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Resolved Question

Slow Boot after installing SSD

Dec 10, 2014 1:17AM PST

I recently replaced my 80 GB C: drive with a 128GB Kingston SV300 SSD, (leaving my second 200GB hard drive in place). Now, when I power up, the BIOS status panel comes up and stays 'idle' for about 2 minutes, with a flashing cursor and an offer to hit Ctrl-I to open the config utility. (Doing so just restarts the boot - I would have to hit F2 to actual get the utility). After this pause windows starts normally and all is well -- actually, it's a very prompt Windows 7 startup.
While waiting for this to happen, I noticed that my disk configuration is listed as Port 00 - my second HDD; port 01 - CDROM; port 04 - the SDD. Both port 0 and port 4 are noted as 'Controlled by RAID BIOS'.
This behavior is new with the SDD. Should I be changing some BIOS setting? Is it doing a memory test or something? Should I be updating the BIOS?

Configuration is a Dell Dimension E520, 4GB RAM, BIOS Dell 2.4.0 dated 5/24/2007.

Thanks for any suggestions
Perryb

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Best Answer

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Just an added note
Dec 10, 2014 1:46AM PST

For decades I've put the boot drive on the lowest port or ID (IDE, SATA, SCSI doesn't matter) but it sounds like you have the SSD out there.
Bob

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Thanks for your advice.
Dec 11, 2014 1:25AM PST

I'll start by swapping the SATA ports. I'm fairly certain the boot-up delay is from searching for HDD features. Turning off RAID in the BIOS had the effect of preventing Windows boot-up, as others have predicted, so that's not going to work.

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With the SSD on high port numbers
Dec 11, 2014 1:38AM PST

I bet that's true since the old IDE mode would only give us 4 ports of SATA. Some BIOS had less. You might have to rearrange the ports from lowest having the boot drive then reinstall windows so it knows what port to boot from. It's an older machine with lots of legacy/arcane lost knowledge. But there are some basics that look wrong here.

Also, many Windows installs will fail to boot on a change from IDE to AHCI. That's normal and I clear that up by reinstalling Windows.
Bob

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Answer
For now, unplug the 200GB to reduce and make it simpler.
Dec 10, 2014 1:23AM PST

As to the RAID BIOS, yes, since you don't have RAID that would delay the boot and the bios scans for a raid setup. There are some hundred e520's so if you want folk to check manuals, supply a link to your exact model.
Bob

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System is Dell E520, Model DM061
Dec 10, 2014 10:29PM PST

Thanks for the suggestion. System is Dell E520, Model DM061

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I don't see your link to the manual but
Dec 11, 2014 1:02AM PST