PC suddenly extremely slow at boot, Starting Windows takes for ever

skypower

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Hello there,

I will try to analyze and give all the info I have so far on my situation.


The problem started 3 days ago when I was playing World of Warcraft and I was alt-tabing (nothing special, just ordinary stuff). After a load screen, where the game normally starts loading stuff, the alt-tabing was inresponsive and while I was in desktop, clicking WoW icon had no effect, like I wasn't clicking it. Soon I realized Firefox wasn't working as intended, so I pressed the reset button on my case. The pc gave me an error that, if i remember correctly, was that no boot device found. I played a little with plugging-unplugging my USB devices and the problem fixed after about 10 minutes. All good since yesterday afternoon.


So yesterday I got the exact same problem while I was playing an another game, but still at loading screen. The computer boots (from zero) very slow, even getting to "Starting Windows" screen takes a minute, and until I see the windows icon (the one about the SW text) 15 minutes pass. I left home and left the pc at that icon, and when I was back it was at login screen (weird because I only have 1 account without password so I don't ever get there). I pressed my account icon and after around 10 seconds (notice the time for just pressing a button) I got the "Welcome" screen, with the circle moving smoothly. I tried to use my Windows installation disc to find a boot problem, however it takes for ever to find a problem. Also tried booting in safe mode, but it takes a long time to load (haven't left it enough hours to load, I think it got stuck at some point).

My initial thought was of course a HDD failure. I have tried removing the ram sticks, unplugged everything but the DVI cable, played a little with the HDD sata cables, but nothing. The only thing I haven't tested is PSU.

All the few operations I have managed to see (like the SW screen or the clicking) take a huge amount of time. I suspect it might not be a boot, or even HDD related, error but something else. The problem so far is the speed. The only thing I have seen to be working normally is navigating in the BIOS menu (which is graphical, I have an Asus motherboard). Also notice that just before I manually rebooted my PC, alt-tabing was inresponsive (not crashing, just very slow probably).

I am going to test my HDD to another PC and will post results here. By the way, I am not sure if I could connect a HDD from another pc to boot Windows from there, can I do that?


** EDIT ** : chkdsk reported no bad sectors

PC specs:

Windows 7 64-bit
Intel i5 2400
2x2GB Kingston 1333 MHz
Asus GTX 560 Ti
OCZ 700W
2 HDDs (Windows at WD 5400 rpm, 500gb one)


PS: Big post, thanks for reading it!
 
Last edited:

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7
OS
Windows 7
bump
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7
OS
Windows 7
Since nothing actually changed on your system I'm wondering if one of your ram sticks is failing. Run Memory test

Windows Memory test

Memtest 86+

Also run a S.M.A.R.T Test on the hard drive. I use Crystal Disk Info Portable

If all of these pass. Run a virus scan from save mode using Malwarebytes

Then check whats running at startup.

Click Start Orb.
In search box type "msconfig"
Select Startup tab.

If startup looks okay select the general tab and select diagnostic startup to see if that helps your performance.
If it does let us know .
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Ultimate x64
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Since nothing actually changed on your system I'm wondering if one of your ram sticks is failing. Run Memory test

Windows Memory test

Memtest 86+

Also run a S.M.A.R.T Test on the hard drive. I use Crystal Disk Info Portable

If all of these pass. Run a virus scan from save mode using Malwarebytes

Then check whats running at startup.

Click Start Orb.
In search box type "msconfig"
Select Startup tab.

If startup looks okay select the general tab and select diagnostic startup to see if that helps your performance.
If it does let us know .

As I mentioned in the post, I have tried removing ram sticks and even trying an old ram with no luck.

Also, I think I made it clear that the pc can't boot into Windows anymore so I can't do the things you asked :confused:

A small update: I have managed to access my data using the command prompt (not sure if that was obvious but w/e)
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7
OS
Windows 7
bump >.<
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7
OS
Windows 7
Tips to speeding boot time

Delete some fonts using font frenzy. Search for it in google and download it.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit2.00ghz4gb
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
TOSHIBA Satellite L300-04N
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
CPU
2.00ghz
Motherboard
Intel
Memory
4gb
Sound Card
Realtek
Monitor(s) Displays
Laptop built in monitor, TV, and projector
Screen Resolution
800x600
Hard Drives
SATA
Cooling
Built in
Keyboard
Built in
Mouse
Built in
Internet Speed
4mb/s
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