On Tuesday, 28 November 2023 13:13:55 GMT Dale wrote: > Michael wrote: > > Over the last 8-9 months I noticed an old Lenovo G505s laptop is spending > > a > > long time in the POST process, before eventually the OEM logo shows up on > > the screen. Last time I timed it, it took 2.5-3.0 minutes. Normally it > > would only take ~20-30 seconds. Once the logo shows up the boot process > > proceeds without further delay. > > > > Initially, this delay to POST would happen randomly and rarely. Now it > > happens every time. > > > > Things I tried: > > > > 1. Reflashing the UEFI firmware - it didn't work because it already has > > the > > latest firmware. > > > > 2. Removing the main battery and holding down the power button for 15 > > seconds, hoping to reset the firmware. > > > > 3. Leaving the PSU cable connected overnight. > > > > 4. Testing the RAM and HDD. > > > > None of the above improved the situation, or indicated what might be > > wrong. > > > > I'll reseat the RAM sticks and the HDD next, in case a contact is > > oxidised, > > but what else could cause this noticeable delay to POST? A failing RTC > > CMOS battery? > > I recently had this issue as well on my 770T NAS box. I ordered some > video cards and once I replaced the video card, it boots in the time it > should every time. Before that, I tried memtest, checking the CPU was > seated properly and not running hot, checked temps with a IR thingy of > both bridge chips and several other things. I also replaced the battery > and reset the settings to defaults and then adjusted to my way. The > only thing that changed the long POST time, changing the video card. I > might add, I've booted that thing a lot since I changed the video card > and it boots right up each time. > > If you have a built in video system, you stuck. The only option I can > think of, clean the heat sink/cooler for the CPU and such and see if > that helps any. If you doing a cold start, couldn't imagine heat being > a issue tho. If you have a video card that can be changed, might want > to try that. I've never seen a laptop with one of those tho. > > I hope someone else has a better suggestion. > > Dale > > :-) :-)
Thank you Dale, this laptop has both an AMD A10-5750M APU with a Richland [Radeon HD 8650G] graphics on the die and a discrete Jet PRO [Radeon R5 M230] GPU, working with the radeon kernel driver and the vga_switcheroo. I can't recall if the Radeon chip is soldered or plugged in a socket on the MoBo. Until I take off the back cover I won't know for sure. Perhaps a red herring, but it may be related to graphics: At some point in the summer I connected an external monitor with HDMI to test it. I then switched from both monitors, only the laptop's LCD and then only the external monitor and back again before I shut it down. All worked as expected on a Wayland Plasma desktop. I am not certain, but have the impression the delay at POST started getting worse thereafter, although the problem existed intermittently for a good 4-5 months before then. :-/ I hope the GPU is not failing, because I doubt I'll be able to source one of these chips, while spending money on a replacement MoBo on flea-bay would not be cost effective.
signature.asc
Description: This is a digitally signed message part.
