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RickJamesBish's avatar
RickJamesBish
Copper Contributor
Nov 08, 2025

One single app (game) long load time on initial startup

Windows version 25H2
Game is Arma Reforger run through Steam
On first start of game after a fresh system boot, the game takes approximately 1 minute to open. Presented with a blank screen with spinning blue wheel mouse cursor.
After this initial loading of the game, it will load normally like all other games, usually about 2 to 3 seconds.
I have narrowed it down to this one game by rebooting system, starting 5 other games in Steam, including Arma Reforger Experimental, which is a test branch of the game I am having issues with. All of those games start normally. After starting those, I then try Arma Reforger and it takes approximately 1 minute to load, loading normally from then on until next system reboot.

I have removed the game and all files. Reinstalled and also relocated. All drives are m.2. All the games on the drive load normally as stated so I do not think it is a drive issue. I also disabled Windows Defender temporarily after a system reboot and it did not fix the issue.

I feel like I have narrowed it down to something in Windows 11 causing the long initial load of this game only but I do not know how to determine that or fix it.

Please help

Windows Build/Version26200.7019 / 25H2

1 Reply

  • Ostarari's avatar
    Ostarari
    Iron Contributor

    Since the delay only occurs after a system reboot and not when the game is launched later in the session, it suggests a cold boot issue, possibly related to initial startup services or Windows boot processes.

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