The issue can be any of the things I mentioned. I'd try plugging in directly to the motherboard to see if the rack is interfering at all. Do not hot plug drives at all until you have an AHCI install.
Turn off all Startups except AV, any sync, gadgets/stickies to see if a program is interfering. This is explained in Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7
Unplug all HD's except OS HD. Does the problem still exist? Then add back each other HD one at a time until you find the HD causing the trouble.
I'd compare the steps to get and keep a perfect install in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to what you have as you might want to wipe the HD using Diskpart Clean Command to do a perfect install if it varied much, and to get the cleanest slate if the OS HD seems at fault.
Thanks much for these links. I'll be taking them one at a time slowly since I don't have the experience as most here.
I've marked my HDD E Drive as Inactive at the CMD prompt. Worked great. I didn't know that Windows would try and boot from any HDD marked as Active. Although this isn't the root of my intermittent Windows Startup issue (since I've been seeing the issue several months before installing HDD E) it's good info for me to avoid the issue down the road.
I checked my BIOS and as I remembered, it's still set to IDE storage mode. The good news is that only my spare 500 Gb HDD's were hot-installed. My 1 Tb OS/boot HDD's haven't been affected as I'd not previously hot-installed those HDD's.
I read the link about disabling all Startup's except for my AV. Now I see what you were referring to as a "clean" boot. I didn't understand the meaning. It's clear now. Thanks :)
Included is my Msconfig "Startup" tab screencap to give you an idea of what's currently loading at startup.
I will check into the HDD scanning utilities that you mentioned, to see if any of my 500 Gb HDD's were damaged due to hot-installing while in IDE mode. I'm not too concerned about them if damaged though since my 1 Tb's are my cloning drives.
I started reading the AHCI-enable link. I'll try that when I have more time. I'll need to create a Restore Point, as, from reading some of that thread, it seems like the AHCI switching (after the initial OS install) can result in somewhat unpredictable results. This item is a little lower on my priority list as I don't hot-swap my HDD's, except for one time shortly after I had installed the Kingwin Racks.
Since I've been running with 1 HDD installed in my tower after disabling Raid 1, except for the last couple of weeks with the E Drive installed, I figure my Startup issues have something to do with the C Drive. I first began to see the Startup issue about Nov '12 and I had been cloning since Sept '11 without any Startup issues.
Thanks again for these links. I've learned more at this forum during the last few weeks than I'd learned the last couple of years.
[edit updates] I disabled the Raid Event Monitor in Msconfig and restarted with the same Windows startup issues.
The HDD E marked as inactive change was eliminated as the root cause of the issue.
I usually keep en eye on the duration of the Windows start screens when I restart my PC. I'm not sure how this compares with what's normal:
The MBR takes about 25-28 seconds to complete. I was told that the first Windows black-background screen, with the rotating Windows logo, is the MBR screen.
The "Welcome" screen duration varies but it usually takes about 10-15 seconds before the Desktop screen begins to visibly launch.
There was no need to post back the Startup list, as this isn't XP. I have already told you (twice now) that you can uncheck everything except your AV.
I would also uninstall any programs you don't use, all toolbars and search services. Use only the stable Google search box built into your browser. Disable all Add-ons besides Flashplayer in your browser. Then install and run SUPERAntiSpyware.com - Downloads - keep it turned off at Startup in Prefs.
If Microsoft doesn't wake up and make the PC OS one that customers want to use because it can be far superior to a smartphone / tablet then indeed eventually Microsoft will become irrelevant. I don't have a problem with Microsoft trying to develop a smartphone / tablet OS, but Microsoft needs to separately develop and maintain a desktop OS that plays on the strengths of a desktop. Windows 8 to me feels like Microsoft is trying to turn my desktop into an oversized tablet.
The ‘irrelevance of Microsoft’ illustrated in a single chart
...Evans noted that Microsoft and the PC market as a whole’s collapse will undoubtedly take some time, but there is apparently no turning back now. “Just as overnight success can take a lifetime, so overnight collapse can also take a long time,” he wrote.
Scoop, you may have to uncheck the following at the Startup list:
Xmarks for IE
GoogleToolbar Notifier
Adobe Reader and Acrobat Notifier
HP Digital Imaging
Thanks for the info :)
gregrocker said:
There was no need to post back the Startup list, as this isn't XP. I have already told you (twice now) that you can uncheck everything except your AV.
I would also uninstall any programs you don't use, all toolbars and search services. Use only the stable Google search box built into your browser. Disable all Add-ons besides Flashplayer in your browser. Then install and run SUPERAntiSpyware.com - Downloads - keep it turned off at Startup in Prefs.
Thanks, I added the link to my list. I didn't understand the XP part.
There was no need to post back the Startup list, as this isn't XP. I have already told you (twice now) that you can uncheck everything except your AV.
I would also uninstall any programs you don't use, all toolbars and search services. Use only the stable Google search box built into your browser. Disable all Add-ons besides Flashplayer in your browser. Then install and run SUPERAntiSpyware.com - Downloads - keep it turned off at Startup in Prefs.
Absolutely as Greg says Jeff and if you take my two cents worth you will check from time to time what is in Start up mine has a tendency for stuff to creep back in.
By the by I keep my msconfig in the Start menu along with regedit and command prompt - savesa lot of typing:)
Absolutely as Greg says Jeff and if you take my two cents worth you will check from time to time what is in Start up mine has a tendency for stuff to creep back in.
By the by I keep my msconfig in the Start menu along with regedit and command prompt - savesa lot of typing:)
Thanks for the info. I use "Autoruns" (Sysinternals) to periodically check my login items. I've noticed that too, uninvited things appearing there.
I also check Task Manager occasionally to see if there are any unrecognizable processes present. I saw one recently that I'd never seen previously... "Seaport.exe". Using the Process Explorer, I checked that one on the 'net and disabled it.
Great tip . I just added those into my Start Menu. I don't have much in there so those 3 will come in handy.
I found an excellent pre-built PC deal. The system uses quality parts and is cheaper than the cost of the separate parts + shipping by $125.00. Plus, I would have to spend time building the PC. The only problem are is it ships with Windows 8 only.
Is Windows 8 a deal killer ?
Hello, all.
I have a quick question. :)
Right, my little brother has a laptop running Windows 7 Ultimate (x32). He also has a PS3 webcam (I forget the actual name of it). He is allowed to use this webcam on his PS3, but not on his computer. The problem is that he keeps defying the rule in...
. I just added those into my Start Menu. I don't have much in there so those 3 will come in handy.