Black screen at Startup

[shankle]

Running Windows 7 Pro 32-bit.
At start-up lately I am getting a Black screen for about 40 seconds before the Start Windows logo.
Seems lots of other people have the same problem.
Yes I have been in msconfig checking the start-up programs and disabled all I could.
Most of them are Microsoft goodies. I then went into safe mode and the same thing occurred.
When I first installed Windows 7 this did not occur.
Been checking my ESET SS virus checker and that's as far as I can tell not the problem.
I sure hate the thought of reinstalling Windows as it would be a several day project.
No I would not lose my data as it's in another partition but still it is a big job.
Checked with Dell and got the runaround - solved nothing.
Windows 7 forum didn't solve it either.
Checked Windows event viewer but really didn't know what I was looking at.
Any ideas would be appreciated

[dedndave]

i am going to make an educated guess here, Jack...
a windows update was installed via automatic updates
i say this because i have seen similar scenarios in XP
the key is that a number of others have experienced the same thing
that may give you some ideas where to look or what to google   :P

[shankle]

Hi Dave,
Nope - only do manual updates.
Just updated my Nvidia driver and the problem persists.
I'm almost bald so I guess scratching head won't matter.
Thanks for responding.

[sinsi]

A couple of things I have seen could be causing this:
1. Bad sector - run "chkdsk /r" but be prepared for a long wait
2. Network problem - if you're using dhcp there may be connectivity issues.

[shankle]

Hi Sinsi,
Chkdsk showed no errors.
I am not using dhcp.

Next I'm going to check out GOD mode.
If nothing there then a complete reinstall
of windoz 7 is in order I think.

[dedndave]

Jack
i have seen a delay, but it was after the welcome screen
it was related to DotNot 4.0
this batch file fixed that issue
it regenerates the native images
it cannot hurt to try it   :U

Code Select Expand

@echo off
::http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en/netfxsetup/thread/cb75c4dc-e0af-4b22-85b2-c2c1b08bfea1
C:
cd C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322
ngen update >C:\WINDOWS\dotNET4fix.log
cd C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727
ngen update >>C:\WINDOWS\dotNET4fix.log
cd C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319
ngen update >>C:\WINDOWS\dotNET4fix.log

[sinsi]

Process Monitor by sysinternals has a 'boot logging' option, maybe give that a go.

[shankle]

I did a fresh install of Windows 7 Pro today. In it's pristine state the Black screen persisted from
35 to 40 seconds.
So Windows 7 must be causing the problem.
I also update the Nvidia software and the problem remained.

[Gunner]

The only time I get quick boots with Win 7 is right after a clean install, then maybe 1 or 2 after that then it is slow again...

[shankle]

You had better luck than I Gunner.
This problem has been around for quite a while. It occurred
in Vista from what I read in my perusing.
Things are changing in "msconfig" without my interference.
I set it at "Normal Startup". Power down and backup and the
"msconfig" is now at "Selective Startup". Also the Startup items
I uncheck are now checked. 
Surely Microsoft knows about this problem but does nothing.

[Bill Cravener]

This problem has been around for quite a while. It occurred
in Vista from what I read in my perusing.

You are correct shankle. It takes near 2 minutes for my Vista machine to boot up and settle down. I've gotten use to it and just go make a cup of coffee after turning on my machine in the morning.

[shankle]

You have more patience than I Bill.
For the money Microsoft charges for a new
OS you would think they would fix a problem like this.
But I MUST stop complaining as this is the only
game in town unless you want to go with the
Linux fiasco.

[Bill Cravener]

shankle, I just figure with all that a modern PC OS must deal with to make the machine run it takes a bit of time to load all of it, this isn't the days of DOS any longer when my machine was ready to go in less then 30 seconds. As to having patience I'm always patient unless I'm popping my meds for arthritis pain then I become cranky and very impatient. :bg