Having issues with boot time on my gaming pc

[JonathanC]

No cheers yet D; Sadly the chipset update did not work, nor did trying a different SATA cable! Grrrr this is the most confusing problem I've encountered yet! x.x

 

[JimboC]

Hi JonathanC,

I would also try using the Sysinternals tool, Process Monitor to log the boot time activity of your computer.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645

Here is a blog post from Mark Russinovich detailing how he used it to solve a slow login and another article that provides more info on its boot logging capability:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/markrussinovich/archive/2012/07/02/3506849.aspx

http://www.ghacks.net/2009/10/09/use-process-monitor-to-optimize-the-windows-boot-process/

You might also consider using the Logon and Services tabs of Sysinternals Autoruns tool to ensure that you are running as clean a system as possible:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902

This tool should show more information than CCleaner (I could be wrong about that).

Please also run the following tools and let us know the results since MBR infections can cause slow boots (these infections cannot be removed with a re-format of the hard drive since the MBR is not written to during the standard format process).

You should backup any data that you cannot afford to lose before proceeding with the steps below since they can occasionally cause further issues:

TDSS Killer:
Download the Kaspersky TDSS Killer tool from here:

http://support.kaspersky.com/downloads/utils/tdsskiller.exe

Instructions on how to use it are here:

http://support.kaspersky.com/find?faq_id=2663

You might also find the following article on TDSS rootkits useful:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-tdss-tdl3-alureon-rootkit-using-tdsskiller

Repairing MBR
If after the above steps, the issue of slow a boot up remains, I would suggest creating a new MBR using the Windows Recovery Console (I realize that you are using Windows 7, I have included the steps for Windows XP for reference only):

Windows XP
How to install the Recovery Console:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654/en-us

How to use and the commands available in the Recovery Console:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654/en-us

The command you will need is fixmbr

Windows Vista and Windows 7
The procedure for repairing the MBR using Windows Vista or Windows 7 is different from Windows XP, for information on the steps necessary, please see the following article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392/en-us

As before, start the computer and put the Windows installation DVD in your optical drive and boot from it.

Press a key when prompted, set the language and keyboard layout that you wish to use when the GUI (Graphical User Interface) loads.

Follow the steps mentioned in the above knowledge base article to open a Command Prompt window and type:

Repair the MBR
Bootrec.exe /FixMbr

Reboot the computer.

If necessary (i.e. the issue is still occuring), type the following command:

Repair the Windows Boot Loader
Bootrec.exe /FixBoot

If necessary, type the following command:

Repair the BCD (Windows Vista and Windows 7 only)

Bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd

If you encounter the "Bootmgr is Missing" error on boot up, you can instead use the following commands to resolve it:

Follow the above steps but substitute the commands after opening the Command Prompt window (using the boot from DVD steps mentioned in the above knowledge base article):

bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup
c:
cd boot
attrib bcd -s -h -r
ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old
bootrec /RebuildBcd

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MBR.exe:
http://www2.gmer.net/mbr/mbr.exe

Download this program and run it as administrator. If the text file (.txt) file that it creates in the same folder as you downloaded this program to mentions any of the following text, you probably have an infection:

Copy of MBR has been found in sector
malicious code @ sector
PE file found in sector at [memory location within MBR]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The steps details above should remove this infection if it is present, if not, please re-post in this thread.

I hope the above information is of assistance to you.

Thank you.

 

[95Viper]

If you have any external devices attached, try booting without them.

Disable any thing in the bios you are not using, like raid controllers, serial port, parallel port, IE1394 ports, etc.

How did that device manager look?

Did you update to the latest bios?

Check your boot order in the bios and make sure your OS drive is the first device and not something like a network drive.

I am running out of ideas.

Something must be doing it... un-install Norton and see what happens to the boot time.

 

[JonathanC]

Hi JonathanC,

I would also try using the Sysinternals tool, Process Monitor to log the boot time activity of your computer.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645

Here is a blog post from Mark Russinovich detailing how he used it to solve a slow login and another article that provides more info on its boot logging capability:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/markrussinovich/archive/2012/07/02/3506849.aspx

http://www.ghacks.net/2009/10/09/use-process-monitor-to-optimize-the-windows-boot-process/

You might also consider using the Logon and Services tabs of Sysinternals Autoruns tool to ensure that you are running as clean a system as possible:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902

This tool should show more information than CCleaner (I could be wrong about that).

Please also run the following tools and let us know the results since MBR infections can cause slow boots (these infections cannot be removed with a re-format of the hard drive since the MBR is not written to during the standard format process).

You should backup any data that you cannot afford to lose before proceeding with the steps below since they can occasionally cause further issues:

TDSS Killer:
Download the Kaspersky TDSS Killer tool from here:

http://support.kaspersky.com/downloads/utils/tdsskiller.exe

Instructions on how to use it are here:

http://support.kaspersky.com/find?faq_id=2663

You might also find the following article on TDSS rootkits useful:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-tdss-tdl3-alureon-rootkit-using-tdsskiller

Repairing MBR
If after the above steps, the issue of slow a boot up remains, I would suggest creating a new MBR using the Windows Recovery Console (I realize that you are using Windows 7, I have included the steps for Windows XP for reference only):

Windows XP
How to install the Recovery Console:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654/en-us

How to use and the commands available in the Recovery Console:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654/en-us

The command you will need is fixmbr

Windows Vista and Windows 7
The procedure for repairing the MBR using Windows Vista or Windows 7 is different from Windows XP, for information on the steps necessary, please see the following article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392/en-us

As before, start the computer and put the Windows installation DVD in your optical drive and boot from it.

Press a key when prompted, set the language and keyboard layout that you wish to use when the GUI (Graphical User Interface) loads.

Follow the steps mentioned in the above knowledge base article to open a Command Prompt window and type:

Repair the MBR
Bootrec.exe /FixMbr

Reboot the computer.

If necessary (i.e. the issue is still occuring), type the following command:

Repair the Windows Boot Loader
Bootrec.exe /FixBoot

If necessary, type the following command:

Repair the BCD (Windows Vista and Windows 7 only)

Bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd

If you encounter the "Bootmgr is Missing" error on boot up, you can instead use the following commands to resolve it:

Follow the above steps but substitute the commands after opening the Command Prompt window (using the boot from DVD steps mentioned in the above knowledge base article):

bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup
c:
cd boot
attrib bcd -s -h -r
ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old
bootrec /RebuildBcd

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MBR.exe:
http://www2.gmer.net/mbr/mbr.exe

Download this program and run it as administrator. If the text file (.txt) file that it creates in the same folder as you downloaded this program to mentions any of the following text, you probably have an infection:

Copy of MBR has been found in sector
malicious code @ sector
PE file found in sector at [memory location within MBR]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The steps details above should remove this infection if it is present, if not, please re-post in this thread.

I hope the above information is of assistance to you.

Thank you.

Will be trying this now, Never thought of the MBR at all, wonder if maybe thats causing the issue...

If you have any external devices attached, try booting without them.

Disable any thing in the bios you are not using, like raid controllers, serial port, parallel port, IE1394 ports, etc.

How did that device manager look?

Did you update to the latest bios?

Check your boot order in the bios and make sure your OS drive is the first device and not something like a network drive.

I am running out of ideas.

Something must be doing it... un-install Norton and see what happens to the boot time.

Well never have and never will install norton lol! damn thing is a virus in its self! as for my boot sequence I am pretty tech savvy, the only thing booting before my hard drive is the cd rom, but moving it down does nothing lol... This problem is throwing everyone in a loop huh ?

 

[scaminatrix]

Are you using any ATA cables? If so, check jumpers on any HDD's and ODD's, make sure nothing is set to cable select. Bit of a long shot as I guess everything's SATA in your rig but a mate had the same problem - long boot times - was a wrong jumper on one of his HDD's.

 

[JonathanC]

Are you using any ATA cables? If so, check jumpers on any HDD's and ODD's, make sure nothing is set to cable select. Bit of a long shot as I guess everything's SATA in your rig but a mate had the same problem - long boot times - was a wrong jumper on one of his HDD's.

yep everything is SATA in this rig... but thanks for your help anyways

 

[TheMailMan78]

you have to many startup items.

try ccleaner/in tools / startup

http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER


some startups can be hidden too, so take that into account

You don't need CCleaner to disable startup items. MSCONFIG does the same thing better. CCleaner sucks. Also try what Viper95 said. Also have you checked the health of your HD with the mfg. tools? You might have a drive on the way out.

With that I would also test what JimboC said but in a different way. I would back up your stuff to an external. Boot from a windows disk and format then delete all partions. This should leave you with only one partition and get rid of anything in the MBR. Maybe even pull the drive and write zeros after that. THEN keep everything disconnected and do a clean install of windows. See if it boots faster....with everything still disconnected. Then one by one connect things. Rebooting after each one to see if its any of your externals. Then reinstall your stuff.....one by one rebooting after each install. I think you get the idea.

 

[JonathanC]

You don't need CCleaner to disable startup items. MSCONFIG does the same thing better. CCleaner sucks. Also try what Viper95 said. Also have you checked the health of your HD with the mfg. tools? You might have a drive on the way out.

With that I would also test what JimboC said but in a different way. I would back up your stuff to an external. Boot from a windows disk and format then delete all partions. This should leave you with only one partition and get rid of anything in the MBR. Maybe even pull the drive and write zeros after that. THEN keep everything disconnected and do a clean install of windows. See if it boots faster....with everything still disconnected. Then one by one connect things. Rebooting after each one to see if its any of your externals. Then reinstall your stuff.....one by one rebooting after each install. I think you get the idea.

Hmmm, the tests came back revealing that one of my drives, my D drive (Secondary drive used to story extra files) is going bad... it failed the SMART test in Western Digital Data LifeGaurd. Could a bad secondary drive cause slow boots ? And to top it off, the drive functions perfectly fine...

 

[brandonwh64]

Hmmm, the tests came back revealing that one of my drives, my D drive (Secondary drive used to story extra files) is going bad... it failed the SMART test in Western Digital Data LifeGaurd. Could a bad secondary drive cause slow boots ? And to top it off, the drive functions perfectly fine...

Yes it could due to windows and the bios initializing and doing surface scans on boot. Unplug this drive and try booting with just your main OS drive.

 

[JonathanC]

Yes it could due to windows and the bios initializing and doing surface scans on boot. Unplug this drive and try booting with just your main OS drive.

testing now!

 

[TheMailMan78]

testing now!

Thats the issue then. Bad drive (whoo hoo I called it!). I would back it up to another drive and write zeros. This might fix the allocations.......probably not but its worth a try. HOWEVER before you do that disconnect it completely. Power and SATA. Reboot and see if it improves the speed as Brandon said..

 

[JonathanC]

Yes it could due to windows and the bios initializing and doing surface scans on boot. Unplug this drive and try booting with just your main OS drive.

Thats the issue then. Bad drive (whoo hoo I called it!). I would back it up to another drive and write zeros. This might fix the allocations.......probably not but its worth a try. HOWEVER before you do that disconnect it completely. Power and SATA. Reboot and see if it improves the speed as Brandon said..

Sorry boys, no victory cigar yet Disconnected the drive and got no boost in performance at all, but thanks to you MailMan I know i need to replace a bad one/write it to zeros! but still... this is driving me crazy

 

[TheMailMan78]

Sorry boys, no victory cigar yet Disconnected the drive and got no boost in performance at all, but that to you MailMan I know i need to replace a bad one/write it to zeros! but still... this is driving me crazy

Try the formatting the MBR and such as I said. Trying to repair it is to risky IMO. Also make sure ALL drives but the OS drive is disconnected when you do the install.

 

[JonathanC]

Try the formatting the MBR and such as I said. Trying to repair it is to risky IMO. Also make sure ALL drives but the OS drive is disconnected when you do the install.

I've tried the MBR thing before, and as for your idea about reinstalling windows and slowly connect, restart, install, restart. I've done this as well in the past... also to no avail, HOWEVER I did notice back when I update my bios to 1.30 that the boot time was a lot better. I also forgot to mention, my computer use to have random freezes and i would have to cold boot it, some how they stopped after 1.80 Bios update... :/ ugh...

 

[TheMailMan78]

I've tried the MBR thing before, and as for your idea about reinstalling windows and slowly connect, restart, install, restart. I've done this as well in the past... also to no avail, HOWEVER I did notice back when I update my bios to 1.30 that the boot time was a lot better. I also forgot to mention, my computer use to have random freezes and i would have to cold boot it, some how they stopped after 1.80 Bios update... :/ ugh...

Well then maybe its as something as simple as a bio issue. Did you read what the updated? AMD Bios support sucks for some brands.

 

[JonathanC]

Well then maybe its as something as simple as a bio issue. Did you read what the updated? AMD Bios support sucks for some brands.

they update CPU code and added some implementations for window 8 support to fix a start up issue... They also added better UCC support for my CPU.

 

[TheMailMan78]

they update CPU code and added some implementations for window 8 support to fix a start up issue... They also added better UCC support for my CPU.

I bet its a bios issue with this new info. Let me ask you did it EVER start up ok?

 

[JonathanC]

Yes about 7 months back lol but I had all the same stuff installed and everything, It just happened randomly.

 

[TheMailMan78]

Yes about 7 months back lol but I had all the same stuff installed and everything, It just happened randomly.

What bios did you have running?

 

[JonathanC]

What bios did you have running?

1.50 at the time... but hey! I think i may have found a piece to this bizarre puzzle...

I just activated a guest account to see if maybe it was only my account that was causing the problem... i restarted the computer and logged in to the guest account and was shocked to see the staggering 5 minute boot up disappear and turn in to a 15 - 30 second boot. which i am very happy with! So whatever is on my account thats booting is causing some crazy stuff to happen... Wonder what it is o.0

 

[TheMailMan78]

1.50 at the time... but hey! I think i may have found a piece to this bizarre puzzle...

I just activated a guest account to see if maybe it was only my account that was causing the problem... i restarted the computer and logged in to the guest account and was shocked to see the staggering 5 minute boot up disappear and turn in to a 15 - 30 second boot. which i am very happy with! So whatever is on my account thats booting is causing some crazy stuff to happen... Wonder what it is o.0

You said it happen with a clean install.

 

[JonathanC]

You said it happen with a clean install.

It did, which has me thinking... Maybe its a Microsoft service that only loads with accounts that have admin access ? I know its a long shot but hell, at this point I'm starting to think anything is possible.

 

[brandonwh64]

It did, which has me thinking... Maybe its a Microsoft service that only loads with accounts that have admin access ? I know its a long shot but hell, at this point I'm starting to think anything is possible.

Have you tried a different OS?

 

[JonathanC]

Have you tried a different OS?

Yes, I have tried Ubuntu 64bit and Windows XP... both worked flawlessly.

 

[TheMailMan78]

But a clean install doesn't include multiple accounts. Only one. Are you using a cloned install? If so thats not a clean install.