Slow start-up; crawls into BIOS setup; then slow to load windows

[judgefrog]

Hi there, please can you help?
I realize this BSOD might be a commonly reported problem but the issues here seem not to have been addressed specifically by other threads so I hope I haven't opened a new thread unnecessarily. Anyhow, here goes...
Various pc problems have arisen since coming home from holiday last week:

Background: 2 months ago: installed samsung SSD to run a new install of Win 7 64bit - on Asus P5NE-SLI with newly installed AHCI controller card. Successful after some troubleshooting; ran fine for several weeks.

PC left for 2 weeks while on holiday: on return a few days ago pc had problems on start-up: blank screen; no/slow start-up then BSOD attached.
The problem now is specifically a start-up issue: very slow to boot windows; if I hit F8 or del then BIOS loads very slowly, if at all; windows loads but freezes part way through. It DOES eventually load but it doesn't seem stable: yesterday the pc restarted unprompted.
The clock time was incorrect by about 20minutes when I got home from holiday (cmos battery?)

So far, I have (in chronological order)...
cleaned out dust, checked for shorts and loose wires
run Prime95 stress tests: seems OK - no crashes; Speed Fan recorded CPU temps of >50C before I closed the program. On idle CPU is now 37C; GPU 47C
memtest run overnight: 7 passes no errors;
updated GPU driver; run Furmark GPU stress test: all fine!
searched for other driver updates - none required (at least through windows)
run Samsung magician software to optimise performance of SSD
flashed Asus BIOS to most up to date version
one successful run of system repair through windows 7: no errors reported; but this took ages to access because of slow, unreliable start-ups and trouble accessing BIOS set up etc.

The pc still loads slowly and accessing BIOS is especially slow and windows loading freezes part-way through; (though it does crawl and load eventually). I am currently typing this on the pc, so it hasn't crashed again but I cannot rely on it and the start-up is troublesome and obviously not happy.

Next, I am planning to...
1. buy a new cmos battery and install it.
2. Keep the pc running for a while to see if that helps!!

After this, I am stuck!

I would be hugely grateful for any assistance with this problem, which has taken a lot of time while my two young lads are creating chaos in the next room!

thanks so much,

Simon

 

[Maguscreed]

The problem is with your usb hub, or quite possibly a usb device that is plugged into it.
The fault is clearly sourced in the usb system though.
You may try updating your chipset drivers.
try rebooting with nothing plugged in but mouse and kb.

 

[judgefrog]

Maguscreed, Thank you so much for your quick reply; looks very helpful; I don't have an external usb hub but I do have an external usb seagate hard disk plugged into my netgear router as "readyshare" - I'll try unplugging it to see if this is a problem. I have no other usb connections except mouse and kb, so I guess it must be the external solid state hd. I'll let you know!

 

[Maguscreed]

Well all I can tell you is the single minidump file included in your attachment points to the usb hub, this can be the internal usb system as well as a external device the debugger doesn't make the distinction.

As I said above the chipset drivers for your system (should be easy enough to find on manufacturer's website) should include the drivers for that device.
Since it's slowing actual bios post it's conceivably possible you are looking at a hardware problem though.

 

[judgefrog]

Thanks, understood;
I tried updating intel chipset drivers through the intel website, but not recognised by the intel tool; I'll try again asap.
I am on a different pc now: the pc under discussion is currently hanging entering bios setup: it's been like that for 8 minutes so far.
Could it be the cmos battery or is that a blind alley?
It starts slowly even when I boot into the old Vista OS drive (which I retained).
any ideas which hardware could be faulty?
thanks.

 

[centaur78]

Hi

Based on the BSOD dump... the problem is related to USBHUB.sys..... which mean a usb related device driver has caused the crash.... Check keyboard, External hardisk, or mouse etc....

Secondly since you say the boot Bios is also slow... i would suggest you set the option in bios no to do a fast boot but rather a through boot, so you could atlest see on your screen ... whats slowing the bios boot

A change in cmos battery is necessary...

Try these and let us know..

 

[judgefrog]

Wow...you guys should be paid much more!!
I unplugged my new usb illuminated logitech keyboard and plugged in an old kb - start-ups are much quicker and glitch free...at least on the last couple of re-boots.
Perhaps the new kb has a short or something?
Can I update the kb driver (I actually like the new logitech kb but not if it's going to cause pc problems).
I'll report back and let you know any further developments ... but thanks again so far.

 

[Maguscreed]

oh it was a lighted keyboard.
I'll jump out on a limb and say it's drawing too much power from your usbhub.
Does explain everything.

 

[centaur78]

its best to get the Kb replaced ...

 

[judgefrog]

Recent points noted and gratefully received.
Several start-ups later: continued success.
Though I have taken a risk and plugged in the illuminated kb again but into a different usb socket and I have switched off the illuminations. So far, so good. I am sure you will cringe at this action but I don't want to ditch this kb - it's by far my nicest! So far, all is still OK but I will monitor start-ups carefully.

One last thing, maybe you'll ignore this as a different issue but... the fan speeds seem to be higher than before the malfunction started, certainly noisier. I updated the graphics nvidia driver. SpeedFan tells me cpu fan is >3000rpm and chassis is >2000rpm, both stable. Would you have an idea on whether these speeds are OK or indicated overheating? CPU is 36C and GPU is 46C, both stable. There is no indication of PSU fan speed.

thanks
Simon

 

[Maguscreed]

the illumination is probably what was causing the draw.
I would keep it turned off, but in that state it's really just another typical keyboard. So no cringe.