Windows takes two hours to boot every reboot. Goes to spinning circles

essenbe · 13 Mar 2016

Rob, safe way to do it is image your system to a new hard drive and try the conversion on it. If it succeeds you could image that drive to your current drive. That way if something goes wrong in the process, you still have your current install.

Another option is to do a clean install on a second hard drive. After the install you can continue your projects on your current one, while installing your programs on the clean install. When the clean install is finished, make the switch then. You can take your time on the new install that way.

topgundcp · 13 Mar 2016

essenbe said:

It will normally make little difference and unless I am mistaken, you can't switch from Legacy to UEFI without a Clean Reinstall.

Dude said:

It can be done without a clean install, but its not easy. Read step 18 in the instructions

Converting Windows BIOS installation to UEFI - TechNet Articles - United States (English) - TechNet Wiki

@essenbe
Yes, it can be done without fresh install.
@Dude
The procedure from technet is too complicated. Here's an easy way to convert from MBR to GPT which I posted a while back. Beside being a good imaging software, Macrium Rescue disk can be used to convert from MBR to GPT and vice versa without doing a fresh install of Windows.

Download Rescue6.1.1081X64.iso - Google Drive and use Rufus to create a bootable USB disk
Download: BootEFI_Only-00-00.zip - Google Drive . Unzip to an external HD
NOTE: This is a copy of the first 3 partitions of my current Windows 10 x64 (450MB Recovery, 100MB EFI and 16MB MSR)
Boot up Macrium Rescue disk and create a backup of your current Windows to an external HD. It serves 2 purposes: you'd have a backup of your current Windows in case things go wrong and then use it to restore the C drive on the next steps.
Next, switch the BIOS to UEFI and use Macrium to restore the first 3 partitions downloaded in step 2 to your current MBR Windows. No need to convert or Format, Macrium will do it.
Again with Macrium, select the backup image from step 3, and copy back the C drive after the 3 partitions.
After this step, you should have: 450MB, 100MB, 16MB and C drive (GPT partition scheme)
From Macrium, click on Fix the Windows Boot Problems
Reboot. Your Windows should be in UEFI mode.

Word Man · 13 Mar 2016

essenbe said:

Rob, safe way to do it is image your system to a new hard drive and try the conversion on it. If it succeeds you could image that drive to your current drive. That way if something goes wrong in the process, you still have your current install.

Another option is to do a clean install on a second hard drive. After the install you can continue your projects on your current one, while installing your programs on the clean install. When the clean install is finished, make the switch then. You can take your time on the new install that way.

I'm in agreement with Steve (essenbe) that may be the best way to phase into a truly clean install of Win10. Hopefully would give you a clutter free OS install in better working order.

As far as partition arrangement and the content of partitions other than your c: partition and how they're working, they don't necessarily waste you gobs of disk real estate.

Acknowledging your degree of investment at this point, Rob, I understand that it's too much to be reinstalling all your programs before getting back to a "production" system, which you seem to be booting OK now.

Another option as far as straightening out partitions (suggested often, particularly by TF member topgundcp) could be this sequence (maintaining legacy boot/MBR disk scheme):

1) Image entire disk with Macrium to external drive. Have Macrium bootable rescue media prepared ahead of time.
2) Boot from Win10 install media, perform Win10 clean install, using custom install option, deleting all partitions on the 120GB SSD.
3) Boot from Macrium rescue media and then restore ONLY your c: partition (all programs and user data intact as imaged) to the 120 GB SSD.
4) use fix boot tool in Macrium as needed.

EDIT: LOL - heh, welcome, topgundcp! I see you're on the job. I'll let my post stand however, as nothing inconsistent with what you just posted - other than Rob deciding whether he's sticking with legacy/MBR versus migrating to UEFI/GPT.

RobH2 · 13 Mar 2016

Rob, safe way to do it is image your system to a new hard drive and try the conversion on it. If it succeeds you could image that drive to your current drive. That way if something goes wrong in the process, you still have your current install.

This sounds like a good plan. Let me see if I have the steps right:

1: Image my current C: drive (did that just now and it's verifying)
2. Pull that drive from my system
3: Insert another drive (I have a stack of spares but none are SSD so I'll definitely need to go back to my SSD at the end)
4: Boot with Macrium, format that new drive MBR and copy my Image to it
5: Boot back to Windows and begin the Legacy to UEFI process. Finish that.
6: Boot Windows to make sure all is well.
7: Image this new drive.
8: Disconnect the New drive and reconnect my original SSD drive
9: Boot with Macrium and Image the UEFI drive back to my original SSD drive.

RobH2 · 13 Mar 2016

@topgundcp, I have a few questions. See RED below:

Download Rescue6.1.1081X64.iso - Google Drive and use Rufus to create a bootable USB disk (can I use this or do I still need to do another one from REscue6.1? )

From POST #91: Rob if you burn a USB stick and put Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk on it, and can boot to it on your computer with all the problems, you can access it from

Download: BootEFI_Only-00-00.zip - Google Drive . Unzip to an external HD (does it have to be external, I have 6 internals with lots of space?)
NOTE: This is a copy of the first 3 partitions of my current Windows 10 x64 (450MB Recovery, 100MB EFI and 16MB MSR)
Boot up Macrium Rescue disk and create a backup of your current Windows to an external HD. It serves 2 purposes: you'd have a backup of your current Windows in case things go wrong and then use it to restore the C drive on the next steps. (I've already Imaged from within Windows just now. Is that sufficient or does doing it from a Macrium boot do something different? Also, it's on a separate 'internal' drive, is that OK?)
Next, switch the BIOS to UEFI and use Macrium to restore the first 3 partitions downloaded in step 2 to your current MBR Windows. No need to convert or Format, Macrium will do it. (my BIOS has been in UEFI [enabled] the whole time with my Legacy setup. Is that plausible, and, if so, I can just leave it as is, right?)
Again with Macrium, select the backup image from step 3, and copy back the C drive after the 3 partitions.
After this step, you should have: 450MB, 100MB, 16MB and C drive (GPT partition scheme) (What do you mean by this? Specifically, can you phrase it another way so I know what you mean, "copy back the C drive after the 3 partitions"? Do you mean, leave the 3 partitions and add my 2 partitions "after" them resulting in 5 partitions? Just want to be clear. )
From Macrium, click on Fix the Windows Boot Problems
Reboot. Your Windows should be in UEFI mode.

OldMike65 · 13 Mar 2016

Don't really want to butt in here. But Before doing all this work switching to UEFI mode (GPT) Looking at your screenshot a few pages back on the size of your SSD, 120GB drive. Its almost full now, 23% left of Free Space. Why not invest in buying a new better and bigger SSD seeing how you have so much money, time, and hard work invested already? Why not buy a Samsung SSD 250GB and give yourself more room, and not be so close to maxing out your SSD you have now?? The price for that Samsung right now is 84.00 on Newegg. Samsung is one of the Top of the line SSD's. Just something for you to think about Rob, before doing all this work. Mike.

topgundcp · 13 Mar 2016

can I use this or do I still need to do another one from REscue6.1?
You can use this. The fixes with the latest version is not related to what you are doing. However, If you can create your own then do it. The link I provided is for those who does not have Macrium installed.
does it have to be external, I have 6 internals with lots of space?)
No, it does not have to be external, if you have an internal then it would be faster.
I've already Imaged from within Windows just now. Is that sufficient or does doing it from a Macrium boot do something different? Also, it's on a separate 'internal' drive, is that OK?)
Then you are all set.
(my BIOS has been in UEFI [enabled] the whole time with my Legacy setup. Is that plausible, and, if so, I can just leave it as is, right?)
Some BIOS will support both UEFI+MBR. Mine is MSI Motherboard and does support both depending on the partition scheme used, My PC will boot up fine with either.
(What do you mean by this? Specifically, can you phrase it another way so I know what you mean, "copy back the C drive after the 3 partitions"? Do you mean, leave the 3 partitions and add my 2 partitions "after" them resulting in 5 partitions? Just want to be clear. )
On ealier step 4, you first restore the 3 partitions (450MB, 100MB, 16MB). Next select your own image as source and the drive you have those 3 partitions as destination, drag C drive from source and drop it next to the 16MB MSR partition to copy.

RobH2 · 13 Mar 2016

Mike, you are definitely not butting in and you make a very good point and one that I've been considering. I've spent so much on this new system that I too had considered that and thought that since I do an Image every day, that at any time I had recovered my cashflow, I could get a bigger drive. I actually have 42GB available on that 120GB drive or about 1/3 of it free right now after a "cleanup." I'm happy to see the SSD drives coming down in price. I paid $350 for this SSD120 4 years ago.

I will take your advice as soon as I recover some cash flow. It's what I've been thinking all along. I do struggle to keep my C: drive with free headroom. That's why I have so many other drives. Some are for 3D stuff but one is solely for installs that I redirect from C: to it and one is for the Windows Installer folder that takes us so much space. I have a 'Junction' redirecting that.

RobH2 · 13 Mar 2016

topgundcp said:

On ealier step 4, you first restore the 3 partitions (450MB, 100MB, 16MB). Next select your own image as source and the drive you have those 3 partitions as destination, drag C drive from source and drop it next to the 16MB MSR partition to copy.

@topgundcp: Oh, I see now. I didn't read thoroughly enough before to notice the 'size' of the three partitions. They are all smaller so it makes sense to put my huge one "after" the others. Just wanted to verify and thanks for clarifying everything. I'm going to jump in with both feet now. I'll post my results when done.

Thanks all...

topgundcp · 13 Mar 2016

OldMike65 said:

Don't really want to butt in here. But Before doing all this work switching to UEFI mode (GPT) Looking at your screenshot a few pages back on the size of your SSD, 120GB drive. Its almost full now, 23% left of Free Space. Why not invest in buying a new better and bigger SSD seeing how you have so much money, time, and hard work invested already? Why not buy a Samsung SSD 250GB and give yourself more room, and not be so close to maxing out your SSD you have now?? The price for that Samsung right now is 84.00 on Newegg. Samsung is one of the Top of the line SSD's. Just something for you to think about Rob, before doing all this work. Mike.

Depending on how you arrange and separate your data from the Windows disk. I think it is plenty with 120GB, mine is 120GB containing Windows and 3rd party apps and only taken around 32GB. I have all data/images on a separate internal HD/SSD. IMO, 120GB is ideal for system disk.