Maximus Formula Slow Boot - Win XP SP2

[jozeaphe]

Hi guys , i installed the Intel matrix storage manager , i installed the chipset update , and i also installed the AHCI driver , and in my BIOS settings the SATA is configured as AHCI not as IDE , so why PC keeps booting in 45 DAMN seconds??

CPU E8400 : 385X8

HDD WDC 160GB SATA2

CD/DVD-ROM : LG -something , latest model , and its also SATA2 .

Please help !!

 

[kendo]

Is your BIOS up to date?

With the SATA RAID/AHCI option, there should be a SATA Port0-3 Native Mode option that should be enabled as you have XP. My experience is that having an AHCI SATA non RAID system does involve a slightly prolonged startup.

However, have you looked for a fast boot option in your BIOS and checked if you have /fastdetect in your boot.ini file? If this means nothing to you - TAKE EXTREME CARE, mucking up the boot.ini file will stop your PC from starting properly, if at all.

You can look at/change boot.ini via start - run and typing 'msconfig', where you can also see what programs are begun on startup and disable those not required at startup. Again, best steer clear of msconfig until you've done some homework.

You can also look and edit your boot.ini by

1. right clicking on my computer and selecting properties

2. select 'advanced' and then 'startup and recovery'

BUT be careful, if in any doubt, don't change anything. The more experienced members of the forum will no doubt have other, hopefully simpler solutions. Good luck.

 

[jozeaphe]

i'm maybe newbie at this forum but i'm not a newbie at PC's i know all about the boot.ini , the fastdetect option is on , and the fast boot option in the BIOS is also enable , but i didn't understand what u said "there should be a SATA Port0-3 Native Mode option that should be enabled as you have XP" the part about Port0-3 Native mode i get that can you explain more about it please .

any way i think what you are saying is making sense , i have only 1 HDD maybe thats the problem don't you think?

 

[kendo]

Good to hear, tbh the Native mode option is in my BIOS but I have an Award BIOS and I understand you should have an AMI one. Also you may have more SATA ports with variable RAID detection timings judging by the ASUS Mobo manual I've had a look at. Maybe these need turning to 0. There's also a lot of boot options in addition to the standard 'fast boot'. ASUS have a lot of Mobo manuals.

I'd search for specific tips for your BIOS and XP pro on the ASUS Mobo forums.

I'd also check how many non essential processes are loading up. These always need reducing after a fresh build and install of OS, drivers and utilities. I use msconfig to look at the services starting not just the startup tab and also windows prefetch.

i'm maybe newbie at this forum but i'm not a newbie at PC's i know all about the boot.ini , the fastdetect option is on , and the fast boot option in the BIOS is also enable , but i didn't understand what u said "there should be a SATA Port0-3 Native Mode option that should be enabled as you have XP" the part about Port0-3 Native mode i get that can you explain more about it please .

any way i think what you are saying is making sense , i have only 1 HDD maybe thats the problem don't you think?

 

[jozeaphe]

i know all about detection timings and its set to 0 , the strange thing is that i integrated the AHCI driver with the windows installtion setup files , after configuring the SATA as AHCI in BIOS , then i installed new windows the new version , it took me only about 10 minutes Max!! to install a total fresh copy of windows XP SP2 , and when i booted my PC with the new windows for the first time it booted in 10 seconds or so , but then when i installed the chipset update , booting timing back like before 40-45 seconds , how is that possible ??