Solved Gateway computer occasionally stuck on boot logo.

[gregrocker]

Windows Boot Manager should be set as first Device to boot in BIOS. It is what boots an EFI install, not the hard drive listed.

Does the problem happen with the MyBook attached? Try without it and all other peripherals attached.

If you're saying that the startup hang at boot screen does not happen with the disk in the drive, then that normally means the boot files on the hard drive are corrupt. Try running a few Startup Repairs.

So we now have the old install to Legacy and fresh reinstall to UEFI causing the same problem? Let's look at the hard drive. Run a full Disk Check followed by the maker's HD Diagnostic . Do you have another HD to try in the PC? An SSD is the greatest upgrade one can have now.

BIOS P11-A3 appears to be the latest, but says its for Win8. I wonder if it brings UEFI up to latest. I don't think I would do it unless you can find the present BIOS version to restore if the latest causes problems.

 

[Devadip]

Ok. I will try these but the thing is, the problem only occur after the computer has been turned off for a while so I'll have to wait a bit.

Should I continue the test without the Intel features enabled or should I reenable them and try unplugging "MyBook"? Like I said, it may take a while for me to determine whether or not the problem is still there.

*I do have another external HD btw.

 

[gregrocker]

If you've run with and without the Intel features in BIOS long enough to know that they're not causing the problem, you can set them back the way they were.

What often works when the same or another hard drive or external is blocking boot - and you've confirmed this by testing the OS will boot normally without it - is to move the data off the suspect drive and wipe it with Diskpart Clean Command to clear conflicting boot code.

If the problem only happens after the PC cools down, then it could be something on the mobo reacting to a cold start. But first I'd test the hard drive thoroughly to check its condition. You did wipe it with Clean command earlier ?

If these fail, then unplug the DVD drive. Then unplug everything except the HD.

 

[Devadip]

I did wiped the drive with Clean command. I checked the disk using Kingston SSD Toolbox and everything is fine. I'll run chkdsk for now and I'll keep you in touch.

Also, I will keep testing without the Intel features for now and I will test with "MyBook" if I still have the problem.

 

[Devadip]

According to Disk Check, my HD is fine.

I also noticed that the problem is still there even when I disable all the Intel features.

 

[Devadip]

I did 3-4 cold starts without my external HD plugged and everything was fine. I will continue to test it.

 

[gregrocker]

If external is blocking boot it may need old boot code wiped off of it. Move the data off long enough to wipe with Diskpart Clean Command and repartition in Disk Mgmt.

 

[Devadip]

Basically, I have to create another partition in order to move all the data and then delete the older one with Diskpart Clean Command?

 

[gregrocker]

Clean will wipe the partition table and all boot code therefore the entire drive. Can you find space to back them up? If not you may need to limit plugging in the external until it's needed or you can wipe it.

 

[Devadip]

I'm pretty sure the external HD is causing the problem. I have a lot of data so backing it up will take some time. Luckily, I have another HD that I keep as a backup. I'll keep you in touch.

 

[Devadip]

After a couple of cold starts, the computer freezes at the boot logo again.

 

[Devadip]

When I try to boot from the Windows DVD, there is an error message coming up.

It says "Windows failed to start". "Status: 0xc0000185". "The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible."

I did a startup repair a couple minutes ago and it looks like it found something.

 

[gregrocker]

Can you access System Recovery Options
via F8 to run Startup Repair?

Try uninstalling your AV if necessary using the uninstaller found at Uninstallers (removal tools) for common antivirus software - ESET Knowledgebase then replace it with free lightweight Microsoft Security Essentials to compare.

Other possible fixes to work through at Windows failed to start". "Status: 0xc0000185". "The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible - Google Search most promising is Windows 7 (64 bit) bootmanager fails with Status: - Microsoft Community

If none of these work then work through the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 which goes over your install most thoroughly and finds most problems.

 

[Devadip]

I did another startup repair and everything was fine. After that, I uninstalled Kaspersky with the uninstaller tool. It seems like a lot of people are having problems with antivirus softwares...

I'm now using Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Pro just in case. I did 2 cold starts so far and everything was ok. I'll have to do more tests though.

 

[Devadip]

I checked the Windows Event Viewer and I noticed an error message regarding my external HD. It seems like it has bad sectors so I backed it up and I unplugged it. My computer froze a couple of times also. Now it seems fine since I got rid of my HD.

It is possible that it was preventing the system from booting up sometimes I guess...

I will keep you in touch.

 

[gregrocker]

Yes, external or another hard drive can interfere with boot either because it is failing or has code that needs clearing.

I'd wipe the drive with Diskpart Clean Command then do a full reformat in Disk Management. Test the drive with the maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan, or if none is available use Seagate Seatools followed by a full Disk Check.

 

[Devadip]

My problem is gone for good. I unplugged my external HD but I also did a repair install since I had some corrupted files (sfc /scannow could not repair the system).

The freezes I was experiencing were related to the corruption of Windows components but the boot problem was because my external HD had bad sectors.

I transferred all my files into my internal HD and now everything works fine. I will try to repair my WD external HD and if it fails, I'll just buy a new one. It's old anyways.

Thanks a lot for your help!!

 

[gregrocker]

You should be able to scan the external with Western Digital Data Lifeguard Windows Version. This will tell you it's condition with certainty. Once installed look for the tab for the external to select to scan.

Then wipe it with Data Lifeguard Quick Erase or DiskPart Clean Command to create a new partition and run a full Disk check. This will further determine its condition and clear any interfering code which causes the problems.

How is performance after the Repair Install?

WD Support / Downloads / Legacy Internal / WD RE2
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

 

[Devadip]

My system seems a bit faster and it dosen't freezes like it did previously. I always make sure that my PC is clean and optimised so I can't really tell if it's faster now but still all my problems are gone.