If you open AutoCAD from the icon on your desktop or from the Start Bar, a file opens named Drawing1 based on the default template and needs to be saved or closed at some point in the AutoCAD session.

This template file takes a long time to be found and opened.  To speed things up a bit, you can add an entry in the Options dialogue box to help AutoCAD find the template faster.

In the Options dialogue box, we'll look up the default location for templates.  Open the Files tab and expand Template Settings and then expand Drawing Template File Location.  Highlight this path listing to make the background blue, press the F2 key to make the listing editable, right-click in the editing area, and choose Copy.  Now, go to the Support File Search Path listing and expand it.  Pick the Add button in the top right area of the dialogue box and paste the path copied earlier to the new listing.  Pick the OK button in the Options dialogue box to accept the additional listing.

AutoCAD will now open noticeably faster than before using the icon on your desktop.