Acceptable boot time

Our classrooms use multiple OS, depending on the class. New loads of Win2K are averaging 4 minutes per boot up on 650 mhz, 256 k, 7200 rpm machines. Because students UEs require a lot of boot ups, 4 minutes is unacceptable. The techs say “buy bigger and faster hardware” but I can’t help but wonder if there is a different soloution………..any ideas?