Question PC Takes 10 Minutes to Reboot

[Snakes1000]

I have had this issue for a few months now. I did some research and came to the conclusion that it must be a hard drive that was causing the issue, especially as I could hear one of my drives spinning up just before the boot finally concluded and the login screen appeared. Up until then I just get the default windows desktop screen with the whirring circular dots.

I did the various checkdisk routines on all my drives and whilst I found some potential issues these were fixed using the repair processes and/or replaced. This did not solve it so I finally got around to disconnecting every drive except my SSD C drive. The problem still continued. So, it is not a disk drive issue.

I, again, Googled the issue and followed a load of possible culprits that others had found but, to be honest, I've now become completely confused by the whole thing. And, having to test every solution tried, when it takes 10 minutes each time, becomes a bit wearing!

So, as well as pasting my PC spec below I did also create a boot log in the hope that this might show a cause (details HERE). Examination of that shows that there appears to be a problem loading some drivers (these rows are marked with the prefix >>>>>>>>>>>) but when I tried to investigate that issue I got even more confused!

So could someone try to help me identify the possible cause of this lengthy reboot time which is consistently 10 minutes?

The boot log may be a red herring.

Many thanks in advance.

Clive

PC Spec:-

OS Version: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro, 64 bit
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700K CPU @ 4.00GHz, Intel64 Family 6 Model 94 Stepping 3
Processor Count: 8
RAM: 16340 Mb
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN X, -1 Mb
Hard Drives: C: 893 GB (93 GB Free); E: 465 GB (357 GB Free); F: 5588 GB (5364 GB Free); G: 1397 GB (823 GB Free); H: 1862 GB (985 GB Free); I: 5588 GB (1249 GB Free); J: 7451 GB (1835 GB Free); K: 465 GB (445 GB Free); L: 1863 GB (1860 GB Free);
Motherboard: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd., Z170X-Gaming 7
Antivirus: Avast Antivirus, Enabled and Updated

 

[Snakes1000]

Hi. That took some time! Regrettably, it still is not improved. 15 seconds of the Motherboard screen, 10 minutes of the Windows screen with whirring dots, 20 seconds of login screen (I have auto login), then desktop.

I will try the chkdsk routine although I'm sure I have done that before. I'll report back after the 10-minute reboot.

 

[Snakes1000]

I then ran your chkdsk routine and that didn't work either.

What next?

 

[Colif]

Often when I see this - logfiles\Srt\srttrail.txt - which is the log that said

Boot critical file k:\boot\resources\custom\bootres.dll is corrupt.

Repair action: File repair
Result: Failed. Error code = 0x2
Time taken = 1906 ms

Repair action: System files integrity check and repair
Result: Failed. Error code = 0x490
Time taken = 426438 ms

The best solution is a clean install.

Very often the fixes for bootrec don't work . Sometimes best fix is to get a brand new fresh version of windows and start again. Obviously I don't mean losing any data you can move onto another hdd first.

Download the Windows 10 media creation tool and use it to make a win 10 installer on USB

boot from installer
follow this guide: https://forums.tomshardware.com/faq/how-to-do-a-clean-installation-of-windows-10.3170366/

 

[Snakes1000]

OK, I will do as you suggest but I need to make sure I have taken the right steps to protect the stuff I have on my SSD C Drive.

I always have "Auto Windows Image Backup" running (part of the old Windows 7 process that still sits in Windows 10). I also have the Seagate Backup Plus Drive continuously backing up all the external drive data (photos, etc) plus the C:\Users\Clive stuff but not much else from the C drive. I also, monthly, manually copy all my external drive data.

As a first step, I'm going to delete my current Auto Windows Image Backup and then set it up afresh making sure I include as much as possible on the C drive.

Here's an image of my folder structure. Do you think the above should resolve or do I need to do something else?

Will the fresh install, when I get to it, overwrite everything on the C Drive?

Could you advise what else to do?

 

[Snakes1000]

The Auto Windows Image Backup (AWIB) does include all the C Drive folder so I think I am safe(ish). I have set that away so will only attempt the Windows OS install once completed - so probably tomorrow morning.

My (small) concern is that I presume I will need to reinstall all my programs and, if so, I haven't been able to establish that, after the fresh installation, if I opt to use the AWIB will it also attempt to overwrite the newly installed Windows OS thus reverting me back to where I started?

I realise you are based in Australia so we're a bit out of sync with each other (I'm UK based).

Looking at the time being taken to do the backup it may be some time before I can move to the next stage!

 

[shadi shtaklef]

if nothing works then backup your data, format and reinstall windows, install the missing drivers in the device manager and again install all your applications. dont clone the hard disk and put back that clone after you format because it will put back the problem. you must manually install everything again and after that put your files back

 

[SgtScream]

Hi I didn't read the whole post. Shame on me so please ignore this post if you've already tried this. I ran into a similar issue where a usb printer was causing a family members pc to take a really long time to reboot and boot into windows. That being said, i'd unplug all usb peripherals and related usb devices to see if boot times improve. If they do, reintroduce each usb device until the issue replicates and you're able to determine which device is the cause.

 

[Colif]

I think those folders look good enough.

dont clone the hard disk and put back that clone after you format because it will put back the problem. you must manually install everything again and after that put your files back

Makes a good point Since the corrupt file itself is on C - Boot critical file C:\boot\resources\custom\bootres.dll is corrupt. - cloning it and putting it back onto PC is not going to help you. It is

A clean install will wipe entire ssd and remove the current partitions and make 4 new ones, 3 of which are really small and 4th is where windows goes.

 

[Snakes1000]

Firstly, to answer SgtScream, I have tried a reboot with nothing except the C Drive attached without improvement and, incidentally, the printer has a wireless connection (which I realise you couldn't know!) but thanks for the suggestion.

Over on the concurrently running TechGuy forum I was asked if the latest version of Windows did install. I checked and it is Version 1803 (OS Build 17134.885). Is that the latest build? I did go to settings> update, etc. and it did take a fair bit of time, not just the usual security update time.

By the way, that Auto Windows Image Backup is still being built-it has a LONG WAY to go! Could be a couple of days at this rate.

Whilst I am reasonably adept about computer tech' I do not know how I would get my C drive back to its current state (with the exception of the fresh OS installation) in respect of all my installed programs, etc. Is there a way to do that (from the Image Backup) and if so, could someone take me through the process, step by step? Otherwise, I assume I would have to install everything afresh as Shadi said?

 

[Colif]

latest is 1903 18362.239 (give or take a cumulative update I may not have yet)

if you download the Windows 10 media creation tool and use it to make a win 10 installer on USB. You can use media creation tool itself to run the update but if it fails, and you decide to try again, you would have to download it all again. Making USB means only 1 download.

to update,

• put USB in drive,
• go to file explorer and navigate to USB.
• run setup.exe and agree to update current PC,
• it will restart and update install to 1903.

As for the reinstall routine, I am not 100% sure as most of time after a clean install I just fresh install everything again. Most of my data is on a 2nd hdd that doesn't change between installs so all I lose in a reformat is all the programs that would need to be reinstalled anyway, and windows.

if you update, you would likely want to backup that version so your current backups might be a waste of time? I guess if the update doesn't work, at least you have a backup.

I will ask another mod, he might have an idea.

 

[Snakes1000]

I apologise that I'm trying to get advice from two forums because I realise it can create duplications, etc. However, I am desperate! On the TechGuy forum, link above, I have explained how I have discovered that an update to 1903 was attempted but failed. One suggetion on that forum was that it could be Avast antivirus program as the cause.

 

[Colif]

I apologise that I'm trying to get advice from two forums because I realise it can create duplications, etc. However, I am desperate! On the TechGuy forum, link above, I have explained how I have discovered that an update to 1903 was attempted but failed. One suggetion on that forum was that it could be Avast antivirus program as the cause.

you can ask wherever you like, its just you might get conflicting advice.

AV can indeed stop updates.

Just follow their advice and if it leads nowhere, come on back

 

[Snakes1000]

I created a Media Creation Tool on a USB flash drive in case I had to resort to a fresh install of Windows. I then tried uninstalling Avast but the update to version 1903 still failed. I Googled that and found this video

I followed the instructions up to solution 1 (there are successive steps if that fails). I disconnected all USB connected items and drives except my SSD. I then tried again and, as I am sure everyone will be pleased to learn, the installation was successful and the reboot now takes just a few moments.

I just wanted to thank everyone for their support and patience. I couldn't have done it without you!

 

[Colif]

And there was much rejoicing