If you have any further problems with the boot or if you wonder if there are any actionable problems, you can post both the results of the log collector and command prompt. And if boot problems are identified you can run WPR for troubleshooting. It may take time to find someone to interpret the tracings.
Post #5 "They said that during POST it checks all hardware and settings." That's true.
"They reckon that when the PC turns itself off for a couple of seconds during bootup and turns itself straight back within a couple of seconds that it is normal behaviour and that is normal for it to happen every few boots (in my case its been every 5 or more boots)." I do not agree that to be normal: there's a reason that is happening, maybe not dangerous at this time, but in time it could be.
--- Fortunately your PC does work fine and your Dell diagnostics doesn't report any issues which I expect at this point in time.
I have never seen that on any PC I've had or serviced.
--- I don't doubt it could happen once a year due to whatever but keep a record of when it does happen.
I just tested my Dell desktop and my HP laptop in the same manner you shut your computer down.
--- "fully shut down the PC using Windows shutdown" & "also turn off the power on the power strip"
--- Naturally only one time on each computer isn't enough of an experiment to observe what you are seeing.
Couple of things to consider
--- Before you start up the computer, you turn on the power strip.
--- Do you also turn on the monitor and also a peripheral device?
--- Then turn on the computer?
--- The idea is because since you are using a power strip, if the system devices aren't completely powered up in a timely manner, that might be a factor in what you are seeing especially since it's an occasional occurrence.
Then moving on to shutting down, do you allow enough time for the computer to completely shut down before turning off the power strip? Maybe even peripheral devices?
--- One of my main concerns is that if enough time isn't allowed for the SSD and/or 1 TB standard HD to completely shut down before shutting of the power strip, there could be times the shutdown amounts to a hard shutdown for either one or both of your drives.
For potential drive issues: I suspect that can come up sooner or later if hard shut downs are occasionally happening.
--- You probably know this but since your computer is new, hardware is covered for free for a year.
--- Hopefully you don't want either drive or any other hardware to have problems after the free warranty has expired and I've seen enough of that over the years.
--- BTW I just recalled a situation something like that: one of my friends had a new computer that was about 10 months old and to make a long story short, the HDD was wearing out but I wouldn't touch it as I told my friend to have it serviced since the warranty was still available. She had it checked out and the technician told her the HDD diagnostic program didn't report any issues. Naturally that confused her but that confusion got cleared up in the 14th month of owning that computer.
--- Anyway consider a hardware diagnostic program at least a HDD diagnostic program schedule, probably diagnosing your drives at least quarterly but at least before the one year of free warranty.
Finally, see if it makes a difference when you do the "fully shut down the PC using Windows shutdown" but do not use the power strip.
Couple of things to consider
--- Before you start up the computer, you turn on the power strip.
--- Do you also turn on the monitor and also a peripheral device?
--- Then turn on the computer?
--- The idea is because since you are using a power strip, if the system devices aren't completely powered up in a timely manner, that might be a factor in what you are seeing especially since it's an occasional occurrence.
My power strip is a Masterplugs individually switched, surge protected extension. I flick the switches on the power strip On for the PC and then the monitor. Then, I press the power button on the monitor first and immediately press the power button at the front of the PC next. If I don't press the PC power button immediately the Monitor goes to sleep within a few seconds (because it hasn't yet seen any HDMI signal from the PC). Because I have an SSD I have also turned off Fast Boot in Power Options. Is there an order of switching things on that you recommend? Is it better to power on the monitor first and allow it to go into Sleep Mode before pressing the Power Button on the front of the PC or to press the PC's power button immediately before the monitor has time to go into Sleep Mode? I wasn't aware until you mentioned it that anything like that makes a difference?
Then moving on to shutting down, do you allow enough time for the computer to completely shut down before turning off the power strip? Maybe even peripheral devices?
--- One of my main concerns is that if enough time isn't allowed for the SSD and/or 1 TB standard HD to completely shut down before shutting of the power strip, there could be times the shutdown amounts to a hard shutdown for either one or both of your drives.
When shutting down I fully shutdown correctly rom the Windows 10 Start Menu. As soon as I see the power light turn off on the front of the PC I immediately turn off the switch for the PC on the power strip first and then immediately after that I turn off the switch on the power strip for the monitor. Do you have any recommendations?
Thanks for the detailed Feedback "MeandMyComputer". My PC is three months old but I have 3 years warranty with it. Any more guidance from you though on your recommended order of switching things on and off would be welcomed. It sounds like you think that could be the issue. I don't turn on any other peripherals such as my printer if ever I need to use it until after the PC and monitor has booted into Windows
Last edited by sportsfan148; 17 Apr 2019 at 01:08.
I think you are doing fine. The switching methods I brought up have been helpful in some cases. My issue is that although the computer ends up running fine I do not agree with what is happening as being perfectly normal especially since I've never seen that issue. The computer is brand new but sooner or later something might become more obvious. You could experiment on a trial & error switching plan maybe for a week at a time if you feel it might make sense.
Although I can't say if this makes sense to consider, you might want to boot into Safe Mode if you can spare the time to operate that way to see if it makes a difference.
I just checked your system specs and you have a Dell Inspiron 3670, so I'll look up some information on it.
--- Nothing new to find as you have already provided your system specs so well.
Dell does have a pre-boot diagnostic you might want to consider checking out at some point in time.
--- It might not apply in your case but it might be good to verify what it reports.
--- I have an older Dell and I've run it only a couple of times over the years by using F12 during start-up but you can check Dell's website to see how to access it on your computer.
I have also run Dell's Support Assistant a couple of times but I don't recall if it checks for pre-boot diagnostics.
Last edited by MeAndMyComputer; 17 Apr 2019 at 13:01.
Thanks very much pal. I rang Dell again earlier today just for peace of mind. They assured me that everything is normal. I spoke to a technician and a manager. I said I was concerned because its something Ive never seen happen before with any other Dell PC's Ive had. They said it is a feature of this PC and is nothing to worry about
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