ThinkPad X61 BIOS slow to pass control to OS loader

[cn487311]

I have encountered a strange problem. I wonder anyone has any idea what might be the reason?

This is a ThinkPad X61 with 4GB memory. Used to be fine with Windows XP Pro (a bit hot while using though). I decided to install Windows Vista Ultimate SP2 x64 on it. The OS installation was just fine. Then I started to install Lenovo drivers and applications. I installed Intel Chipset, then Video, Audio, System Interface Driver, then Intel Turbo Memory. At this point the machine showed a strange thing - the BIOS will delay passing control to OS loader for about 30 to 40 seconds.

What I mean is that we are supposed to see the Windows Vista booting (the cyclying bar) very soon after seeing the ThinkPad logo screen. But this machine just waits for about 30 to 40 seconds with simply a blank screen, then it boots normally.

I think it is BIOS related because the same thing happens if I try to boot the computer with a USB key. I press F12 to select to boot from the USB key. It also waited 30 to 40 seconds doing nothing before booting normally.

Any idea what the problem is? Thanks much.

[tinue]

Apparently this happens as soon as the security chip is activated. Did you enable Bitlocker?

Regards, Martin

[cn487311]

I did not use bitlocker.

I tried disabling the security chip in BIOS but the problem is still there... Did I do it right?

Any thoughts? Thanks much.

[tinue]

After I observed the same behaviour on my X61s I read somewhere that this is security chip related. Since I use Bitlocker I didn't follow up the problem afterwards.
But if you disabled the security chip, I would expect that the issue is solved. Maybe it is another driver from Lenovo that is causing this. Like on your system, it didn't happen on mine immediately after the installation of Vista, it started sometimes later.
Regards, Martin

[tombaker]

At this point the machine showed a strange thing - the BIOS will delay passing control to OS loader for about 30 to 40 seconds.

What I mean is that we are supposed to see the Windows Vista booting (the cyclying bar) very soon after seeing the ThinkPad logo screen. But this machine just waits for about 30 to 40 seconds with simply a blank screen, then it boots normally.

I have this exact same problem, everything works, but it hangs with a black screen, before the hardrive starts churning....+40ish seconds....then once the hardrive goes....it takes the normal amount of time.

After trying to handle this many ways including sequencing of the way I do a clean install.....I found the complete solution. After 20+ hours of troubleshooting.

The Answer is:

Set harddrive mode to compatibility, instead of AHCI. I am pretty sure I did not need to do a clean install after this, that the compatibility mode worked with the current installation, but to be honest I did so many builds I have lost track.

But it was definitely the AHCI mode that was the problem. Once in the compatibility mode, it boots just as fast as any system. ALSO, I have done a lot of checking on compatibility vs AHCI mode.....and the compatibility is as fast and sometimes faster than AHCI mode.

Turns out most of the improvements of AHCI mode are for servers and multiple drive systems. So while I usually would think the latest iteration of drivers would be best....in this case the compatibility mode is better.

Don't know the reasons why the handoff stalls in AHCI....but certain this is the problem.