New PC Problems.

[stevesey]

Zilch!
You see the Acer logo on the screen and that is it! Then after 4, minutes it is as though you have just turned on the pc and windows comes on in normal boot up time.

That does sound like the BIOS memory check is running (in the background) or it's trying to detect disk drives etc (actually that seems more likely). I'd be looking in the BIOS settings for a "quick start-up" type option that skips the memory checks etc (assumes hardware config was the same as last time).

EDIT: Actually thinking about this they would have probably switched the BIOS to "slow" start-up to get it to get it to regocise the new memory on boot.

Are you happy getting into the BIOS setup screen and tweaking?

 

[Sp!ke]

What is the spec of CPU and HDD on this box?

If its a lowly celeron cpu, with a slow disk and mismatched memory, 4 minutes is quite normal to boot Vista imho.

 

[stevesey]

What is the spec of CPU and HDD on this box?

If its a lowly celeron cpu, with a slow disk and mismatched memory, 4 minutes is quite normal to boot Vista imho.

Sp!ke - it's 4 minutes to start booting.

Zilch!
You see the Acer logo on the screen and that is it! Then after 4, minutes it is as though you have just turned on the pc and windows comes on in normal boot up time.

 

[ringway]

What is the spec of CPU and HDD on this box?

If its a lowly celeron cpu, with a slow disk and mismatched memory, 4 minutes is quite normal to boot Vista imho.

Intel dual core and 240gb hard drive IIRC.

 

[ringway]

is there anything external plugged in, ie printers/harddrives etc... try disconnecting to see if problem lies there, during boot process system will load drivers and check these devices

Ah, you may well have a point there JP. The computer shop said it booted fine for them and did mention something similar to what you have said.

Bought a printer with the pc and I think this is plugged in, but not yet installed.. I don't get much time to get over to my mums at the moment, so maybe I should explore that route.

Thanks.

Paul.

 

[ringway]

That does sound like the BIOS memory check is running (in the background) or it's trying to detect disk drives etc (actually that seems more likely). I'd be looking in the BIOS settings for a "quick start-up" type option that skips the memory checks etc (assumes hardware config was the same as last time).

EDIT: Actually thinking about this they would have probably switched the BIOS to "slow" start-up to get it to get it to regocise the new memory on boot.

Are you happy getting into the BIOS setup screen and tweaking?

If I was forced to, I could, and I feel that this would be my quickest solution but I don't want to go down that road yet in case I bugger the thing up.

Cheers

Paul.

 

[Dryce]

Zilch!
You see the Acer logo on the screen and that is it! Then after 4, minutes it is as though you have just turned on the pc and windows comes on in normal boot up time.

So doesn't look like a Windows problem.

As already discussed below - could be an extended memory test by the BIOS.

I've also seen a BIOS trip over an internal USB card reader and wait for ages before timing out and then kicking of the OS boot.

 

[ringway]

is there anything external plugged in, ie printers/harddrives etc... try disconnecting to see if problem lies there, during boot process system will load drivers and check these devices

Bang On JP!

I disconnected the printer (not yet installed) and the system booted quickly.




Also, many thanks to everyone that advised.