Boot time 3 minutes before window login screen.

Douglas Chien · 19 Nov 2014

Hi
I have an Acer desktop i3, 6gb 2 years old running Windows 7 home premium.
For the past few months I 've been getting a problem with slow boot time, from the initial black Acer screen to Windows starting to load takes between 3 minutes 20 seconds and 3 minutes 30 seconds. Windows loads immediately afer the login screen. This happens every time. I am also having a problem with screen flicker. If there is any window open, it gives a very quick flicker every so often. This seems to be stopping my screensaver kicking in. I can preview screensaver but it stops every time at 3 minutes 30 seconds. I use SkyGo in full screen, it drops out of full screen after 3 minutes 30 seconds. Same as the boot time. It seems as though one thing is causing all the problems but I don't know what.
I have run every type of repair I can think of and now have used the recovery disks to return to factory settings thinking this might solve the problems. It didn't, boot time just the same, no screensaver etc.
I am totally at a loss now, has anyone any idea what could be causing this? Are there any other checks I can make?
Thanks

richc46 · 19 Nov 2014

Boot the computer in safe mode. If there is not problem, boot using a clean boot to determine the cause of your problem
Troubleshoot Application Conflicts by Performing a Clean Startup

whs · 19 Nov 2014

It could also be the HDD. I would check it with the tools the HDD manufacturer provides. Or with chkdsk /r

Douglas Chien · 20 Nov 2014

Thanks for the replies. I have tried booting into Safe Mode (from msconfig) as suggested but there is no change. The black Acer screen still hangs for 3 minutes 20 seconds before the Windows login appears.
I have also run chkdsk /r which didn't make any difference.
Screen still flickering and screensaver preview kicking out after 3 minutes 20 seconds.
Any more suggestions gratefully received. Thanks

richc46 · 20 Nov 2014

I think that WHS may have a good suggestion, test the hard drive, then get back to us.

Douglas Chien · 20 Nov 2014

I've performed surface tests on the hard drive, no bad sectors reported.
Run chkdsk /r no problems there.
I can't hear the little pinging noise that has happened when a previous computer's hard drive failed. (I realise that won't necessarily happen on every fail)
If it was a hard drive problem would the boot time always be the same 3 minute 20 seconds? And the screen saver preview stop at 3 minutes 20 seconds?
I forgot to say also that the start menu only stays open for a second or two some of the time not giving enough time to navigate to the programs. It's as though the mouse is being clicked elsewhere while navigating. I have tried 3 different mice in different USB ports so assume it isn't that.

whs · 20 Nov 2014

Hmm, the 3 minutes 20 seconds is interesting. It is as if a process in the background holds it up. You could run Soluto. That would at least tell you which processes use the time at boot.

Douglas Chien · 20 Nov 2014

Hi
I have run Soluto but unless I'm missing something it only seems to give boot times for programs loaded after Windows login screen, not what is happening between the initial black Acer screen and windows login screen which is the bit that is taking 3 minutes 20 seconds.

whs · 20 Nov 2014

If you don't see anything unusual in Soluto, then it must be the BIOS holding it up. Do you have any external devices commected or any other unusual devices.