PC stuck at POST (Power-On Self-Test)

Hello

So i ran into a weird issue today. When i powered on my PC it got stuck at the POST (Power-On Self-Test) screen just before you enter the OS.

After 3-4 minutes it loaded into the OS. I had this issue back on Windows 7 also. I'm thinking it's the HDD. I have 2 HDDs :

1) Seagate 2TB SATA 3 HDD - 5 years old
2) Western Digital 250GB SATA 2 HDD - 13 years old

Could it be that my 13 year old WD 250GB is failing ?

This also happened back on Windows 7 but on Windows 7 if i remember right the POST stopped at checking the DVD WRITER and after a few minutes it got into the OS and back then i thought it was the DVD WRITER but i'm not so sure anymore.

Now it stopped after checking everything and had to wait 3-4 minutes. I tried restarting a few times to replicate the issue but i was unable to.

Also this does not happen every day, it's random like 1 time every 3 weeks or so.

Would really need some help with this because i don't know if my 13 year old HDD is the culprit. Someone told me older HDDs don't spin up right away and that's why it needs 3-4 minutes.

1) There are log collectors used in another forum room.
Run each V2 and DM and upload results into this thread:
BSOD - Posting Instructions

For drive testing:

2) Run HD Tune (free version) (all drives)
HD Tune website
Post images into the thread for results on these tabs:
a) Health
b) Benchmark
c) Full error scan


3) Run Sea Tools for Windows
long generic test
Post an image of the test result into the thread
SeaTools for Windows |
Seagate
How to use SeaTools for Windows | Seagate Support US

4) For POST troubleshooting:

What is POST?
Computer POST and beep codes
POST troubleshooting steps

I'm not getting any BSOD. Did you read my full post ?

I'm just asking if a failing HDD can cause the PC to get stuck POST, that's it.

Without BSODs if you upload the logs I'll troubleshoot them.


https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html
Change Display Language in Windows 10

Zbook i was mostly asking just to know in general. It's kinda late where i live so i won't be doing the logs.

But just asking : if a HDD is failing can this cause the PC to get stuck at POST screen ?

Someone told me that the PC gets stuck because the HDD takes time to spin up. Can it take like 3-4 minutes for a 13 year old HDD SATA 2 like the one i have ?

It could be drive related.
See POST troubleshooting links.

Run the drive tests overnight:

Sea Tools for WIndows long generic
or
HD Tune full error scan

Look in reliability monitor.
If you upload logs they can be troubleshooted.

zbook said:

It could be drive related.
See POST troubleshooting links.

Run the drive tests overnight:

Sea Tools for WIndows long generic
or
HD Tune full error scan

Look in reliability monitor.
If you upload logs they can be troubleshooted.

Like i said i'll skip the logs for now, it's late where i live and tommorow i'm off to work. I checked the POST and the BIOS beep is all good, i know which BIOS i have.

So can it take like 3-4 minutes for a 13 year old HDD to spin up and cause this issue ?

TV2 said:

Yes.

If one of the hard drives is not "enumerating" during the boot procedure then the system will hang until the issue is resolved or it will fail and no further action will occur, requiring a reset.

Quick test: Shut down completely, then unplug the old hard drive and start up (as long as it does not contain the OS).

The POST (Power On Self Test) only tests to see if the processor and memory is accessible. In old PC's there was a speaker and it would beep once to signify that the system passed the POST. Then the BIOS code takes over and runs the enumeration (the listing of devices) of the devices in the system. If all devices match the expected parameters then the Boot process is finished and the system hands over control to the OS.
A failing hard drive will certainly throw up a flag and delay the Boot process.

TV2 if at POST the issue isn't resolved and fails, if my OS is not on the failing HDD then will i still be able to get into the OS ?

OS is on the 2TB - 5 yeard old HDD, but if it the 250 GB - 13 year old HDD fails to spin up or dies then at POST screen then can i still get into the OS as long the as the OS is on the 2TB HDD ?