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August 12th, 2022 14:00
Inspiron 5675 - 2/3 of boots are normal, but every third (or so) takes 5min+
This problem started suddenly while I was away from home, and I'm certain my wife did nothing to update the system or change anything while I was away. If Windows Update installed any updates while I was away, my Windows reinstall (below) wiped out that info.
Every few power-ons (not every time, but perhaps once in three power-ons) the computer takes a very long time (~5+ min) powering-on before the Dell logo (and the Windows circle of stars) appear. Once the Dell logo and Windows stars show up, the boot proceeds normally, with Windows log-in and application performance "normal" from that point on.
On those occasions the system takes a very long time to start, the F2 key seems inactive - I can't get the Bios panels to come up.
I've noticed that waking up the computer from sleep can take a similar amount of time - in about one in three instances, "nothing happens" for ~5+ min, but when the computer eventually wakes up, performance / response seem "normal" thereafter. (I've now disabled sleep in the power settings; hibernation was never turned on.)
I also notice that if I power-down the system and immediately reboot it, it comes up normally. If the long delay happens, it seems to be after the system has been powered off for a while.
Here's the sequence of what I've done to try to brute-force resolve the problem...
1. I disabled a few unneeded startup applications (I didn't try safe boot) and disconnected USBdevices other than the mouse and keyboard.
2. I turned fast start off / on (with reboots in between)
3. I ran the Bios full pre-boot hardware diagnostics, which indicate no hardware problems
4. I ran Dell SupportAssist to check for driver updates and hardware issues (none)
5. I wiped the boot drive and did a fresh new install of Windows 10. (I was coming up on the point I wanted to refresh Windows anyway, so I figured I'd go ahead.) After installing Windows, I reran SupportAssist and let it install or update ~4 drivers.
6. I ran the AMD Adrenalin installer to update any the system's AMD drivers (I'm not a gamer, but I saw a post elsewhere suggesting that AMD driver issues could cause symptoms something like the ones I saw).
7. I reinstalled the current bios 1.5.0
8. I reset the bios to the Dell default settings
9. I did a hard reset of the bios (unplugged power cord, removed motherboard battery, held power button on for 30 sec, installed a new battery)
None of these steps seems to have made any difference at all.
It seems to me that the issue is pre Windows boot, with the system waiting sometimes (but not every time) for some event or some hardware element. Of course, my guess could be entirely off-base. In any case, I don't know how to figure out what the failure may be. Can someone point me to some diagnostic tools to try, or logs I should review, or other steps I should take?
Thank you, Rob L
rlindx
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August 13th, 2022 08:00
Additional comments: I also scanned the system for malware / viruses / rootkits, with nothing found.
RoHe
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August 13th, 2022 18:00
What color is power button when booting is delayed, and steady or blinking?
Have you tried disconnecting all USB devices, except mouse and keyboard ,for a number of cold boots? (You can plug them again in once you're at the desktop.)
Is Windows Boot Manager first on the boot sequence list in BIOS setup?
Is some app scheduled to run before booting after x number of days or previous boots? Eg, an antiviral screen, disc maintenance etc?
Have you run the PSU BIST test?
If you have a power strip or surge protector, you might want to remove them for a while to see if that helps.
rlindx
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August 14th, 2022 08:00
Thanks, Ron, I'll work thru these items and report back...
rlindx
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August 16th, 2022 04:00
I've worked thru the items Ron suggested I check. None seems to have affected the frequent slow boot problem, but here's what I found...
1. What color is power button when booting is delayed, and steady or blinking?
It's steady white. (The blue Dell logo on the front panel illuminates as soon as I hit the power button.)
2. Have you tried disconnecting all USB devices, except mouse and keyboard, for a number of cold boots? (You can plug them again in once you're at the desktop.)
Yes. All that's been in place for recent cold boots are the mouse and keyboard.
There had been just one other connected USB device, an external backup drive. It was not powered on except when I did my Sunday backups, and I've now physically disconnected it as well.
3. Is Windows Boot Manager first on the boot sequence list in BIOS setup?
Yes. There are three entries (Windows Boot Manager first, followed by two UEFI Onboard LAN entries)
4. Is some app scheduled to run before booting after x number of days or previous boots? Eg, an antiviral screen, disc maintenance etc?
I'm not 100% sure how to identify any such apps, but I looked at my startup apps (nothing there that I didn't expect) and the task scheduler (very few non-Microsoft apps listed, and nothink listed seems to be scheduled to run as you describe). I took screenshots of the startup app screen and the task manager top-level...
If there's something more specific I should look at, I'd appreciate a bit more guidance on what to look at.
5. Have you run the PSU BIST test?
I've now run it. It's the older-style "push button" PSU. The test results were normal (LED turned on and fan turned on).
I believe the computer is indeed powering up when I hit the power button. At least, the blue Dell logo on the front panel illuminates when I hit the power button.
6. If you have a power strip or surge protector, you might want to remove them for a while to see if that helps.
The computer had been on an APC UPS, but I've now connected the computer directly to a wall outlet.
Thanks, Rob L
RoHe
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August 16th, 2022 11:00
At least 3 enabled apps loading at boot have "High" impact on startup. So is one of them phoning home looking for updates?
I also see a few things on the Startup tab I don't recognize like TwDsUIlaunch.exe, Desk Drive, etc. I'd disable all apps that aren't necessary for booting this PC. If that solves the problem you can re-enable one at a time until you find the culprit.
NOTE: Even if you disable something from loading at boot, you can always launch it manually once you're at the desktop, if you actually need it, when it won't affect boot times.
Also look at the "last run" and "next run" columns for enabled tasks in Task Scheduler to see if those dates correlate with a slow boot. So if you have a slow boot, look at "last run", and if it's "today", that could be your offender. I'd disable that scheduled task.
I'd also run a scan to look for malware that might be phoning home during those slow boots. Malwarebytes (free) is a good tool for this.
rlindx
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August 20th, 2022 09:00
The problem is resolved.
I wanted to thank Ron for all his help.
However, the problem turned out to be something entirely different: The problem was my rather elderly ViewSonic monitor, which I presume is in process of failing. When I plugged in another monitor, the system worked correctly, with no delays when booting.
(The new Acer monitor I bought has its own set of problems - what seems to be the widespread and infamous "input not supported" problem, but that's an issue for another day.)
Thanks again, Rob L
RoHe
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August 20th, 2022 10:00
Glad you got it sorted. Who would have thunk it was a monitor problem?
As for the Acer issue, some monitors are "dumb" and you have to manually select the input port (eg, HDMI or DP) being used on the monitor's own On-Screen Display (OSD). Even if the monitor has an "auto detect" option, you may need to change that setting to the specific port type you're using.
And if you're using a video adapter, eg DP(PC)>HDMI(monitor), many/most of them only work in one direction, so you have to get an adapter with the correct orientation. You can't just turn them around and expect them to work...
rlindx
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August 20th, 2022 13:00
Hi, Ron.
I gave up on the Acer, sent it back to Amazon, and picked up the equivalent HP monitor at BestBuy. The HP worked correctly out of the box.
I hadn't thought to reverse the HDMI cable, but I think it's OK: I had left the one end plugged into my computer, just flipping the Acer for the HP on the other end.
Thanks again for your help and guidance - Rob L