Slow laptop boot time

[hornetsFan]

So my asus laptop has been sitting around for a while and I finally decided to start to get it running again for school this semester. I just reinstalled windows 7 and realized the boot time is extremely slow. Once the laptop is up and running, it runs fine. I thought it may be the hard drive but the hard drive isn't nearly as old as the laptop (replaced the first one about 2 years ago). I read someone online saying that change the boot option to the USB through the BIOS screen, then turn the laptop on/off and if it still takes forever at the ASUS screen then it is more than likely the controllers on the motherboard.
So originally when I thought it was the hard drive that was just slow for some reason I was like, "oh okay i'll just buy an SSD (laptop has 2 hard drive slots) and throw my OS on it." However if it is the piece on the motherboard that is causing slow boot time I guess that wouldn't work. I don't know much about the controller this person was speaking of but is there multiple ones, or just one? For instance if I did buy the SSD and put it in the other slot (or just moved the hard drive that's in there right now), would it still be the same piece on the motherboard effecting it, or is there just one that connects to all possible boot paths?

 

[Bossyfins]

A regular HDD has slow boot time because normal laptop hdds are 5400 rpm. An SSD should increases the speed of os loading

 

[hornetsFan]

Well most of the waiting is before & at the ASUS screen. Before it even gets to start loading windows, both with the USB and hard drive as #1 possible boot options.

 

[Bossyfins]

Are you saying its

power on -> slow time to get to the Asus Screen -> then oS?

 

[hornetsFan]

pretty much
power on -> slow time to get to the Asus screen -> sits at Asus screen for a while, feels like 1.5-2mins (haven't timed exactly) -> then oS (slightly slower than . normal)

 

[Bossyfins]

That seems more of a motherboard issue. Have you contacted Asus Support?

 

[hornetsFan]

Not yet, I bought this laptop is 2011. So any warranty I figured is probably expired. Is there anything else they can do for me if that's the case?

 

[tiny voices]

Run memtest to ensure you do not have a bad stick of RAM.

 

[hornetsFan]

Should I use the windows memory test or download a different program?

 

[tiny voices]

Download and run memtest. It is the most thorough test.

 

[hornetsFan]

Are you referring to the program "MemTest86"? If not, could you provide the link for the one you are talking about?

 

[tiny voices]

Yes, that is correct.

 

[hornetsFan]

Am I going to need another program to burn it onto a CD/DVD or USB?

 

[tiny voices]

You can use a 3rd party program if you like. Just use the download meant for a USB or CD depending on what you want to use.

 

[velo3100]

I don't know if this helps at all but it could be that you have a lot of startup programs that are slowing the boot times. You could try and get rid or disable some of them and see if that makes a difference.

 

[tiny voices]

^ not the issue. He said it takes forever for it to get passed the splash screen and the OS isn't even loaded at that point.

 

[hornetsFan]

I just reformatted my hard drive as well, only have a couple programs and drivers installed right now. Going to run memtest when I can get my hands on another spare USB flash drive in a day or so. If nothing comes up, then I'm going to assume it's a motherboard issue and i'll contact ASUS support and see what they say.

 

[hornetsFan]

Weird actually, after a couple days of dealing with the slow boot time and using the laptop for what I need it for; the slow boot time has gone away. Boots normal now, confused as hell. Not complaining. If anyone could shed some light that would be awesome to learn what transpired here! Otherwise thank you everyone who participated in this forum to let me know to not hastily order an SSD.