Black/white progress bar before XP loading splash screen?

richieboy · 2 Nov 2007 at 15:56

Afternoon,

Strange question this - have seen it a few times in the past, Googled it and never found a reason for it. Basically, does anyone know why on some builds i do i get a white progress bar right at the bottom of the screen just before the XP splash screen? It's just after POST, and displays for about 2-3 seconds while the progress bar fills up, then goes on to the normal XP splash "swipe" screen. Heres a lovely mock up i made in paint, the middle screen is the one i have the problem with:

So, does anyone know why it only appears on some PCs i build and not others? Is it a driver thing? If so, can it be disabled? Am trying to go for fastest boot possible so if i can do away with it it'd be great. It isnt BIOS related as several BIOS's do the same thing...

richieboy · 2 Nov 2007 at 16:30

I'm way to fussy and pedantic to do that pal, i need answers!

richieboy · 2 Nov 2007 at 18:16

It can't be as many builds i have done don't have it at all, i'll watch it post and fade into the splash screen, theres no progress bar whatsoever.

Can't help but think it may be drivers for certain chipsets...as for me it only seems to do it on AMD based platforms.

richieboy · 3 Nov 2007 at 11:23

Latest build is an HTPC with an AM2 based 4000+ X2 which does it for around 2 seconds, but take my main PC (spec in sig) and it doesn't do it at all. I reckon its AMD based stuff that does it, as all the other AMD builds seem to do it but i can't recreate it on an Intel based one.

And yes, i do have too much time on my hands.

richieboy · 3 Nov 2007 at 18:02

Indeed, for me it always shows (on any PC) when coming out of hibernation, its just some i find it does it on every boot. Strange, and annoying...for me at least!

richieboy · 6 Nov 2007 at 11:58

I know everyone was very interested and keen to help solve the huge problems i was having with this, well i solved it!

To fix:

Install Vista.

richieboy · 6 Nov 2007 at 12:15

I'm putting it down to certain drivers, in my case it starts doing it as soon as i install the ATI chipset drivers for my mobo. Never mind, Vista is fine for just a media PC.

richieboy · 6 Nov 2007 at 12:34

iCraig said:
It's loading the MI5 tracking software.

I've gone for Microsoft's version of this now, as Vista doesn't have the progress bar

richieboy · 6 Nov 2007 at 12:54

Unfortunately i'm worried about everything. Although this time i at least have a small reason, as its my media PC and will be used for watching TV i'd like it to turn on quickly, as my £20 freeview box is beating it for boot time at the moment...

richieboy · 6 Nov 2007 at 14:46

bledd. said:
slow cpu/harddrive/ram cause this to show up

Any links? I still can't help but think its a software/driver thing rather than hardware.

richieboy · 6 Nov 2007 at 15:00

That's the thing, this is a new build.

AMD X2 4000+ with 2GB of GeIL ULL RAM and a 500GB SATA2 Samsung Spinpoint...i have much older PC's running XP that don't do it (P4 2.4/512MB RAM,etc), so am struggling to believe its a hardware issue.

richieboy · 6 Nov 2007 at 15:37

Fair play pal, i'm not worried anymore as i installed Vista (fool! i hear you scream) and of course there is no longer the progress bar...im just interested as to why it appears.