Windows 8 Windows 8 boots very slowly

[haversham]

i just built this PC and win8 is taking an extremely long time to boot up. it gets stuck at the windows splash screen (see pic) for slightly over 2 minutes each time (i timed it). i've fully updated windows (see pic) along with drivers for all hardware.

right before the windows start page loads, i can hear one of the HDDs start to seek. i'm not sure if that has anything to do with it (since the OS is installed on the SSD), but it is curious.

i recently built a win8 PC with an intel core i5-3570K +crucial M4 128GB SSD+ ASRock Pro3 + 8GB 1600MHz RAM. that PC flies through the windows splash screen and barely displays it so i'm curious why this one lags so much (especially since it has faster components).

i've read the this thread on another forum, but i don't have the expertise to analyze anything. most of that stuff might as well be Greek to me. i attached the summary xml file. i also have the etl file uploaded. if someone could take a look, i'd really appreciate it. TIA.

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System Specs:
Win 8 Pro with Media Center
Intel Core i7-2700K CPU
Samsung 30nm DDR3 1600 RAM 16GB
ASROCK Extreme4 Z77 Motherboard
ATI Radeon HD4650
Samsung 840 Pro 128GB SSD (OS)
WDC WD30EZRX (media HHD)
WDC WD20EARS (media HHD)

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[kemical]

Hi Haversham,

we have had a few posts recently from SSD owners and 'almost' always it's either the firmware needing updating on the drivers or the actual storage driver needs updating.

I know there is a update as I just updated the related thread in our sister forum:

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[haversham]

Hi Haversham,

we have had a few posts recently from SSD owners and 'almost' always it's either the firmware needing updating on the drivers or the actual storage driver needs updating.

you're right, it was a driver problem. i found the SATA AHCI driver in the boot summary and the load time (in milliseconds) is almost exactly the same time the boot process lags at the windows splash screen.

<phase name="bootStart" startTime="10" endTime="124885" duration="124875">
  <pnpObject name="PCI\VEN_8086+DEV_1E02+SUBSYS_1E021849+REV_04\3+11583659+0+FA" type="Device" activity="Start" startTime="3412" endTime="123781" duration="120368" prePendTime="120368" description="Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller" friendlyName="" />

i tested with other versions and combos of drivers and the results are below. i tried to uninstall the ASRock SATA drivers and only use one of the Intel drivers, but got a BSOD upon restarting.

ASRock SATA drivers v1.3.8 = 40 seconds lag
ASRock SATA drivers v1.3.8 + Intel RST drivers v11.7.0.1013 = ~2 minute lag
ASRock SATA drivers v1.3.8 + Intel RST drivers v11.6.0.1030 (currently newest) = >2 minute lag

so with only the mobo SATA drivers installed the lag is only 40 secs, but i know this is still waaay too long for boot on win8 with one of the fastest SSDs on the market. i also checked with Samsung SSD Magician v3.2 and it says the firmware (DXM03B0Q) is up to date.

 

[kemical]

Hi,

if you want us to check the bsod dmp file then please check this thread first and post the results:

http://windows8forums.com/windows-8-errors-bsods/11837-how-ask-help-bsod.html

Also is your bios the latest version and have you completed a recent virus scan. (just covering bases here)

Whilst checking on firmware updates etc I came across this:

AnandTech - Samsung Explains The Firmware Bug Causing The Failures of SSD 840/840 Pro

 

[haversham]

Hi,
Also is your bios the latest version and have you completed a recent virus scan. (just covering bases here)

Whilst checking on firmware updates etc I came across this:

AnandTech - Samsung Explains The Firmware Bug Causing The Failures of SSD 840/840 Pro

yes, BIOS is the newest for my board (v2.7)

yes, i've run a virus scan with both windows defender and malwarebytes

yes, i have the latest firmware for my 840 pro (DXM03B0Q)

 

[kemical]

Hi Haversham,

I guess I can only say what I would do in this situation which is to try a clean or custom install making sure the correct drivers are used once win 8 has been updated. Did you upgrade or do a clean install initially?

 

[Medico]

You say you just built this PC. Is Win 8 the first OS you installed on it? Did you use the Full Install, OEM (System Builder) version of Win 8?

 

[haversham]

Hi Haversham,

I guess I can only say what I would do in this situation which is to try a clean or custom install making sure the correct drivers are used once win 8 has been updated. Did you upgrade or do a clean install initially?

i have to agree. i've tried everything i can think of. going to try to reinstall later today

and i initially did a clean install

 

[haversham]

You say you just built this PC. Is Win 8 the first OS you installed on it? Did you use the Full Install, OEM (System Builder) version of Win 8?

yes, first OS on brand new SSD and all hardware. i used full version of windows 8, NOT upgrade.

 

[Medico]

I would suggest as a part of the reinstallation to format the HD. During the installation after you choose Custom Install, on the next screen you will see Advanced Disk Options. Click it. On the next screen highlight the disk Win 8 was originally installed on and choose Format. The disk will be formatted and then the installation can be done on a clean disk (in unallocated space) The installation will set up the disk system and set the disk to active, or whatever it has to do.

This is the most pristine installation you will find. Make sure you save any data ahead of time.

In your case, kemical may have hit upon a possible solution, although it seems you have done this as well. This almost sounds like driver issues.

 

[haversham]

went ahead and did another fresh install ... problem solved! i still don't know what the hell i did wrong last time, but i'll outline what i did and the changes made in case others run into the same issue.

* = changes made from previous fresh install


1. made UEFI bootable win8 USB drive* (used same USB drive as last time, but was formatted in NTFS. used instructions here)

2. put Intel SATA drivers (v11.7.0.1013) on USB drive for loading during install* (didn't do this last time)

3. disconnected all other HHDs except SSD that OS will go on & plugged in UEFI bootable USB drive

4. clear CMOS (button turns on machine automatically)* (didn't do this last time since all components were new and i didn't think i needed to)

5. went into UEFI:

• -disabled ASMedia SATA controller* (left enabled last time)
• -set native SATA controller to RAID* (default is AHCI so i'm now sure this was what it was set at last time)
• -changed boot priority to UEFI USB drive* (USB drive was not listed as "UEFI" last time. Link Removed)
• -saved settings and rebooted

6. went through windows 8 install procedure

7. deleted partition on SSD and reformatted* (noticed windows 4 partitions, 3 were small and reserved for windows and 1 were the OS would go. only 2 partitions were created last time)

8. loaded intel SATA drivers*


windows finished installing and booted straight into the start page. last time, it stalled at the windows logo screen, even the first time it booted. now i don't even see that screen - windows boots straight into the Start page. checked the Task Manager and the Last BIOS time is consistently 4.8 - 5.0 seconds!

i've since changed the intel SATA controller to AHCI b/c it showed and extra screen during POST in RAID. i've also installed all mobo drivers and enabled the ASMedia SATA controller in UEFI. and plugged in the other HHDs. i'm happy to say there's been no slow down in boot up time.

i still don't know what i did during the last install to cause such a delay in bootup. oh well ... i'm glad things are back to normal. thanks to all who tried to help!

 

[kemical]

Thanks for the follow up. Glad to hear issue's solved..

 

[Medico]

Yes, glad you have solved this difficult problem. Evidently something did not install properly the first time.