Hope someone can help as I really don't know what is up...

When I switch on the power of the computer the screen remains black with the OEM symbols/press del for set up for about 5 mins before switching to the blue windows starting up screen and eventually the window xp logging on screen listing the 5 users in the household.

I have run antivirus/ad-aware & spybot but it is still doing it....humph!!

I have run some google searches on 'boot up' probs but they appear to suggest if there were any probs with my boot.ini the screen would stay blank and I would not get into Windows at all!!

I have used system restore to an earlier time when this was not happening but it is still doing it.....aaarrrggghhhh!

Any ideas what it could be ????

:help:

How quick does it boot into safe mode?

You can also view your logs to see what's taking it so long.

it sounds, like its struggling to find your drives, which appear in the black screen bit

How quick does it boot into safe mode?

You can also view your logs to see what's taking it so long.


I can't get it into Safe Mode...It doesn't even respond if I hit the DEL key for set up screen....it just stays black for about 5 mins completely locked then all of a sudden windows starts and I can log on fine.

I have just downloaded Bootvis which apparantly traces the computer booting up to identify probs but I can't make head nor tail of the 'traces'!!

Help....:confused:

It's not a USB keyboard is it?

It's not a USB keyboard is it?


keyboard is working fine.....once I have sat around for 20 mins waiting for it to boot up!

I just find the basic screen (normally the one that flashes for a second) stays there for 10 mins or so before I get the Windows starting up screen with the symbol and the bar of lights then seconds later my log on screen!

:rolleyes:

I agree with what someone else said. If it's hanging on the bios for ages then it sounds like its having problems looking for the drives. You say the K/B is fine but you can't get into the BIOS. Lots of boards with PS2 ports expect a PS2 keyboard and wont respond to a USB keyboard so plug a PS2 one in and try again. Switch all the IDE channels to none except primary master and see if it boots up quicker. (assuming you h/d is the primary master!)

The hard drive HAS to be primary master for it to boot :D

The hard drive HAS to be primary master for it to boot :D

it DOES boot, just takes ages.
so must be primary

Yes melthebell I know I was just answering neeeek's post

Could have a SATA controller and drive in.

So have you sorted it yet Shiesh?

If you check the event logs you'll find the time indexes on each item and you might be able to spot a huge gap.

We had a similar problem this week - computers were taking 2 mins and 50 seconds to log on. We found it was hanging on "Internet Explorer Branding Policy" - something to do with IE7. We rolled the machines back tio IE6 and logon was back to a respectable 15 seconds.

Yes all sorted now thanks - I mate of mine who is very good with computers looked at it and found numerous viruses plus power supply problems so all sorted now. Yippee thanks though :thumbsup: