boot a few Boot related issues

[LostAndDamned]

I didn't quite know where to post my problems, since it includes multiple issues and parts while booting, so I hope it's fine here. If not please let me know!

 

First and foremost my specs:

OEM: Windows 10 64bit OEM Key

CPU: i7 8700k

Mobo: Asus Maximus X Hero

RAM: 32GB 3200mhz

GPU: EVGA 2080 FTW3

PSU: RM750x

Storage:

1x Samsung 850 250gb (OS and Programs)

2x Samsung 860 500gb and 1x Samsung 970 500gb (I have my online and favourite games on the 860's, and move others on the 970)

1x 2tb WD Black and 1x 6tb WD Black (I have a lot of games on steam and etc, so I download and install them on the 6tb, to then later move em to the 970. I do this because of my slow internet speed and some games load just fine)

 

The Issues are:

1. Whenever I boot up my PC, it needs 2 cycles/posts at least

I had looked up if it is my PSU or Mainboard and both seem to have some threads relating to this issue (but it seems to be clearly a issue with the board in general), clearing CMOS multiple times didn't change that

it doesn't really bother me that much since I'm aware it's a general issue and it doesnt take a lot of time, but maybe somebody managed to fix it somehow or has an suggestion

 

2. The loading screen after the bios prompts takes around 20~40 seconds, if not more

I was wondering if it's clearly only because of the amount of connected drives, also whether changing the 6TB HDD for a big SSD and also removing the 2tb HDD might improve it,

since I will finally have fiber in a few months which would make my 6tb redundant.

I also had clean installed the OS and the Programs on my 970 for testing purposes a few months ago, which made no difference at all

 

3. Rarely, really rarely I get no picture while my PC is booting and afterwards

I have to restart it once and it's fine again. Just wanna know if it is normal.

 

a Sidenote:

I have my PC and everything else (Monitors and such) connected to a power strip, which is then connected to a powerline adapter. I always turn of the power strip, when my PC isn't needed.

Just in case if there might be something related.

 

I would be really grateful for some help, since these issues are bothering me since I have my PC, but I just now have finally have the time to take things apart if needed and such.

Also if there are any questions please feel free to ask ofc!

Edited February 6, 2020 by LostAndDamned
forgot OS

[thedangerine]

Hmmmm that is odd. It seems like you have tried a lot already. I would maybe try enabling things like fast boot and setting the time it gives you to enter the bios to as little as possible and see if that does anything

[Spotty]

36 minutes ago, LostAndDamned said:

1. Whenever I boot up my PC, it needs 2 cycles/posts at least

I had looked up if it is my PSU or Mainboard and both seem to have some threads relating to this issue (but it seems to be clearly a issue with the board in general), clearing CMOS multiple times didn't change that

it doesn't really bother me that much since I'm aware it's a general issue and it doesnt take a lot of time, but maybe somebody managed to fix it somehow or has an suggestion

I've seen two things cause this in the past, 1) dead CMOS battery and the motherboard needs to do memory training each time it boots. 2) the boot drive isn't properly selected and it tries booting from a drive without an OS on it, then fails, restarts and looks for a drive with an OS.
Try unplugging the rest of the drives and installing only the operating system drive and see if it boots normally.

 

37 minutes ago, LostAndDamned said:

2. The loading screen after the bios prompts takes around 20~40 seconds, if not more

I was wondering if it's clearly only because of the amount of connected drives, also whether changing the 6TB HDD for a big SSD and also removing the 2tb HDD might improve it,

since I will finally have fiber in a few months which would make my 6tb redundant.

I also had clean installed the OS and the Programs on my 970 for testing purposes a few months ago, which made no difference at all

You can test this with the same method above. Unplug all drives except the OS drive (Should be on one of the SSDs) and see if it boots faster.
My system with a couple drives takes an extra 10 seconds or so to post while it waits for the HDDs to spin up.

Also again if it does have a dead CMOS battery then it will take longer to boot each time it starts up as it's essentially booting for the first time each time.

 

39 minutes ago, LostAndDamned said:

I always turn of the power strip, when my PC isn't needed.

Don't do this. Doing this will drain your CMOS battery faster, potentially leading to the first possible reason I listed for the first problem. It's also not good for your power supply.
Power supplies/PCs draw almost no power when in standby mode.

My guess is your problem is a result of turning your system off at the wall every time you shut down, causing the CMOS battery to die. If your CMOS battery is dead then that would reset the selected boot drive each time you switch off the system, which could be why it's failing to remember which drive to boot to. Every time you restart your computer 'forgets' what the boot drive is, tries booting to whatever the default SATA port is and fails as it doesn't detect an OS on that drive, then restarts and checks for another drive with a bootable OS. This also explains why it takes so long to boot and get a BIOS splash screen.

Replace the CMOS battery. Set the OS drive as the default boot drive in the BIOS. Keep the system plugged in and turned on while in standby mode (computer shut down).

[LostAndDamned]

26 minutes ago, thedangerine said:

Hmmmm that is odd. It seems like you have tried a lot already. I would maybe try enabling things like fast boot and setting the time it gives you to enter the bios to as little as possible and see if that does anything

Didn't change anything sadly.

[LostAndDamned]

18 minutes ago, Spotty said:

I've seen two things cause this in the past, 1) dead CMOS battery and the motherboard needs to do memory training each time it boots. 2) the boot drive isn't properly selected and it tries booting from a drive without an OS on it, then fails, restarts and looks for a drive with an OS.
Try unplugging the rest of the drives and installing only the operating system drive and see if it boots normally.

 

You can test this with the same method above. Unplug all drives except the OS drive (Should be on one of the SSDs) and see if it boots faster.
My system with a couple drives takes an extra 10 seconds or so to post while it waits for the HDDs to spin up.

Also again if it does have a dead CMOS battery then it will take longer to boot each time it starts up as it's essentially booting for the first time each time.

 

Don't do this. Doing this will drain your CMOS battery faster, potentially leading to the first possible reason I listed for the first problem. It's also not good for your power supply.
Power supplies/PCs draw almost no power when in standby mode.

My guess is your problem is a result of turning your system off at the wall every time you shut down, causing the CMOS battery to die. If your CMOS battery is dead then that would reset the selected boot drive each time you switch off the system, which could be why it's failing to remember which drive to boot to. Every time you restart your computer 'forgets' what the boot drive is, tries booting to whatever the default SATA port is and fails as it doesn't detect an OS on that drive, then restarts and checks for another drive with a bootable OS. This also explains why it takes so long to boot and get a BIOS splash screen.

Replace the CMOS battery. Set the OS drive as the default boot drive in the BIOS. Keep the system plugged in and turned on while in standby mode (computer shut down).

I took the time needed for Booting with and without the Drives (except for the 970, can't just remove it easily as that).

Boot with Drives: 1m24s; 1m23s; 1m23s

Boot without: 1m26s; 1m24s; 1m25s

 

I did multiple runs.

[Spotty]

10 minutes ago, LostAndDamned said:

I took the time needed for Booting with and without the Drives (except for the 970, can't just remove it easily as that).

Boot with Drives: 1m24s; 1m23s; 1m23s

Boot without: 1m26s; 1m24s; 1m25s

That is quite long...
Is it still restarting and needing to boot a second time even when you only have the OS drive installed?

 

Since you have the 970 installed in the M.2 slot it may still be trying to boot to that instead of the 860 OS drive.

If you enter the BIOS and check the boot priority which drive is listed as primary boot device? If you change what the device is and then shut down the computer and turn it back on does it remember that option or does it reset?
 

[LostAndDamned]

14 minutes ago, Spotty said:

That is quite long...
Is it still restarting and needing to boot a second time even when you only have the OS drive installed?

 

Since you have the 970 installed in the M.2 slot it may still be trying to boot to that instead of the 860 OS drive.

If you enter the BIOS and check the boot priority which drive is listed as primary boot device? If you change what the device is and then shut down the computer and turn it back on does it remember that option or does it reset?
 

It remembers it, also all the settings (CPU OC, XMP Profile, RAM settings and the fans aswell). Tho I found something while I was waiting for a reply. I had to remove like up to 40 boot option entrys, they just came again and again. With that I mean for example I saw the Windows Boot Manager pop up many times. On the picture I added you can see how it now looks like.

[Spotty]

Now that you've removed all other devices from the boot options does it still take a long time to boot?

Do any error messages come up on the screen when it is POSTing or when it gets to windows screen?

[LostAndDamned]

24 minutes ago, Spotty said:

Now that you've removed all other devices from the boot options does it still take a long time to boot?

Do any error messages come up on the screen when it is POSTing or when it gets to windows screen?

With Fastboot: 1m23s; 1m18s; 1m18s

Without : 1m28s; 1m29s; 1m29s

Btw, I measure from the moment I click the power button, until I can see the desktop screen.

The screen with the prompts takes 15 secs, thought I changed the length, but it doesn't affect it appearantly.

Settings are the same, nothing reset. No POST error.