New
#1
Black Screen replaces 'Please Wait' at startup
Issue:
The current status is that a cold start takes about 1 min 45 sec compared to the usual 1 min 25 sec.This is down from 3 minutes after problem began.
A Restart takes anywhere from 2 to 3 minutes.
Both appear to be delayed by a Black screen with mouse pointer (KSOD) which occurs after the Windows splash screen and replaces the ‘Please Wait’ screen and spinner. After the KSOD I will eventually be presented with the logon screen which allows me to logon.
What does work normally:
A log out/log in works normally, almost instantly. Wake from sleep works normally, very quick response.
Once the desktop has loaded everything on the machine works normally, quite snappy with everything I do. I have not noticed any degradation in performance.
History:
On Friday 2/7 I started my laptop from a cold start and after working for a few hours, shut the machine down. Later when I returned, I noticed that that startup was taking longer than normal, approximately 3 minutes and after the Windows splash screen, I was not looking at “Please Wait” with the spinner, but rather a black screen with a mouse cursor (KSOD). After an extended wait, I was finally presented with the normal logon screen and the desktop loaded up normally.
I decided to perform a restart which really surprised me as it took about 3 minutes and most of that time was consumed with the KSOD. But eventually the desktop loaded.
There were no software installations or any manual changes to the laptop between Wednesday and Friday.
After checking a few items I decide to re-image back to Wednesday, 2/5. The re-image went fine however I was faced with the same startup and restart issue, which made no sense since all was working normally on the Wednesday when the image was created.
Below I have listed what I have tried and I welcome any input. This has been consuming me for a week now.
Tried:
· Re-image back to 2/5 and restarting before Norton Internet Security (NIS) could update.
· Nothing stands out in event viewer.
· Ran chkdsk /f, chkdsk /r
· Tried various Boot time settings within NIS.
· Full scans with NIS, Malwarebytes and Norton Power Eraser.
· Full scans with NIS, Malwarebytes in Safe Mode.
· Clean Boot
· Boot into Safe Mode and then restart.
· Checked Device manager for driver issues.
· Hard reset (No power, battery removed, press and hold power button).
· Update to optional new bios (no critical improvements published).
· Ran Seatools (Seagate HD).
· Ran My Dell by PC Doctor.
· Ran built in Diagnostics from Recovery – full test.
· Ran Startup Repair from Recovery. Ran three separate times with restarts in between.
· Ran sfc /scannow – three minor issues which I have seen before could not be fixed. An internet search seems to indicate this is not uncommon. “Cannot repair member file [l:20{10}]"tcpmon.ini" of Microsoft-Windows-Printing-StandardPortMonitor-TCPMonINI, ….. Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral in the store, hash mismatch”
· Activate the Guest account and tried restarting with that account.
· Removed Password from main account.
To save space here, complete computer specs are in my profile. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you may be able to provide.