[rshaffer61]

I am guessing it is a linux Live cd which would mean it loads into memory and doesn't use the OS or the hard drive.

[Advertisements]

OK, Auslogics Defrag finished in just under 26 hours No noticeable improvement.

Since it takes about 5+ hours to fully reboot, I'm going to leave the system right where it is until I hear from you.

Edited by MSC2, 12 November 2011 - 08:14 PM.

[MSC2]

OK, Auslogics Defrag finished in just under 26 hours No noticeable improvement.

Since it takes about 5+ hours to fully reboot, I'm going to leave the system right where it is until I hear from you.

Edited by MSC2, 12 November 2011 - 08:14 PM.

[rshaffer61]

Lets see what you have in your startup

Please click on
Start and then to Run
Type in msconfig and press Enter
Now click on Startups
Then uncheck everything and restart.
IMPORTANT! In case of laptop, make sure, you do NOT disable any keyboard, or touchpad entries.
If system boots correctly and is running smoothly and faster then we have a startup problem
Try going back into msconfig and check one item and reboot
Keep doing that till you have found the problem or all are finally checked.
Post back with the results

[MSC2]

With everything unchecked, the system is still booting slow, apparently no improvement (stuck on "starting windows" screen now for about 30 minutes).




Thank you again for your help and quick replies.

Edited by MSC2, 12 November 2011 - 09:15 PM.

[rshaffer61]

OK we move to the next step.
Lets see what you have in your startup services area

Please click on
Start and then to Run
Type in msconfig and press Enter
Now click on Services
Click on the Hide All Microsoft Services
Then uncheck everything and restart.
If system boots correctly and is running smoothly and faster then we have a startup problem
Try going back into msconfig and check one item and reboot
Keep doing that till you have found the problem or all are finally checked.
Post back with the results

[MSC2]

Unfortunately, with all services disabled ('startups' remained unchecked), it's no better.

Edited by MSC2, 13 November 2011 - 08:28 AM.

[rshaffer61]

Let me ask is this system part of a network that it isn't hooked to right now?
By that I mean is it a work system that you brought home and it is connected to a network at work?

[MSC2]

No, it's my personal desktop unit that is connected to a home network only through a gigabit switch which is served by a router connected to a cable modem.

I have had it connected to the home network throughout the time we've been working on it.

Edited by MSC2, 13 November 2011 - 09:09 AM.

[rshaffer61]

OK just to test a theory can you disconnect it from the network and try to bootup.

[MSC2]

Nope, still crawling....

BTW, I don't think I mentioned that my C Drive is a RAID 1 pair of 1TB drives. I see no mention of drive errors upon initial boot up, and booting doesn't see to slow down until right after I have the BOOT FROM CD/DVD option flash on the screen.

[rshaffer61]

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, try the Hitachi DFT CD Image version of the software

Thanks to Broni for the instructions

[MSC2]

My data drive checks out OK, but I can't get to my RAID drives. This motherboard uses a MARVELL SATA-III 6GB controller. I'm checking to see if there is any utility available to check the drives within the RAID.

[MSC2]

Couldn't find any utility to check my RAID C Drive other than CHKDSK which I ran successfully from System Restore. I checked both my system and data drives and no problems were found on either of them and the response time for each was about the same (for what it's worth - CHKDSK that is).

Edited by MSC2, 13 November 2011 - 05:32 PM.

[rshaffer61]

If you have more than one RAM module installed, try starting computer with one RAM stick at a time.

NOTE Keep in mind, the manual check listed above is always superior to the software check, listed below. DO NOT proceed with memtest, if you can go with option A

B. If you have only one RAM stick installed...
...run memtest...


1. Download - Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip). If you prefer to use the USB version then use this link USB KEY
2. Unzip downloaded /memtest86+-4.20.iso.zip file.
3. Inside, you'll find /memtest86+-4.20.iso file.
4. Download, and install ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/
5. Insert blank CD into your CD drive.
6. Open ImgBurn, and click on Write image file to disc
7. Click on Browse for a file... icon:



8. Locate [b/memtest86+-4.20.iso[/b] file, and click Open button.
9. Click on ImgBurn green arrow to start burning bootable memtest86 CD:



10. Once the CD is created, boot from it, and memtest will automatically start to run. You may have to change the boot sequence in your BIOS to make it work right.

To change Boot Sequence in your BIOS

Reboot the system and at the first post screen (where it is counting up memory) start tapping the DEL button
This will enter you into the Bios\Cmos area.
Find the Advanced area and click Enter
Look for Boot Sequence or Boot Options and highlight that click Enter
Now highlight the first drive and follow the directions on the bottom of the screen on how to modify it and change it to CDrom.
Change the second drive to the C or Main Drive
Once that is done then click F10 to Save and Exit
You will prompted to enter Y to verify Save and Exit. Click Y and the system will now reboot with the new settings.


The running program will look something like this depending on the size and number of ram modules installed:




It's recommended to run 5-6 passes. Each pass contains very same 8 tests.

This will show the progress of the test. It can take a while. Be patient, or leave it running overnight.



The following image is the test results area:



The most important item here is the “errors” line. If you see ANY errors, even one, most likely, you have bad RAM.

[MSC2]

OK, I swapped out the memory chips, trying each one at a time - with the same slow results. I then put all three 2GB cards back in and ran memtest overnight with 11 passes and NO errors.

.
.
.
.

Strange, I just stopped the memory test and rebooted the system normally. And the speed was fine all the way to the login screen (that had been taking more than an hour). After signing in, things slowed down again.

Edited by MSC2, 14 November 2011 - 06:04 AM.