOS, while MSI Titan does have it. Strange.

UEFI is a new kind of firmware and Legacy is an old kind of firmware.
Old computers only has Legacy firmware called BIOS.
BIOS - Wikipedia
New computers only has UEFI firmware or Legacy and UEFI firmware.
UEFI - Wikipedia

Did you check the If CPU load limit is set to 100% on all power plans?