Cold boot OK, very slow reboot

[ssbtech]

Hello guys,

I'm stumped. I have an Intel Quad core system giving me some headaches.

4 memory slots on the motherboard - 2x2GB + 2x1GB sticks.

System cold boot speed is fine, but on a reboot it takes about 300 seconds to go from the "Starting windows" animation to the desktop.

This is a clean install of Windows 7 x64.

Memory tests OK - (PC Check, Windows Memory Diagnostics, Memtest86)

Reboot speed OK with one stick of 2GB
Reboot speed slow with two sticks of 2GB

Reboot speed OK if I replace both 2GB sticks with the 1GB sticks

Has anyone run into anything like this?

Thanks!

 

[seavixen32]

No, but it's an interesting one.

I realise it's time-consuming, but did you check your RAM sticks one at a time and in each socket?

If the problem is RAM-related, you'll need to establish whether a RAM module is faulty or a RAM socket.

 

[ssbtech]

I'm pretty sure I have tried every combination.

The 2GB sticks work on their own
The 1GB sticks work on their own

The 1GB sticks in a pair work OK

It only seems to be a problem when using both 2GB sticks.

 

[kado897]

I take it you have 64bit Windows 7. If not that might be the problem. I think from your specs you have an HP machine. Have you run the HP memory diagnostics?

 

[ssbtech]

Win7 x64

Not an HP - it's a custom build.

Mainboard is an Asus P5q-EM DO

 

[rraod]

Did you try to put the memory modules in (1GB, 2GB, 1GB, 2GB) or (2GB, 1GB, 2GB, 1GB) order in the slots and see?

 

[ssbtech]

Yep.

These aren't new modules, either. System has been running fine for the last couple of years. This problem only seemed to crop up after installing Windows 7.

 

[seavixen32]

Probably a long shot, but did you update your chipset drivers when you installed Windows 7?

 

[ssbtech]

Chipset drivers were updated.

I'm puzzled as to why it only hangs on the start-up portion of a reboot, not a cold boot.

 

[seavixen32]

The only thing I can think of is that it could be heat-related.

Nothing has had a chance to warm up on a cold boot, whereas temperatures will be higher on a reboot.

 

[ssbtech]

Probably not - a cold boot after being off for just a few seconds?

Nothing has been overclocked, ambient temperature is low. System doesn't have any errors when doing any burn-in testing.

I'm starting to suspect the motherboard. Can't prove it however

 

[ssbtech]

Windows update installation on shutdown seem to be taking much longer than they should as well.

 

[seavixen32]

It's going over old ground, but this tutorial shows how to carry out a comprehensive RAM test.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html

Is there a possibility that your power supply unit could be an issue here?

I found this also:

http://www.fonerbooks.com/cpu_ram.htm

I'm clutching at straws now!

 

[ssbtech]

Memtest86 passed, PC Check memory diagnostics passed, Windows Memory Diagnostics passed.

Already tried a new PSU. Tried without the video card (on-board), tried disabling the on-board NIC, etc...

Hence why I suspect a mainboard issue, even though it passed all the PC Check mainboard tests.

 

[seavixen32]

It does seem so.

I wish you luck with it as I'm out of ideas now.

Let's hope someone comes up with an answer.

 

[ssbtech]

Update: Gave up fiddling around, replaced mainboard and RAM - problem solved.