Slow boot after motherboard change.

[spenceweiss]

I originally built my computer with a Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 motherboard and an i5-4690K processor on Windows 10. Just a few weeks ago I somehow broke the motherboard (I think through static electricity), so I found another used one on ebay. I couldn't find the exact model, so I got a Gigabyte Z97X-UH5D-BK motherboard instead. After receiving it and hooking everything up with the exact same processor, the computer was able to boot to windows and everything was fine, except for one problem. Windows takes much longer to boot than it did. It appears that all my drivers are up to date, so I don't know what the problem is. I have been considering reinstalling Windows, but I only want to do that as a last resort.

Any suggestions?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Yes, do a clean install. You have totally different hardware, most likely, onboard that new motherboard than what was used on the Gaming 5. Chipset will be similar, but lan, audio, storage controllers, etc., MIGHT be significantly different.

Before you do that though, make sure you have the latest bios installed. Then do a clean install as follows. Make sure ALL drives are disconnected EXCEPT the target drive for the OS. You can reconnect any other drives after the installation.

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-3567655/clean-installation-windows.html

After the installation, go to the product page for that board and download/install all the latest driver versions for your audio controller, network adapter (LAN), chipset and storage controllers.

Once you install the new bios, if a newer one is available, you will want to follow that by resetting the bios entirely by unplugging power, removing the cmos battery for five minutes, pressing the power button on the case for 30 seconds DURING those five minutes, then reinstalling the cmos battery, reconnecting power and powering up. Go into the bios, reconfigure any custom settings or memory XMP profiles as necessary and ALSO check to see whether you have CSM (Compatibility support module) disabled. If not, disable it.

Then enable UEFI boot mode, usually found within the secure boot sub settings. Then enable fast boot. Then install windows.

 

[spenceweiss]

Should I reinstall via usb drive, or can I just use the "Reset Windows' option?

 

[Darkbreeze]

No, don't reset. That is not the same as a clean install. A reset generally doesn't solve anything and often puts the same problem right back on the drive. Plus, it will be an old version of Windows, not the latest Windows 10 release like it will be if you use the media creation tool and create brand new media by downloading the latest installer directly from Microsoft.

Follow the guidelines in my tutorial exactly as outlined. Be sure to back up all of the following to another location like an extra USB drive, cloud backup or secondary storage before you do the install.

Browser favorites, application preferences if the application supports exporting the configuration. Personal documents, music files or movies. Anything that can't be replaced and will be wiped out by the clean install, which is ANYTHING on the drive, back it up somewhere so you don't lose it. It would be a very good idea if you don't already have one, to purchase a secondary drive anyhow for backing up important files. That is a lesson you do not want to learn the hard way, trust me.

Also, you WILL want to make sure you attach your current Windows installation to a Microsoft account BEFORE you reinstall so you won't encounter any issues with activating it afterwards. If it is a purchased copy of Windows 10, a retail copy that you have a product key for, then you don't have to worry about it as much.

I'd read these first, and then make your plans.

How to associate your windows 10 license with a Microsoft account


Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change


Windows build 1607 and activation after a hardware change

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