My computer won't automatically POST

[andrewj02]

I'm entirely new to building systems, but I've set up my new computer and everything works great. The only problem is that when I start the computer, the original motherboard BIOS screen comes up allowing me to go to BIOS or POST and stays there for at least a minute before proceeding to POST and start Windows. And when it does start (either on its own or manually) the test it takes a solid minute or two before it proceeds to Vista.

If I bought my computer factory built with all of the same parts, the computer would be started and ready in no time. Is this an issue I just have to deal with, having a home-built computer or can I get around all of that?

 

[Outlander_04]

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-read-posting-boot-problems

 

[aford10]

That's a BIOS setting.

Make sure quick boot is enabled. Each BIOS is different, but there should be an option to bypass the boot options.

 

[Proximon]

Delays like you mention are usually due to some detection taking too long. The board is scanning your USB devices looking for a hard drive, for instance.

Like aford10 says, the answer should lie in your BIOS. Mine has a timeout setting for detecting hard drives, for instance.

 

[xthekidx]

There is also usually a BIOS Timer that your MB will wait for x amount of time before proceeding, its possible that yours is set to a large amount of time.

I usually disable the option to have the MB screen come up in the post because I like to see what kind of progress its making in the boot sequence. This is also a bios setting that can be disabled.

Go into your BIOS and play around with the boot settings, the answer to your problem is in there. The MB manual is also often helpful at times like these.

 

[jsc]

Common problem is the extended memory test is selected, rather than the quick test. The motherboard manual will help.

 

[andrewj02]

The computer seems to function properly after the booting is finished and windows is loaded. It just takes an excessive amount of time to get there. When it stalls during the boot, it always stalls when it says "Auto-detecting primary master". I don't know how to change anything in the BIOS as far as timers and memory tests though. I've searched them over a bunch of times with no luck. My motherboard manual, website and customer service were all of no help at all.

 

[xthekidx]

Do you know how to enter the bios menu? What motherboard do you have?

 

[aford10]

I had a board not too long ago that called the setting a HD delay. It should be called something similar.

 

[andrewj02]

My motherboard is a MSI K9A2 Platinum. In the system information it says my BIOS is version 1.4. I can get into my BIOS menu, but nothing there seems to match anything that has been suggested here. Does anyone have any suggestions on who I might be able to call? Or a good place to take my computer to have someone else try to diagnose the problem?

 

[xthekidx]

There must be something in the MB manual that has the options that we have described here, all motherboards do. Have you carefully read the manual?

If you really can't find anything, then I would try MSI tech support, although I haven't had any positive experiences with them.

 

[Proximon]

MSI support forums are really very good. About the only good reason to have an MSI board
http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=f3bd39a862dc652707c17e669b3e11ca&board=24.0

Disconnect any unneeded USB devices and disable ACHI in the BIOS, under integrated peripherals or some such. I'm willing to work you through this but they can probably do it faster over there.

 

[aford10]

Under the 'advanced BIOS' tab:
-make sure quick power on self test is enabled.
-make sure the HD is listed as the first boot device
-make sure internal cache is enabled
-make sure external cache is enabled