Boot problem

[jemmo]

When booting up, my machine has been taking quite a while to get through POST - it will initialise but then I don't always get the RAM check. However, leave the machine alone and it will (eventually) boot. I reckon between power-on and having a usable PC (I do have a lot of programs) takes 15 minutes. The problem is the POST - it just seems to hang at the mem check.
Could this be a simple BIOS battery issue or something more sinister?

Win XP
P4 3GHz
2 Gig Ram

[liljim]

Id start experimenting with ram chips. Pull one, boot see what happens then swap and so on. Sounds like you may have a stick starting to go.

[jemmo]

I did wonder - but I changed the CMOS battery anyway and it made no difference.
I ran Max Registry Cleaner and cleared a load of stuff and that appears to have helped in terms of speed when the machine does boot.

It has just booted now but again I got no RAM check - it just seemed to hang a while and then started as though all is fine.

I will play with the RAM.

Thanks liljim.

[jemmo]

Tests with ram sticks have been inconclusive.
I got down to one stick , booted and didn't get the POST RAM check.
I swapped RAM sticks and did get the check.
I rebooted with the same stick to double check, and this time didn't get the RAM check.
I now have 3 RAM sticks in and am getting the RAM check (says 'OK') but it doesn't go any further. It's just hanging in POST with 'Memory Testing: 3145728 OK'.
All RAM sticks are the same.

Most strange.
Good job I have use of wifey's flaptop!

[liljim]

sry jemmo i been gone a while

i got a little confused, i guess thats the trouble with tech sites and not being able to be there in person.

So the one stick that booted, did it make it all the way to the desktop?

and the other 3 hangs at post?

if thats whats going on, you can do further mem test with memtest86. Id put all the memory in and test it over night. The test runs constantly but it will list any errors it found throught the night. If it all passes you may be looking at a mother board problem.