Question Sudden Slow Boot Time with SSD ?

[n0Kyu]

Hey everyone, hope you all are having a great day. (PC Specs will be at the bottom)

So basically, my PC is relatively new (1+ year), never had any issues, and had a fast boot time of around 10-15 seconds. Suddenly today, the boot time has become so slow (~2 minutes) where the screen is just Asus with the spinning wheel. But once the PC starts everything runs quick and smoothly. I have tried:

• Updating BIOS
• Resetting BIOS settings through the BIOS screen (Did not do CMOS reset)
• Removing some files from SSD to gain more storage (143GB free out of 476GB)
• Updating Windows 10 to the latest version
• Updating all drivers
• Disabled all startup programs except Realtek HD Audio Manager
• Ran system file checker as admin in command (sfc /scannow). Used this command - DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
• Ran an antivirus scan and found no issues

None of the above worked and my boot time is still slow. Some additional information - PC boots very fast when Fast Startup is enabled in Windows power settings. However this isn't a true shutdown as Fast Startup boot is a mix of hibernation and shut down so this does not solve my issue. Also, using crystaldiskinfo, my SSD health is at 95% with no other issues found. I am going crazy trying to figure this out, any help will greatly be appreciated. Thank you so much.

PC Specs:

• CPU - Ryzen 5 3600
• Motherboard - ASUS AMD AM4 B550M-A PRIME (no wifi)
• RAM - XPG SPECTRIX D50 RGB PC3600 (8GBX2)BLK
• SSD - XPG SX8200 480GB
• AIO - WATER COOLING AIO AIGO DARK FLASH TWISTER DX240 240mm
• GPU - ASUS PCIE NVIDIA RTX3060 12GB GDDR6 256BIT O12G ROG STRIX GAMING OC -
• PSU - Cooler Master V Series 750W V2 80 Plus Gold

 

[Colif]

slow in safe mode?

1. go to settings/update & security/recovery
   
2. under advanced startup, click restart now button
   
3. this restarts PC in a blue menu
   
4. choose troubleshoot
   
5. choose advanced
   
6. choose startup options
   
7. click the restart button
   
8. choose a safe mode (it doesn't matter which) by using number associated with it.
   
9. Pc will restart and load safe mode
   

try running HDTune trial and check health tab - https://www.hdtune.com/

 

[n0Kyu]

slow in safe mode?

1. go to settings/update & security/recovery
2. under advanced startup, click restart now button
3. this restarts PC in a blue menu
4. choose troubleshoot
5. choose advanced
6. choose startup options
7. click the restart button
8. choose a safe mode (it doesn't matter which) by using number associated with it.
9. Pc will restart and load safe mode

try running HDTune trial and check health tab - https://www.hdtune.com/

Yes, I followed your steps and it still boots slow in safe mode. As for HDTune, here is the screenshot, I dont know why the Health Tab is blank.

https://imgur.com/a/aEONW8v

View: https://imgur.com/a/aEONW8v

 

[Colif]

share screenshot of crystaldiskinfo?

shame XPG don't have their own tester.

I suspect since its slow in safe mode it could be the drive, or some other hardware.

odd it works fine in fast startup. I know the difference between it and normal. main difference is PC isn't powered off.
that would have made me think it was a driver but it being slow in safe mode seems to remove that option.

 

[n0Kyu]

share screenshot of crystaldiskinfo?

shame XPG don't have their own tester.

I suspect since its slow in safe mode it could be the drive, or some other hardware.

odd it works fine in fast startup. I know the difference between it and normal. main difference is PC isn't powered off.
that would have made me think it was a driver but it being slow in safe mode seems to remove that option.

Exactly, I find it odd too that Fast Startup actually makes a difference here (10seconds from 2 minutes). Here is the screenshot from crystaldisk.

https://imgur.com/a/gLalypJ

View: https://imgur.com/a/gLalypJ

 

[Colif]

i wonder if booting from an Ubuntu live USB would show anything
https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows#1-overview

there is a startup log but it doesn't appear to have time stamps so you really can't tell what problem might be from it. Also doesn't run if you have fast startup on.

i guess the existence of power means devices don't have to do a cold start to run. Safe mode and restart are only times a PC with fast startup on, is actually off.

Anything old attached to PC?
Slow boot might be caused by any hardware, we can't assume its the ssd. BIOS doesn't seem to have any problems, hands control to windows which then stops and thinks.

 

[Bob.B]

Exactly, I find it odd too that Fast Startup actually makes a difference here (10seconds from 2 minutes). Here is the screenshot from crystaldisk.

https://imgur.com/a/gLalypJ

View: https://imgur.com/a/gLalypJ

Task manager/startup upper right.....bios time.
Any diff in that time with and without fast startup?

 

[n0Kyu]

i wonder if booting from an Ubuntu live USB would show anything
https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows#1-overview

there is a startup log but it doesn't appear to have time stamps so you really can't tell what problem might be from it. Also doesn't run if you have fast startup on.

i guess the existence of power means devices don't have to do a cold start to run. Safe mode and restart are only times a PC with fast startup on, is actually off.

Anything old attached to PC?
Slow boot might be caused by any hardware, we can't assume its the ssd. BIOS doesn't seem to have any problems, hands control to windows which then stops and thinks.

Sorry for the late reply, I have detached almost all of my hardwares except the necessary peripherals and it does not make a difference. As for ubuntu, I have tried it but the results are the same. At this point, I think my best bet is to reinstall Windows and hope it fixes it.

 

[n0Kyu]

Task manager/startup upper right.....bios time.
Any diff in that time with and without fast startup?

Only a difference of 2s (10s with FS, 12s without).

 

[Colif]

As for ubuntu, I have tried it but the results are the same. At this point, I think my best bet is to reinstall Windows and hope it fixes it.

if its slow booting off USB, its not windows.
And its not the ssd.

bios time is just how long it takes bios to hand control to windows. delay is once the OS is running

• CPU - Ryzen 5 3600
• Motherboard - ASUS AMD AM4 B550M-A PRIME (no wifi)
• RAM - XPG SPECTRIX D50 RGB PC3600 (8GBX2)BLK
• SSD - XPG SX8200 480GB
• AIO - WATER COOLING AIO AIGO DARK FLASH TWISTER DX240 240mm
• GPU - ASUS PCIE NVIDIA RTX3060 12GB GDDR6 256BIT O12G ROG STRIX GAMING OC -
• PSU - Cooler Master V Series 750W V2 80 Plus Gold

i wonder what it is.

have you tried booting up with no USB/speakers attached? no external hdd, no USB WiFi adapter?

do you have latest non beta bios? https://www.asus.com/au/Motherboards-Components/Motherboards/PRIME/PRIME-B550M-A/HelpDesk_BIOS/

its not likely to be ram as it would take longer in bios if it was a ram problem, I think.

You might want to run Prime 95 overnight - https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/prime95-download.html
Prime 95 how to Guide: http://www.playtool.com/pages/prime95/prime95.html

strange if it was the AIO - https://www.darkflash.com/tw/product/show.php?num=67

 

[n0Kyu]

if its slow booting off USB, its not windows.
And its not the ssd.

bios time is just how long it takes bios to hand control to windows. delay is once the OS is running


i wonder what it is.

have you tried booting up with no USB/speakers attached? no external hdd, no USB WiFi adapter?

do you have latest non beta bios? https://www.asus.com/au/Motherboards-Components/Motherboards/PRIME/PRIME-B550M-A/HelpDesk_BIOS/

its not likely to be ram as it would take longer in bios if it was a ram problem, I think.

You might want to run Prime 95 overnight - https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/prime95-download.html
Prime 95 how to Guide: http://www.playtool.com/pages/prime95/prime95.html

strange if it was the AIO - https://www.darkflash.com/tw/product/show.php?num=67

I will try to boot without anything attached. As for the bios it is the latest non-beta already. Im going run Prime 95 after I test out the boot without any attachments. Thank you Colif for the help, I will send the results here once its done.

 

[geofelt]

What might have changed since all was well?
Perhaps a bad windows update?

You might check the cmos battery.
It is responsible for preserving bios settings across full power off.
If it is not functioning, a bios needs to spend extra time finding ram settings.

Run memtest86 or memtest86+
They boot from a usb stick and do not use windows.
You can download them here:

MemTest86 - Official Site of the x86 Memory Testing Tool

MemTest86 is the original self booting memory testing software for x86 and ARM computers. Supporting both BIOS and UEFI, with options to boot from USB.

www.memtest86.com

Memtest86+ | The Open-Source Memory Testing Tool

Memtest86+ is an advanced, free, open-source, stand-alone memory tester for 32- and 64-bit computers (UEFI & BIOS supported)

www.memtest.org

If you can run a full pass with NO errors, your ram should be ok.
If this happens quickly, look to windows related issues.

If you use sleep(no hibernate) instead of a power off, your pc and monitor will enter a very low power state, close to full power off.
The benefit is quick sleep/resume times.

 

[n0Kyu]

What might have changed since all was well?
Perhaps a bad windows update?

You might check the cmos battery.
It is responsible for preserving bios settings across full power off.
If it is not functioning, a bios needs to spend extra time finding ram settings.

Run memtest86 or memtest86+
They boot from a usb stick and do not use windows.
You can download them here:

MemTest86 - Official Site of the x86 Memory Testing Tool

MemTest86 is the original self booting memory testing software for x86 and ARM computers. Supporting both BIOS and UEFI, with options to boot from USB.

www.memtest86.com

Memtest86+ | The Open-Source Memory Testing Tool

Memtest86+ is an advanced, free, open-source, stand-alone memory tester for 32- and 64-bit computers (UEFI & BIOS supported)

www.memtest.org

If you can run a full pass with NO errors, your ram should be ok.
If this happens quickly, look to windows related issues.

If you use sleep(no hibernate) instead of a power off, your pc and monitor will enter a very low power state, close to full power off.
The benefit is quick sleep/resume times.

If I remember correctly there were no updates before the issue happened. I will try the memtest86 first before resetting the cmos, and Ill send the results here. Thank you!

 

[kerberos_20]

if you have slow boot time during spinning circle, then in most cases you have too many system restore points
delete all of them and keep just last recent backup or make a new one

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...cent-one-d43d697b-09ac-bef6-8a02-1000a18a9b82