Windows 7 Hanging - Not sure if its hardware related

[janas19]

Yep, cold boot. 1:24 would be O.K. on a Vista rig but not for 7. Just my opinion.

FWIW, I have Windows 7 currently running on an older Netburst machine, and I'd say it boots up fairly fast - I get to the desktop and the HDD light stops in under a minute. I've been pleasantly surprised by W7.

*Edit* Just tested it for accuracy - 52 seconds.

 

[latches]

The thing boots up alright now...kinda. I cant tell really. It still has this problem where it starts the boot, goes to the windows logo - sits there for like 10 seconds then goes to the welcome screen either quickly or first goes to this black screen for a millisecond to two seconds and then goes to the password screen and then after entering the pass - goes to the desktop.

Problem is - after entering the pass it sits there saying "Welcome" for a good 5-15 seconds and then goes to the desktop and even then it may not even go to the desktop - it might go to a black screen with just the cursor for 10 seconds before finally loading everything. It all takes just about a minute or a little more but still...it isnt smooth at ALL. My other less powerful machine does everything smoothly.

Also today - I started getting a "Your display driver stopped responding and recovered" error so I dont know what the hell that is. Crysis 2 keeps crashing and BF3 keeps crashing at random or giving me a Punkbuster error. I dont f**king get it.

I updated EVERYTHING from the bios to the mobo drivers. Is there something wrong with Windows? sfc /scannow doesnt come up with anything. Same goes for disk error check - gave me nothing last time. What the hell is going on? Ive done everything Im supposed to damn it. Is it the AHCI? Really????

 

[latches]

Alright, I just switched it to AHCI using a registry hack and it is a bit better. A lot smoother thats for sure. Ill see how it is when I cold boot it tomorrow but see if you can give me any advice anyway. I dont know if the problem is really solved.

 

[janas19]

Alright, I just switched it to AHCI using a registry hack and it is a bit better. A lot smoother thats for sure. Ill see how it is when I cold boot it tomorrow but see if you can give me any advice anyway. I dont know if the problem is really solved.

Why the h***, if you don't mind me asking, don't you just clean install with the AHCI mode for the drive? Even with that hack, which only changes the registry value, you already know the chipmaker doesn't recommend or support your setup. It doesn't make any sense if you're having all these problems not to just bite the bullet and do it right. It will save you more stress and grief later on.

Lol. I just want to help you!

 

[dreydin]

I found my external HD via USB3 port was slowing my Window boot screen down by a good 5-10 seconds.

 

[latches]

Alright, alright! But lets reason through this - are you sure the hack doesnt do the same thing? Before when I enabled AHCI from the BIOs and tried to boot - it would crash. Now when I boot it takes all of 50 or so seconds to do so. That is from cold boot too. NOW - Im not saying I dont want to clean install - Ill do it if I have to and do it all right from the get go this time BUT are you SURE that the hack isnt enough? Can you give me a reference that shows me why? Or can you explain it yourself? Cuz I dont understand. Both the Microsoft help page and other forums say thats all you have to do to get AHCI to work...so am I missing something? I really appreciate all the responses so far man so dont hate me for being a little stubborn. lol. Let me know. Thanks.

Edit: Also - my new videocard is a GTX 570. Things sped up a bit after installing it.

 

[janas19]

Glad you're booting in under 1:00 now! :thumbup:

No, I can't tell you exactly how the registry change vs a proper setup is different, unfortunately. I would have to do some intensive Googling which I can't atm.

The only thing that worries me is that you say when you try to install with the ACHI enabled, it crashes? That shouldn't happen.

I'm no expert but usually, a "quick fix" is just a temporary solution. For example, if you want to set up an Unattended install of Windows XP, there are different ways to do it. You can open the WINNT.SIF and change the values- however this method does NOT create a WINNT batch file. Microsoft recommends using the SetupMgr tool in the Deploy.cab file, which creates both the .SIF and .BAT files.

See what I'm trying to say? A hack doesn't always correct everything. The recommended fix is always the best way if possible. I suppose one way you can verify is to check your Device Manager and at least make sure that Plug and Play assigned the proper drivers to your device. If the registry hack really works, then when you reboot the first time Windows should've detected a new device. Do you know if it detected the device and installed new drivers?

Lol, I guess I'm typing alot of stuff here.

 

[latches]

No, nononononononono. lol. You misunderstood my ma man. No. Alright let me break it down:

When I first installed the OS - I installed it under the IDE mode. I did this because I didnt know what AHCI was and was already in the process of installing.

Next, the boot was really slow but after some changes and uninstalls it improved.

Now, after installing my videocard and the driver it ran even faster.

Next, AHCI was brought up here at the forum and I had already read up on how to change the registry to enable AHCI.

BEFORE, when I tried to enable AHCI - WITHOUT the hack - it crashed the OS. So I left it in IDE.

NOW, I hacked the registry - as many sources have said to do (including Microsoft) - and bam AHCI is working when I enable it in the BIOs. I boot straight to the desktop in around 50 seconds.

The computer is clean, sfc /scannow doesnt find any errors, checkdisk doesnt find any errors. And Ive make sure the registry is clean using CCleaner.

The only problems Im having now has to do with my videocard and some driver crashing with BF3 and Crysis 2. I havent tried my Steam games yet though so I have to do that and see if its a computer wide problem or just those games. BF3 runs and looks great with mostly smooth performance but crashes at random and Im not sure why, yet.

Crysis 2 works fine in DX9 mode with normal res textures but crashes when hi res textures and DX11 is enabled. So trying to figure that stuff out now...

 

[latches]

Update: I flashed the bios for the VC and all is well. Turns out there was a voltage problem. The card just wasnt getting enough power to support the clocks. Sad on EVGAs part. My games are running fine now. I guess all is well now? Hopefully? lol I really hope so...now I have to get Microsoft Office (legitimately) somehow. Cant just be a gaming comp...needs to be a work comp too.

 

[janas19]

No, nononononononono. lol. You misunderstood my ma man. No. Alright let me break it down:

When I first installed the OS - I installed it under the IDE mode. I did this because I didnt know what AHCI was and was already in the process of installing.

Next, the boot was really slow but after some changes and uninstalls it improved.

Now, after installing my videocard and the driver it ran even faster.

Next, AHCI was brought up here at the forum and I had already read up on how to change the registry to enable AHCI.

BEFORE, when I tried to enable AHCI - WITHOUT the hack - it crashed the OS. So I left it in IDE.

NOW, I hacked the registry - as many sources have said to do (including Microsoft) - and bam AHCI is working when I enable it in the BIOs. I boot straight to the desktop in around 50 seconds.

The computer is clean, sfc /scannow doesnt find any errors, checkdisk doesnt find any errors. And Ive make sure the registry is clean using CCleaner.

The only problems Im having now has to do with my videocard and some driver crashing with BF3 and Crysis 2. I havent tried my Steam games yet though so I have to do that and see if its a computer wide problem or just those games. BF3 runs and looks great with mostly smooth performance but crashes at random and Im not sure why, yet.

Crysis 2 works fine in DX9 mode with normal res textures but crashes when hi res textures and DX11 is enabled. So trying to figure that stuff out now...

Ah, ok. I think I get you now. So you did the registry hack, and then enabled AHCI in the BIOS? Well, sounds like you got it working - nice!

 

[latches]

Haha ya man. I also solved my videocard issues. The GTX 570 is an EVGA Classified card and turns out they all have a voltage problem in that they are undervolted and that caused instability. It wasnt able to hold its own clocks. lol. Solved it by flashing its BIOs. Now the voltages are right and the fan speed is unlocked. . Crysis 2 and everything is working just fine. No crashes. Same with BF3. Im a happy camper.

 

[sm625]

Dont use the ahci hack unless you absolutely do not have the option to reinstall. For best results reinstall windows.

 

[janas19]

Haha ya man. I also solved my videocard issues. The GTX 570 is an EVGA Classified card and turns out they all have a voltage problem in that they are undervolted and that caused instability. It wasnt able to hold its own clocks. lol. Solved it by flashing its BIOs. Now the voltages are right and the fan speed is unlocked. . Crysis 2 and everything is working just fine. No crashes. Same with BF3. Im a happy camper.

Nice!

 

[latches]

Dont use the ahci hack unless you absolutely do not have the option to reinstall. For best results reinstall windows.

Based on what reason exactly? I just really dont want to go through all that again man. Took long enough to update everything. If Im taking a big risk though Ill do it...but lol...Im gonna feel real stupid.

 

[mfenn]

Based on what reason exactly? I just really dont want to go through all that again man. Took long enough to update everything. If Im taking a big risk though Ill do it...but lol...Im gonna feel real stupid.

There is no risk to changing the registry setting. You're doing exactly what the Windows installer would have done (i.e. set the msahci driver to load during boot instead of after).

 

[latches]

I ran into some big failure just recently. It reset my overclock and somehow AHCI setting in the registry because after the failure the bios reset and the OC went away but so did the AHCI setting. I ended up having to change it back to IDE just so I could boot to desktop. I was so frustrated I decided to reformat the hard drive and do a clean install. Problem is - its back. Long hangs at startup either before or after logging in. Not sure what the problem is. I still have to finish updating all the drivers and such but it isnt looking good...any ideas?

 

[latches]

Anyone? Please?

 

[janas19]

I ran into some big failure just recently. It reset my overclock and somehow AHCI setting in the registry because after the failure the bios reset and the OC went away but so did the AHCI setting. I ended up having to change it back to IDE just so I could boot to desktop. I was so frustrated I decided to reformat the hard drive and do a clean install. Problem is - its back. Long hangs at startup either before or after logging in. Not sure what the problem is. I still have to finish updating all the drivers and such but it isnt looking good...any ideas?

This is why you don't do registry hacks.

Make a copy of your Documents folder and do what you should have done in the very first place: a clean install of Windows with AHCI.

/thread

 

[latches]

lol oh believe me. After that problem I reformated and reinstalled Windows. Boot is probably 50ish seconds now and the setting is as it should be in the bios but theres STILL a problem.

When I boot up everything flys by. The post screen goes by quick, the windows logo moves by quickish, and then I get to the problem - A black screen with the mouse cursor in the middle just before the login thing and right after too with some stutter in the welcome screen. It still boots quick-like but it feels unstable and doesnt seem to want to move smoothly. All the drivers are up-to-date obviously. What do you think? I dont have any peripherals connected.

I also used SuperPI and IntelBurn Test to see if the problems were coming from the RAM and as far as I could tell...it isnt the RAM. lol. I dont get it guys...why is it behaving so weird compared to my other Windows 7 machines which are much smoother?

 

[janas19]

Have you tried resetting your BIOS to all default settings, ie removing overclock, saving, and then rebooting into Windows?

 

[latches]

Have you tried resetting your BIOS to all default settings, ie removing overclock, saving, and then rebooting into Windows?

I think so. After the overclock failed I loaded optimized defaults, reset all voltages and made sure everything was as it was and loaded. Same thing happened. Im thinking its a windows thing but cant figure out what it is. All drivers are up to date.

 

[mfenn]

Have you removed any unnecessary add-in cards (including GPU since you have IGP), disabling every onboard devices that you can (LAN, audio, etc.)? If it boots quickly then, just readd/reenable devices until you find the culprit.

 

[latches]

I mean, so far the boot is already fast and also turns out my other computer also has a black screen with the mouse in the middle just before login too. I think I only noticed this time cuz I was so paranoid about it (being a new build and all). So far its nice and stable.

 

[janas19]

I mean, so far the boot is already fast and also turns out my other computer also has a black screen with the mouse in the middle just before login too. I think I only noticed this time cuz I was so paranoid about it (being a new build and all). So far its nice and stable.

Yeah it happens. Having a hardware issue and then being paranoid about the issue.

Well good, I'm happy you got it fixed and everything is working ok!

 

[latches]

Ya, thanks janas19! And thanks for all your responses.