PC Startup takes 2 minutes before BIOS menu appears

[mart1jn]

I have an old pentium IV PC with startup problems. After power up it takes about 2 minutes before the normal boot process (BIOS/Grub menu/OS startup) begins. During this 2 minute interval the Intel HT logo appears on the screen (and nothing else).

The system is dual boot with Windows and Linux. After (whichever) OS has started the system works fine.

The problem evolved as follows:

In the past there were problems with freezing system which I was able to diagnose as memory problems by using a memtest. By moving the memory modules to the other banks on the motherboard, problem was solved for some time (few months) but then returned. By each time moving the memory modules to the other banks I could work for some time (I assumed therefore it was an oxidation problem). At some stage I got tired of doing this and used contact spray. The memory problem was gone but the new problem (long startup time) appeared instead. So I repented of my action and cleaned up the contact spray with iso-propyl-alcohol. This did not help.

The startup delay does NOT occur when, after shutting down the system, I pull out the plug, and only plug it back in just before powering up the system. So it seems to be some kind of a charge build up problem (?).

Is there a chance to solve this problem? And is there a way to diagnose whether it is e.g. a motherboard or a power supply issue?

 

[RHochstenbach]

Welcome to HWF :)

If you unplug your cd/dvd drive, hard drive and all other non-essential components required to turn the computer on, does it still have a long delay?

 

[Big B]

I don't know off-hand where this might be, but check BIOS to see if something like Quick Boot, Fast Boot, or maybe something like Fast/Quick Post is an option there. If it is, make sure it's enabled. If the motherboard is going with a thorough count of the RAM, the more you have, the longer it might take. If there's no other problems, that's what it sounds like to me.

 

[mart1jn]

Welcome to HWF :)

If you unplug your cd/dvd drive, hard drive and all other non-essential components required to turn the computer on, does it still have a long delay?

Thanks for the warm welcome and the reply. Sorry for the delay. I have a multi-media PC with a lot of connectors, so I had some homework to do :). I did what you suggested, unplugging as much as possible, except the harddisk and a mini pci card. Then I rebooted and there was no delay. Then I reconnected everything 1 by 1 and in between tested the startup each time. Startup was without delay until I plugged in the last component, a TV/radio/fax modem card. As soon as I pressed it into the slot, the PC started up by itself without me needing to press the power button (=suspicious), but with the 2 minute delay. I removed the card and retested the startup, it still had the delay. When I also unplugged the "JUSB1" connector (see http://www.net-s.pl/~drivers/plytyglowne/ms7048Socket478/MS-7048.pdf page 1-4) the 2 minute delay was gone.

So it seems that the guilty component is the TV card, which seems to have also damaged part of the card reader front end (with video in connectors).

... check BIOS to see if something like ... Fast Boot ... is ... enabled. If the motherboard is going with a thorough count of the RAM, the more you have, the longer it might take. ...

Fast boot is enabled and amount of RAM is not a determining factor (the delay is always the same regardless of having 500 MB or 2,5 GB in). But thanks for the suggestions.