How to diagnose boot problem Windows 8.1

Hi

My question is about how to determine where in the boot process things are going wrong. If I boot from a full shut down (occasionally from a restart as well), I typically see the four blue window panes on a black background. I expect to see the rotating progress indicator below, and if that doesn't show within 10 seconds or so, I know the boot will stall. So I restart, usually twice, stalling at the same point. Then I get the statement 'Preparing Automatic Repair'. But again, the rotating progress indicator might not show. So on the next attempt I press F8 as the machine starts. I choose the top option (Windows Boot Manager (P1: Samsung SSD 850 Pro 256GB)) from the resulting screen and, most times, away we go - the system boots up and works fine.

Once I do get the rotating progress indicator, the rest of the boot process is very quick.  Whatever problem I have is during the early stages of the boot process.  But since Windows eventing and logging hasn't started by then (as far as I know), it is hard to diagnose the cause.

The PC is three months old with the following specs. Temperatures are good and there's lots of free space on each drive.

Computer type: PC/Desktop
SystemManufacturer/Model Number: Scan 3XS Custom
OS: Windows 8.1 Pro x64
CPU: Intel Core i7 5820K
Motherboard: ASUS X99-A
Memory: Corsair DDR4 16GB
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
Sound Card: Realtek on-board
Hard Drives:
Samsung SSD 850 Pro 256GB (OS)
Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA 2TB (Software installs)
Western Digital WD20EZRX-22D8PB0 SATA 2TB (Documents)
PSU: Corsair RM750
Case: Corsair Carbide 330R
Cooling: Noctua NH-U14S
Browser: Chrome
Antivirus: Kaspersky KIS 2015

I installed the OS myself using a DVD. It's been a while since I could do OS installs in my sleep, and I'm not up to date with the latest BIOS options and UEFI in particular. Anyway, I've disabled Fast Boot in the BIOS and tried fixing the MBR per https://neosmart.net/wiki/fix-mbr/#F...indows_8_or_81.  I've also tried using EasyBCD; I have some questions about the output from that, but on the whole things looked healthy.

I've tried running sfc /scannow, which sometimes says problems were found and fixed; other times it finds problems but says they can't be fixed. Then I try dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth. This process can get me a clean boot once in a while, but not consistently.

Given that the boot stalls with the 4 window panes but no progress indicator, I wonder if the problem is likely to be with the BIOS settings and/or hardware, or whether it is actually Windows related. I've got Windows boot logging enabled, but the logs don't show me anything on a failed boot. Nor do the Windows event logs. It's as if Windows just starts to load but can't get past some initial barrier. Yet eventually it does, with the use of F8 seeming to send it down a more productive path.

There seems to be a low-level problem of some kind and any guidance on how to identify exactly where will be much appreciated. Once the system does boot, it works extremely well - some annoying event log warnings, but nothing major. I've spent some time getting all my software installed (mostly development related) so I'm reluctant to wipe everything out with a fresh install.

With thanks and regards

July 21st, 2015 5:32am

In order to diagnose your problem we need to run Windows performance toolkit the instructions for which can be found in this wiki


If you have any questions feel free to ask
Please run the trace when you are experiencing the problem

Since your is a boot problem use the boot configuration

Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
July 21st, 2015 6:05am

Thank you very much for the quick response.  I've done as you suggest.

Having set up the Performance Recorder trace, I pressed Start which led to the machine rebooting.  That was at around 16:55 (on 21 July).  That reboot hung - it didn't get as far as the 4 blue window panes; just a black screen with a flashing white cursor at the top left.  I waited a few minutes in case data was being collected, but nothing changed. So I restarted manually.  That time (around 17:06), and the subsequent two, the boot worked.  I logged in each time and a window popped up saying a boot trace was being collected.  I have three etl files and three corresponding folders with names ending NGENPUB.

I've uploaded a zip of the first etl file only.  Are the others (and/or the folders) required?  I'm a bit worried about putting the OneDrive link here - will it not be accessible to anyone?  The tool says that personal data is collected.  Is there a way to send you the link in a PM?

Also, I wonder if the trace will have captured anything from the first stalled boot?  If not, would you expect to learn anything from the traces of the successful boots?

Thank you for your assistance

July 21st, 2015 1:39pm

Hello again

I'm wondering what to do next.  Can anyone advise on how I should troubleshoot using the etl file?  Or is this only for Microsoft's internal use?

Thank you

Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
July 26th, 2015 7:02am

While I do not normally accept emails with attachments you can use the email address on my profile page to send it to us.
July 26th, 2015 7:47am

Hi

I'm not clear on what to expect.  I gave the link to the output from the Windows Performance Recorder, but nothing heard since.

I'll be happy to try diagnosing myself.  If anyone can give advice on how to interpret the output and pinpoint the area causing the problem, that would be a big help.

Many thanks

Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
August 5th, 2015 5:00am

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