Question PC suddenly taking a very long time to boot.

[Stg-Flame]

Haven't used my PC in about a week and when I turned it on just now, it took about two minutes before I was even able to enter the BIOS and after that flashed across the screen, it was about another minute before I could even log on. Previously, from pressing the button to the log screen would take around five to ten seconds so this is out of the ordinary. When I press the power button, the screen and all my peripherals will remain off (all LEDs are unlit and unresponsive) until I can access the BIOS, but less than a second after that flashes on the screen (the press F2 screen) my peripherals go out again and takes them another solid minute to turn on.

I haven't had any issues like this before and since I haven't used my PC in about a week, I'm unsure what could have happened. Any ideas or suggestions to try?

Edit: Now my USB ports on the front of my case no longer work. I've tried all the ports with both my headset and mouse and they just stopped working.

 

[In2Photos]

Seems like the PC doesn't like something all of a sudden. Unplug everything except for a keyboard and see how long it takes to post, including unplugging all of the front panel headers for USB and audio, etc. Use a screwdriver to jumper the pins for the power switch. Does it still hang on boot? If so, try removing one RAM stick and see if it still hangs. Then swap the sticks and try again.

 

[Stg-Flame]

Seems like the PC doesn't like something all of a sudden. Unplug everything except for a keyboard and see how long it takes to post, including unplugging all of the front panel headers for USB and audio, etc. Use a screwdriver to jumper the pins for the power switch. Does it still hang on boot? If so, try removing one RAM stick and see if it still hangs. Then swap the sticks and try again.

I'll give it a try.

 

[Stg-Flame]

Still hangs and it still takes about a full minute after the login screen pops up before my keyboard (which is plugged into the rear USB ports) is even detected. The keyboard and mouse are both illuminated so I know when they turn on and off and other than the quick flash when I'm prompted to enter the BIOS, my peripherals stay dark until a full minute after the login screen comes up. I haven't added anything new to this PC or even downloaded anything other than a new graphics driver, so I have no clue what could be causing this all of a sudden.

Of all the computers I've built since 2005, this one has given me nothing but problems since I first built it last year. After I built it, it never felt like it was running as it should be and even after I had to replace a faulty motherboard and PSU earlier this year, it still never felt right. I can't pinpoint it, but there's always little glitches that happen almost once a month with this thing.

 

[In2Photos]

Still hangs and it still takes about a full minute after the login screen pops up before my keyboard (which is plugged into the rear USB ports) is even detected. The keyboard and mouse are both illuminated so I know when they turn on and off and other than the quick flash when I'm prompted to enter the BIOS, my peripherals stay dark until a full minute after the login screen comes up. I haven't added anything new to this PC or even downloaded anything other than a new graphics driver, so I have no clue what could be causing this all of a sudden.

Of all the computers I've built since 2005, this one has given me nothing but problems since I first built it last year. After I built it, it never felt like it was running as it should be and even after I had to replace a faulty motherboard and PSU earlier this year, it still never felt right. I can't pinpoint it, but there's always little glitches that happen almost once a month with this thing.

Well that certainly changes things. Have you tried a different mouse and keyboard to rule them out? Try running Memtest86 from USB and make sure the RAM is good. Is the RAM on the motherboard's QVL?

 

[Stg-Flame]

Have you tried a different mouse and keyboard to rule them out?

Yes.

Try running Memtest86 from USB and make sure the RAM is good.

I'll try this on my next days off.

Is the RAM on the motherboard's QVL?

Not sure what this means. I'll do some research tonight and get back to you.

 

[In2Photos]

Not sure what this means. I'll do some research tonight and get back to you.

Each motherboard vendor has a list of RAM that has been identified to work with the motherboard correctly. RAM not listed on this list may still work but it is not guaranteed. It is rare, but possible for RAM to not work well with a particular motherboard. So go to the manufacturer's site for the motherboard and go to the support tab. Their should be a QVL for RAM. Look for your exact RAM kit on the list (you will need the full part number).

 

[Stg-Flame]

Each motherboard vendor has a list of RAM that has been identified to work with the motherboard correctly. RAM not listed on this list may still work but it is not guaranteed. It is rare, but possible for RAM to not work well with a particular motherboard. So go to the manufacturer's site for the motherboard and go to the support tab. Their should be a QVL for RAM. Look for your exact RAM kit on the list (you will need the full part number).

Thanks, but it'll probably be after the holidays before I can check that list since I'll be working through the 4th of January. If I get a chance to go home, it'll just be to pack new clothes and head back out again.

 

[nightspydk]

In continuation of what In2 is saying you should disconnect everything you dont need to boot to bios including internal devices, harddisk etc. I have actually seen a mouse do this, so it happens. Do you have onboard video run that. Basically strip the system down do the bare essentials and see if that helps. Then gradually reinsert devices one at a time and boot again and again. Trial and error.
Don't know if all that has been covered.
Remember it can just as well be a port, socket so with that ram try another socket.

Good luck anyway

..Personally I would recommend always getting ram of the QVL. If not getting ram that simply doesnt boot, you might run into problems with the timings, speed. I have also seen that numerous times though it has been a long time since it happened last.
A few years ago but that was with so-dimm.

 

[bba-tcg]

Odds are excellent that this is a boot drive / storage device problem.