BleepingComputer.com: Computer takes about 7 minutes to boot

In the meantime, you can try to pinpoint what is taking so long to load during that post-logo boot time by looking at a boot log.

A simple boot log does not give timestamps but it will tell you what drivers loaded successfully and which did not and it covers the period where you experience the long pause.

Maybe, just maybe, you'll see a whole bunch of lines that say

Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\somestupiddrivername.sys

followed by an entry that says

Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\somestupiddrivername.sys

Maybe.

Here's how to do it.

When you boot hit F8 like you want to go into safe mode.
Then when the Advanced Boot Options menu appears select Enable Boot Logging.

Windows starts and creates a log file at %WinDir%\ntbtlog.txt which is probably C:\Windows\ntbtlog.txt

There is a much more advanced bootlog that we can create if necessary but it is kind of heavy duty and takes more work to gather and analyze than the simple ntbtlog.txt file.

James

Test: I would consider eliminating everything from the motherboard except the essentials. Then try booting from a CD/DVD that has a "Live" O/S on it like "Mepis Live" or HIRENS "MiniXP" (google it and download the ISO/burn to CD)If it boots at a normal speed from the Live-CD then it's most likely a driver problem.

If it still boots slow it's probably a BIOS problem.

1. Try clearing the BIOS settings by removing the Motherboard Battery for a minute, Be sure to unplug all cables from back of PC first, take battery out, hit power button several times to drain all residual power in the motherboard. Replace battery, cables, etc, boot (Load BIOS Defaults) PC then watch what happens.

2.Document the motherboard brand, model, version. Go out to the manufacturer's website and download the BIOS file to a thumb-drive, and print the directions for installing it. While you are on that website check your warranty to see if it's still good (you will need the serial number).

3. If this doesn't work, or if the manufacturer does not provide BIOS files then I would contact the manufacturer via phone or email. Ask them how to fix it. I doubt you will get anyone to help you if the board is out of warranty but occassionally you will get help for free.

If the BIOS turns out to be ok (after you installed/flashed a fresh copy)or if you just don't think it's the BIOS at all; I would consider the following other possibilities:

1. Bad stick of RAM (take them all out and boot, see if the bios reacts to no RAM by beeping and throwing error messages) Swap one at a time and boot in between to test each stick.

2. Controller Card on Hard drive(s) bad. Eliminate it from the mix (disconnect it), both hard drives may be messed up, I've seen it before. :-/

3. Master Boot Record is corrupt - Try to use the original operating system install Disk to repair startup problems, I've gotten lucky with this a couple of times. Boot to the Win O/S disk, follow through the install wizard but don't install, hit repair.

4. Boot F8 Safe Mode, Repair by performing a System Restore. Go back to before the first time this problem occured.

HIRENS disks have a lot of cool tools for boot-up problems.

My two cents, I hope I helped someone
Peace!

This post has been edited by PCZombieChick: 23 February 2012 - 05:30 PM

Use of Hirens Boot CD is not recommended here due to the fact that it contains copy righted information. Do not use Hirens.

I will take note of your wishes.

Peace!

Mel

Yet you couldn't find solutions means, probably you can call your service provider na?, personally this is my friendly advice.

cryptodan, on 23 February 2012 - 11:12 AM, said:

http://www.packardbell.co.uk/pb/en/GB/content/download
then select desktop/ipower/iPower (PT.U5B-PV.U5B)

Also i phoned a computer guy who told me to switch SATA to Native IDE then reinstall windows 7, did that but it didnt solve anything

Read the readme.doc document to understand how to flash the BIOS.