10 Second delay before boot

BK7794 · 07 Sep 2014

So I am having this issue where my machine hangs at bootup. The machine is a Dell Latitude E5520 with a Samsung 830SSD. I am absolutely certain this has something to do with hardware.

Here is the rundown of the problem. First when the machine is powered on, the Dell splashscreen appears. After the "loading bar" has completed the screen goes black. No devices are plugged into the machine and the same symptoms occur even when I want to go into the BIOS.

I've noticed on the Device manager in windows there is an unknown device in the USB controller. I determined it was the built-in webcam. However, I am able to disable the webcam in the BIOS and the black screen still appears.

Any thoughts?

Thank you.

ICIT2LOL · 07 Sep 2014

BK mate what just do you mean by the loading bar am not sure what that is.

If you have any suspicions that it may be the SSD try using the Samsung Magician software to optimize the drive etc etc Samsung Magician Software: OS Optimization Feature Overview | Samsung SSD

You might even get a bit more speed if you use some of the tips in this tutorial.
Optimize Windows 7 < point 9 is a good spot to hit first. Just be aware of some of the tips involve changes to the registry and if I were you I would back it up first.
Registry - Backup and Restore

To view components I more detail see this ditty of mine.

Using HW Info general components

DownloadHW Info and pick the right bit version - http://www.hwinfo.com/download.php- (copy andpaste this site into the search bar) If you do not need the running informationin the smaller right hand panel close it. In the left hand window click on the+ for the individual device groupings and they will open out to the variouscomponents.

Goon opening out further until you get to the device itself. click on it and itwill highlight. In the right hand window there will be a very detaileddescription of that device as in brand, speeds model number etc etc These arevery detailed and are just what is needed for searching for drivers etc.

Seemy pic for an example - in this I have opened out one my components and then highlighted one of the one you need andyou can see the detail.
You may be able to ID that unknown device with it.

BK7794 · 07 Sep 2014

This is the loading bar I am talking about. (ignore the magic keys)

I was able to determine that unknown device was the integrated webcam. The machine's bios is able to disable the webcam however, the problem still happens.

This problem is definitely seperate from any OS. I was dual booting between linux and windows when I noticed this problem at first. So I trashed the Grub boot loader and went back to the Windows loader to see if that fixed it. It did not. The machine is definitely hanging after the BIOS and even going into the BIOS options and one time boot selection screen are affected by this.

ICIT2LOL · 07 Sep 2014

Ok I get the loading bar and the machine is quite similar to my tester for specs but I have had no trouble with the SSD.

I am a little confused now why you are getting the Dell screen? seeing it is custom built??

The webcam too is that a USB plug in? as again I am little confused now what is set up as I would not have thought it would show up in the BIOS like that.

BK7794 · 07 Sep 2014

The machine is NOT custom built. It is a Dell Latitude E5520.

The webcam is also integrated into the machine.

The machine came with an SSD so it has nothing to do with the SSD. I'm not sure why I through that spec in the first post.

Mellon Head · 07 Sep 2014

A couple of questions from me:

1. Have you added or removed any hardware recently? Or upgraded any drivers?
2. Have you recently upgraded the BIOS?
3. Have you run a recent scan for malware?

BK7794 · 07 Sep 2014

1. I have not added or removed any hardware. I have tried upgrading drivers after this problem started though. Just to see if it would help.

2. I upgraded the BIOS. Again though, after this started to happen.

3. I have but I wonder if I should run it on a live cd of linux just to see if its a rootkit or something.

Mellon Head · 07 Sep 2014

BK7794 said:

1. I have not added or removed any hardware. I have tried upgrading drivers after this problem started though. Just to see if it would help.

2. I upgraded the BIOS. Again though, after this started to happen.

3. I have but I wonder if I should run it on a live cd of linux just to see if its a rootkit or something.

It wouldn't hurt to check for a rootkit...

BK7794 · 07 Sep 2014

I should disconnect the hard drive first. See if that solves the problem. I am kind of doubting it though because this issue happens before the windows splash screen shows up.

Mellon Head · 07 Sep 2014

Keep in mind that Windows is loading the kernel software and some drivers before you see the little orbs fly in. It's during that brief black screen that Windows gets set up to load the rest of the OS.