Boot up problems... taking up to 2hrs :(

[iMc]

My dads PC doesnt like booting up at the moment. AT ALL!

Basically if you restart it it will take anywhere between 10 minutes and 2hrs to just get to the bios screen where it shows the amount of RAM etc.

Once you get there it boots as normal. In a normal amount of time.

I would restart to see if I can find out whats going on but I thought I would ask for suggestions first because I might not be able to get back in to Windows for a while.

btw everything is fine once you are in Windows XP. No probs at all

the system is:

Athlon 2000+
2x 266mb Ram
Geforce 4MX
80gb HD
Audigy 2
Don't know about the mobo, forgotten.
DVD RW
CD Drive

This has only started happening the in the last week.

Any ideas what the problem could be?

[da_ging]

first clear the cmos and see if that does it

if not then you need to find out whats causing it so turn off and disconnect all the drives from the mobo and try booting if still taking ages next take out the audigy if still taking ages take out 1 stick of memory if still there swap the memory with the other stick and if that doesnt do anything try another vid card and if it is still doing it after all this then you know its either the mobo (most likely) or the cpu.

[iMc]

I think ill start this tomorrow, dont wanna be left without a pc tonite or ill be mucho bored!

Bear in mind this PC has been running well for about 18months...

[YorkieBen]

have u run a virus check? just wondering...

[iMc]

yeh, nothing comes up. im pretty sure its hardware problem.

anyone know what the BIOs does before it gets to the RAM check screen?

[Firelord]

run memtest on the memory cos it could be the memory fault if its hanging on the post screen

[madwelshboy]

RE: anyone know what the BIOs does before it gets to the RAM check screen?

The system will begin a POST (Power On Self Test) ie check each component for suitability, it then checks the MBR (Master Boot Record).

It could be that your MBR is corrupted (or at least damaged). There is a way of repairing your MBR (with the windows XP CD), but I would first suggest checking each component as da_ging has stated.

[Steve]

RE: anyone know what the BIOs does before it gets to the RAM check screen?

It could be that your MBR is corrupted (or at least damaged). There is a way of repairing your MBR (with the windows XP CD), but I would first suggest checking each component as da_ging has stated.

That's not gonna be it - that comes after the RAM check screen.

When you say it won't boot, do you just leave it and then it comes on, or will it work if you hold the reset button in for a bit?

[iMc]

Just leave it. Some hard drive activity goes on. Its like its searching for something, cant find it then all of a sudden finds what its looking for and the POST process kicks in.

Recently it has been taking between 15-20mins...

[Steve]

Do as Da Ging says, but first I'd try disconnecting the IDE cables to see if it's a drive causing the issue.

[rajagra]

Dos as Kez / Da Ging say, but first disconnect any USB devices!

Does the HD go squeal, click, pause, squeal, click, pause ... ?
If so it's on it's last legs, back up your data ASAP.
Definitely sounds suspect.

Could also be the PSU. Even when it gives out good voltages, there is a "power good" signal that changes to OK shortly after power on. But if that signal stays off the system will not boot.

[iMc]

Hi done what da ging suggested, can't find out whats causing the problem...

HD sounds fine, no abnormal clicks/squeaks.

Why do you say disconnect USB devices?

Sometimes you leave it to boot and it will eventually, clear the post screen then beep and do nothing.

Sometimes it boots eventually, clears post then loads XP.

Sometimes it won't even post. It's fairly random but the first two happen more often than not.

[rajagra]

Why do you say disconnect USB devices?

I had one PC that wouldn't boot when a certain card reader was plugged into the USB port! It wasn't trying to boot from it, so I don't know why. So I stopped using that card reader. Problem solved.

[iMc]

Funny you should say that, my dads got a 4 port USB 1.1 hub and a card reader plugged in. The hub is into the mobo usb ports which I believe are 1.1 and the reader into a USB 2 PCI add in card. I suspect that this could be causing the trouble.

Will have a go at removing that in a while. Gonna back some stuff up first.