So here is something interesting: I can reproduce and create slow and fast loading initrd's (with grub) on my machine! 1. Slow loading initrd but reinstalling kernel: # zypper in -f kernel-desktop ...<cut> (1/1) Installing: kernel-desktop-3.7.10-1.1.1 .........................................................................................................[done] Additional rpm output: Kernel image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.7.10-1.1-desktop Initrd image: /boot/initrd-3.7.10-1.1-desktop Root device: /dev/system/slash (mounted on / as ext4) /usr device: /dev/system/usr (mounted on /usr as ext4) Resume device: /dev/sda2 Kernel Modules: thermal_sys thermal processor fan dm-mod dm-snapshot scsi_dh scsi_dh_alua scsi_dh_rdac scsi_dh_emc scsi_dh_hp_sw xhci-hcd hid-logitech-dj linear Features: acpi dm plymouth block usb lvm2 resume.userspace resume.kernel --> Result: Slow boot with 10+ seconds delay at loading initrd 2. Fast loading initrd, just run: # mkinitrd Kernel image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.7.10-1.1-desktop Initrd image: /boot/initrd-3.7.10-1.1-desktop Root device: /dev/system/slash (mounted on / as ext4) /usr device: /dev/system/usr (mounted on /usr as ext4) Resume device: /dev/sda2 Kernel Modules: thermal_sys thermal processor fan dm-mod dm-snapshot scsi_dh scsi_dh_alua scsi_dh_rdac scsi_dh_emc scsi_dh_hp_sw xhci-hcd hid-logitech-dj linear Features: acpi dm plymouth block usb lvm2 resume.userspace resume.kernel --> Result: Fast boot with no delay! I unpacked both initrd's (into dirs "zypper" and "mkinitrd"): # diff -wuir zypper/ mkinitrd/ Only in zypper/bin: cat Only in zypper/bin: chmod Only in zypper/bin: cp Only in zypper/bin: date Only in zypper/bin: dmesg Only in zypper/bin: ls Only in zypper/bin: mkdir Only in zypper/bin: mknod Only in zypper/bin: mount Only in zypper/bin: mv Only in zypper/bin: rm Only in zypper/bin: sed Only in zypper/bin: sleep Only in zypper/bin: umount Only in zypper/bin: uname diff -wuir zypper/etc/adjtime mkinitrd/etc/adjtime --- zypper/etc/adjtime 2013-03-04 20:00:08.125172787 +0100 +++ mkinitrd/etc/adjtime 2013-03-04 20:04:38.492049355 +0100 @@ -1,3 +1,3 @@ --0.236439 1362423098 0.000000 -1362423098 +-0.236439 1362423464 0.000000 +1362423464 UTC diff -wuir zypper/mkinitrd.config mkinitrd/mkinitrd.config --- zypper/mkinitrd.config 2013-03-04 20:00:07.609173198 +0100 +++ mkinitrd/mkinitrd.config 2013-03-04 20:04:38.178049423 +0100 @@ -1 +1 @@ --k /boot/vmlinuz-3.7.10-1.1-desktop -i /boot/initrd-3.7.10-1.1-desktop +