Member Avatar for PGKroeger

Computer has 10 to 20 minutes delay prior to booting.

Computer Specifications:

Self-built machine, (Name: DM-8)

Motherboard: ASUS P9X79 Deluxe, latest BIOS (4210), has UEFI.
Core: Intel i7-3930K
Memory: 32 GB
OS: Windows 8, 64-bit
OS & all applications installed on RAID 1 set of 2 solid state drives (Crucial 256 GB ea., CT256M4SSD2)
Self-generated data, downloads, etc. on RAID 1 set of 2 WD hard disks, 1 TB ea.

Description:

On any boot or restart the system goes through POST, offering access to BIOS (del) and to RAID settings (Ctrl-I). Then the ASUS logo is shown on each screen (two monitors) without the option to access BIOS.

That display will be there for about 10 minutes, lately up to 20 minutes.

Then Window 8 boot executes within a few seconds & normalcy has returned.

Items done so far:

Originally checked Windows event log. Nothing there 10 to 20 minutes of no entries. Only then realized that this delay apparently occurs prior to control being passed to Win8.

Upgraded BIOS to latest version.

Checked in Device manger whether any drivers are outdated, all reported ‘best driver installed’, or equivalent.

Cleared CMOS. Then reset BIOS to ‘optimized defaults’ & only changed SATA setting from AHCI to RAID.

Boot priority setting by default is ‘Windows Boot’. Tried other Option, ‘Volume 2’, which refers to the solid state RAID set. Boot under that option fails, system not finding some necessary item.

Tried cold restarts (after disconnecting/reconnecting power to motherboard.)

Any suggestions/help would be appreciated.

Peter K

  • 3 Contributors
  • 5 Replies
  • 312 Views
  • 4 Months Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by Member #954384

Dani AI

Generated

Practical, targeted steps to find what’s stalling between POST and Windows: the hang you see on the ASUS logo almost always means pre‑OS initialization (Option ROMs, storage/controller initialization or a peripheral) is waiting on something. Building on comments from and the thread so far, try the following in order — each step is designed to reveal which component is responsible without changing your OS configuration.

  1. Turn off the full‑screen/quiet logo so you can see the last POST message. Photograph or note the exact line where it stops — that text or a motherboard debug/Q‑code will point straight to the culprit.
  2. Remove every non‑essential device: all USB devices, card readers (front panel), external drives and unused internal drives. Boot with only the boot SSDs, keyboard and one monitor. Peripherals frequently hang UEFI while being enumerated.
  3. Test video hardware: use a single monitor on the primary GPU port (try DVI/HDMI instead of DisplayPort), reseat the card and cables. GPU/VBIOS initialization can stall during UEFI.
  4. Check the RAID/Option‑ROM status in the pre‑boot utility and in the OS (Intel RST). A resync, degraded disk or Option‑ROM waiting for a device can add many minutes. If the array is rebuilding, allow it to finish or confirm array health before investigating further.
  5. If the above don’t show the cause, do a minimal hardware boot (one RAM stick, disconnect secondary HDDs, minimal peripherals) to isolate the offending subsystem. Backup before disconnecting or changing SATA/RAID mode — changing SATA mode can make Windows unbootable unless converted safely.
  6. Update firmware where appropriate (SSD firmware via the vendor tool, any expansion card firmware, and keep RAID/driver packages current). If disabling a specific Option ROM or device clears the delay, update or replace that device.

Collect the exact POST message or motherboard debug code if the problem persists; that single data point usually reveals whether the delay is a RAID/drive, USB/peripheral, or GPU/option‑ROM issue.

Recommended Answers

All 5 Replies

Member Avatar for rubberman

Since you are running Windows 8 on a UEFI secure-boot enabled system, have you enabled secure boot? If so, have you registered the Windows 8 key with the UEFI BIOS?

Member Avatar for PGKroeger

The answer is no. Will do it right now.
Thanks.

Member Avatar for PGKroeger

did enable it, leaving all keys at their default positions.

No change, about 10 minute wait.

Member Avatar for Member #954384

You and me both man... I have the exact same mobo as you, part of my issues were fixed by going back to 7, but boot time is still a little slow...

Member Avatar for Member #954384

I would suggest updating your BIOS, they have released one that improves system stability.

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