System doesn't boot initially, often restarts successfully on subsequent attempts.
System doesn't boot initially, often restarts successfully on subsequent attempts.
I recently assembled a new machine using second-hand components sourced from a friend. My setup is frequently encountering difficulties with starting after a night of inactivity. After trying a reset, it generally works well and runs for extended periods without problems. However, the issues remain unpredictable. Currently, if I leave the system off for about nine hours, I’ll turn it back on and press the power button. The fans and motherboard lights up, but the system becomes stuck after loading. After resetting, everything loads properly again. Recently, I attempted a BIOS flash, which seemed successful on the second try, yet the screen would go black abruptly while my RGB keyboard and mouse stayed illuminated briefly. Then the mouse would turn off completely, but the keyboard remained on. This pattern ceased once I flashed the BIOS and inspected all internal connections. Another strange thing I noticed is that after a proper shutdown, if the system fails to boot, the Chrome browser will load automatically when it starts, depending on the webpage it was on before shutdown. This only happens during startup problems.
You’re dealing with cabling or window issues. I’ll double-check the cabling again, focusing on the CPU fan(s). Make sure they’re loosely connected, bent too much, or have been damaged from past stress or general wear. Also verify that all components are properly seated while the system is running; this often triggers a crash.
Another factor could be the operating system—Windows 10 or 8.1 might behave differently. When you power down, it doesn’t completely shut down, so the next boot can feel like waking from sleep. Try switching your PSU off overnight and see if the system boots normally the following day (after turning the switch back on). This could point to a “fast boot” error.
Chrome launching during startup might also be related, as it interprets a crash differently than a full reboot. Overall, these issues seem to stem from hardware misalignment or OS quirks rather than typical software glitches.
If fast boot is triggering the problem, you can turn it off in the control panel. This setting is often left enabled by Microsoft by default. At my job, I’ve applied a network policy to disable it on all PCs, which helps avoid many complications—especially when using SSDs, where even a couple of extra seconds can make a big difference.
I turned off the fast boot after being advised on another forum without any effect. I also double-checked the cables and plug connections multiple times during setup, everything seems correct. In my experience, it never reaches BSOD—it just displays a two-digit loading code at the bottom right with black background and does nothing. There’s no way to access BIOS settings because the system freezes before offering that option. I’m using Windows 10. I’ll try switching off the PSU power switch and report back in a few days.
It tends to perform well once inside Windows. It should maintain consistent performance during extended high CPU usage, such as 30+ minutes, especially if the power delivery and cooling are adequate. I’m checking for potential issues like poor power supply or thermal stress. Regarding another GPU, I have a different model available for testing. Assuming it’s an FX CPU without an integrated GPU, that could be contributing to the problem. You might want to switch its PCIe slot if possible. Otherwise, it may indicate a hardware fault.
So to clarify, it remains consistently stable once it boots up properly. The temperatures stay steady. Unfortunately, I don’t have another GPU. Even if I did, because this problem only appears during the first startup of the day, it would be quite challenging to verify. I might consider changing the PCIe slot. Thanks for your reply.
Thanks to everyone for your responses! I just wanted to give you an update. So I am not 100% sure this was what was actually causing the problem, but I pulled the network adapter out, plugged it back in, and my system hasn't had an issue for about 2 weeks.
Hi. I've been dealing with a similar issue for a few days now and found it curious. I checked online to confirm if it's a real problem. After restarting after an overnight shutdown didn't work, the second attempt succeeded. Luckily, I noticed I had changed my memory XMP profile in the BIOS before the problem began. So I reverted it off and everything normalized. I'm sharing this experience to help someone else facing the same issue. Have a great day!
I encountered the same problem with my MSI MPG Z490M GAMING EDGE WIFI after a night of powering up my newly built PC. Only the fans and LEDs functioned, while the BIOS and USB remained inactive. The second startup worked fine. I don’t want to turn off XMP settings and am exploring alternative solutions. It’s reassuring that this isn’t just my issue.