Solved Losing Drive After Sleep Mode

[centaur78]

any updates ??

 

[dumfy]

Not fully I'm afraid - been busy at work and no time to play!

Have downloaded the @Bios utility, the F8N update (would rather update from a file on the PC than do it on-line). Also got a copy of the manual. I did do a driver update when installing the SSD, but using the update tool link you provided showed that I need newer HD Audio and LAN drivers - so they're downloaded and ready to go. Aslo have the Autorun ready to go. Can that in the morning and post the results for you

Should get to have a go at this over the next couple of days.

Once I've done the bios update, what should be my next step - re-connect the optical drives and see about the boot time, leave at Native IDE or switch to AHCI?

Thanks

Dumfy

 

[dumfy]

OK - managed to get a couple of things done today . . . .

First - The Autoruns report is zipped and attached
Two - Checked out the Smart Back Up in Integrated Peripherals. It was set to "Performance (Raid 0). Have changed it to "Normal (Port Multiplier)". Must be a default setting as I haven't changed it previously.
Interestingly this is only applicable to the GSATA controller and not the AMD. It's when devices are connected to this Gigabyte controller on the mobo that they are "disappearing".

Not sure if the Smart back up has a direct effect on boot time, but it has shortened. I'm still set to Native IDE and not AHCI.

Thanks

Dumfy

 

[centaur78]

Dumfy

Under "Logon" Tab... uncheck everything except MSC and RtHDVCpl

Under "Scheduled Tasks" uncheck everything except \Microsoft\Microsoft Antimalware\Microsoft Antimalware Scheduled Scan

Under "Services" uncheck the below

1. AcrSch2Svc
2. AdobeARMservice
3. AdobeFlashPlayerUpdateSvc
4. afcdpsrv
5. AMD External Events Utility
6. Mezzmo
7. MozillaMaintenance
8. WMPNetworkSvc

Do these and restart the system..Then rerun the autoruns again to check if these are disabled.

 

[dumfy]

Hi Dumfy

Please update you bios to F8N.. you are running F6

Check to see if Smart Backup is set to default .... to do that enter "BIOS\ Integrated Peripherals", to make sure [Smart Backup Config] stay at default value [Normal (Port Multiplier)]

To check if all the drivers has been installed go to the download centre to check it via the browser or download from the website. ..

Also if you want to speedup more Please run Autoruns and then click on File> Save.. Save the file in .arn format and upload here. I will have a look and advice you accordingly

Do these and let me know

Hi centaur78

Have updated the BIOS to f8n using the @bios utility and let the utility load defaults. I checked the bios and has updated. Am still on Native IDE. The only item I've changed is put the one setting back to "normal port multiplier" you mentioned before.

I do have a new problem now since doing this . . the system won't boot into Windows first time around.

The POST clears and "Starting Windows" comes up - but nothing happens. The four coloured dots that form the Windows square don't appear at all.

If I then do a soft reset, a menu comes up about Windows not starting correctly and it gives me two options ... Start Windows normally or Launch Start Up Repair.

If I select Start Windows Normally, the PC then boots. However it fails for the same thing at next boot. I've launched Start Up Repair but it says that it can't fix. It gave me the option to run System Restore, but I haven't done that.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Dumfy

 

[dumfy]

Update

Tried System Restore but problem still there.

Then had an idea to restore the MBR from one of Acronis Images - unable to do now - Acronis errors out. Not sure if the BIOS update has affected my images, or de-deselecting items from the Autoruns program. Have reselected them, but it looks like images may be corrupt . . . ?

Thanks

Dumfy

 

[dumfy]

Update #2

Got Acronis working again by enabling anything to do with the program in Autoruns.

Used Acronis to restore the MBR - but still no boot without soft reset and selecting "Start Windows Normally".

I assume this should be starightforward to fix? It looks like it happened since the bios was updated.

Dumfy

 

[dumfy]

Update #3

OK . . if I boot and wait a couple of minutes, the system will boot. Takes a long while for the coloured dots to appear when "starting windows" is displayed. This of course has now taken away the option to Launch Start Up Repair or Start Windows Normally. Using the latter option, Windows did boot up quick.

Is this now something to do with SATA bios settings and where I have the SSD/HDD sata cables plugged in?

 

[centaur78]

Whoa !!! dumfy

Please give me time to read.... and digest ...... I just have 2 big eyes and small brain to digest..

 

[dumfy]

Apologies . .

No probs centaur78

I'm just trying things and updating as I go along. No rush at all.

Have switched from Native IDE to AHCI in bios and made no difference so I put it back. What does make a big difference is disconnecting the two HDDs from the mobo and just booting with the SSD. Everything back to normal. Plug in one or both HDDs and boot takes ages.

I do apologise if I made you think I was getting desperate - not at all. Just trying to get as much info to you as I can. Please help out as and when. It's not as if the PC is dead in the water!

Appreciate the help as always my friend!

Dumfy

 

[dumfy]

Hi centaur78,

In a nutshell, this seems to have happened since I updated the BIOS and I've tried the things below to cure.
I still have the issue where the PC now takes a long time to boot. At the "Starting Windows" screen it's ages before the "four coloured flying dots" appear to form the four squares. After they have appeared, I'm into windows quick. So something may be hanging up waiting before the "dots" appear.

So - using the updated BIOS with Native IDE.
Plugged in the SSD to the mobo on it's own. No other devices connected. Long boot time. This is the same on both the AMD and Gigabyte controllers. Have tried all Sata sockets.

Switched BIOS to AHCI using same procedure as above and same result. Ages to boot.

Put all Sata cables back into the mobo in their original locations - long boot.

Reverted back to the old BIOS F6 and back on Native IDE - in other words, the system back exactly as it was prior to the BIOS upgrade - still have a really long boot time.

Am still on the old F6 BIOS

However, at the end of all this, noticed that if I do a soft reset during boot to force the "Launch Start Up Repair or Start Windows Normally" screen and select Start Windows, the PC boots as fast as ever with no delay at all. The delay seems to only occur during a normal boot sequence. perhaps this sheds some light on it?

That was my biggest fear - reverting back to the old F6 BIOS and the boot still taking ages. My other fear is that I now have to start over and re-install Windows. My thinking is that the BIOS update has upset Windows in some way.

Many thanks

Dumfy

 

[dumfy]

I hope you're still willing to help out with this centaur78.

I'm out of ideas to try now having had a go at a couple of further things today.

First checked that TRIM is enabled in Windows for the SSD - it was
Next started in Safe Mode and the PC seemed to boot normally - at least no delay
Restored a C:\ drive image I'd created before doing the BIOS update and that made no difference either. Before doing this I created an image and have now restored that - so PC is back to where it was.

Any suggestions would be great

Thanks

Dumfy

 

[centaur78]

Dumfy...

you just went back to the old state ... all the advice i just said went down the drain.

Alright anyways...since you have done all sorts of things... here is my final advice....

First please use crystal disk and post the SMART values of the all the SSD and HDD here.

I will advice you what to do next... and where to connect each after this.

 

[dumfy]

Hi centaur78

I haven't put the PC back to where it was before starting this process. I just tried a three week old image to see if that would help with the boot issue.

Prior to doing this 3 week old restore, I first created an image of the system and have restored to it. I'm also back on the latest BIOS F8n version and the BIOS settings are still as you suggested.

I don't think I've undone all the hard work - at least hope not.

Will run crystal disk and report back

Thanks

Dumfy

 

[dumfy]

Hi centaur78

Attached is the Crystal Info for my three drives. Hope I've done it correctly. If not, please let me know.

Thanks

Dumfy

 

[centaur78]

hmmm

Ok now only connect Sandisk SSD and the WDC HDD.... either to Gigabyte sata or AMD Sata...

Don't connect Samsung HDD till i ask you to do so !!

Let me know the feedback

 

[centaur78]

Forgot to mention... since we changed the Paging file to D:\ ..... do change it to C:\ for the time being prior to doing the above..... will relocate those once we finish with the troubleshooting.

 

[dumfy]

OK - all done.

Re-checked BIOS settings and they are still the way you suggested.

Paging file back on C:\

C:\ and D:\ both on AMD controller

E:\ and all other devices disconnected by removing both power and sata cables. Have removed these from the rear of the devices, but sata cables are still connected to mobo (easier access this way) but shouldn't make a difference so long as the devices aren't connected?

Re-booted. Still well over a minute to boot when I was at approx 20 secs. The hold up is waiting for the "flying coloured dots" to appear.

Thanks

Dumfy

 

[centaur78]

Ok now reset the BIOS to the default.

restart and check...

By the way ... the 1 min you measured was it less than compared to when all three were installed ??

 

[dumfy]

BIOS set to fail safe defaut.

Boot still the same - well over a minute.

Previously, before BIOS upgrade and with the SSD and 2x HDDs connected, boot time was approx 25secs.




Not sure if this info helps, but when I tried things myself a few days back after the BIOS upgrade, I only had the SSD connected - nothing else. It still took well over a minute. Admittedly, the paging file was still on D:\ at that point.

When I first installed the SSD with Windows and with nothing else connected - apart from a BDROM drive, boot time was around 15secs. I couldn't believe the speed. It does seem like something happened since the BIOS update.

Thanks

Dumfy