Hello,
when I start my mc, the kernel"Linux version 3.7.10-antix.3-486-smp (unknown) (root@antiX1) (gcc version 4.7.3 (Debian 4.7.3-4) ) #1 SMP Sat Jun 1 13:59:18 EEST 2013" is loaded quickly (the initrd runs quick) and boot messages appear at the screen. I installed the latest version 7 and now: it hangs several seconds before the boot messages appears on the screen (it hangs at initrd).

V7 seen in dmesg is"Linux version 3.7.10-antix.7-486-smp (unknown) (root@antiX1) (gcc version 4.7.2 (Debian 4.7.2-5) ) #4 SMP Tue Nov 12 13:37:53 EET 2013"

How to make the initrd for v 7 loading quicker?

Edit1: bootchart in the attachment
Edit2: advice regarding initrd

I have no insight into that behavior and I did not notice this offhand.

Anyone more in tune with the subtle differences in these kernel builds and what may be leading to the issues described and graphed above?

I made"initramfs-update -u" and now its as quick as before.
So, my new initramfs had an issue.. which is gone with the initramfs-update -u

========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/hardy/man8/update-initramfs.8.html"
linktext was:"http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/har ... mfs.8.html"
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Thanks for your update; those are handy tools you use and also a handy explanation for updating the initialization RAM for the kernel-related interaction.