So I've been leaving my computer on for a couple of days, running the Dell diagnostics, etc., and no errors have shown up. Also, this problem doesn't happen when I restart the computer - only when I start it up in the morning after being off all night. Does this point to the motherboard battery?

A couple of things I did notice when writing down my BIOS settings:

1) I'm still using A05. I have no intention of switching my processor, so do I need to upgrade to A06?

2) Several of my BIOS settings aren't on 'default' - even though I've never changed them. Is this OK? For example, SATA4, SATA5, PATA0 and PATA1 are all set to 'off', but the default setting is 'on'.  I'm guessing this is OK - that it just means I didn't opt for certain drives when I custom built the machine - but if someone could confirm this, I'd really appreciate it.

Does anyone have any help to offer?

Thanks!

Ken A. Dienne

what external device do you have connected to the computer?

the bios setting you list are ok as long as you have no drives attached to those ports.

Hi, here's what I have as far as drives go ... Is this what you're asking for? Sorry, I'm not a very advanced user, as you can tell. I also have a mouse, keyboard, printer, speakers, video card, etc. 

2.0 Disk Drives 2.0.1.1 Drive Label C:

2.0.1.2 File System NTFS

2.0.1.3 Size 689 GB

2.0.1.4 Free Space 563 GB

2.0.1.5 Description Local Fixed Disk

2.0.2.1 Drive Label D:

2.0.2.2 File System NTFS

2.0.2.3 Size 233 GB

2.0.2.4 Free Space 195 GB

2.0.2.5 Description Local Fixed Disk

2.0.3.1 Drive Label E:

2.0.3.2 File System NTFS

2.0.3.3 Size 10 GB

2.0.3.4 Free Space 5 GB

2.0.3.5 Description Local Fixed Disk

2.0.4.1 Drive Label F:

2.0.4.2 File System -

2.0.4.3 Size -

2.0.4.4 Free Space -

2.0.4.5 Description CD-ROM Disc

2.0.5.1 Drive Label G:

2.0.5.2 File System -

2.0.5.3 Size -

2.0.5.4 Free Space -

2.0.5.5 Description CD-ROM Disc

2.0.6.1 Drive Label H:

2.0.6.2 File System -

2.0.6.3 Size -

2.0.6.4 Free Space -

2.0.6.5 Description Removable Disk

2.0.7.1 Drive Label I:

2.0.7.2 File System -

2.0.7.3 Size -

2.0.7.4 Free Space -

2.0.7.5 Description Removable Disk

2.0.8.1 Drive Label J:

2.0.8.2 File System -

2.0.8.3 Size -

2.0.8.4 Free Space -

2.0.8.5 Description Removable Disk

2.0.9.1 Drive Label K:

2.0.9.2 File System -

2.0.9.3 Size -

2.0.9.4 Free Space -

2.0.9.5 Description Removable Disk

2.0.10.1 Drive Label L:

2.0.10.2 File System FAT

2.0.10.3 Size 964 MB

2.0.10.4 Free Space 699 MB

2.0.10.5 Description Removable Disk

2.0.11.1 Drive Label M:

2.0.11.2 File System -

2.0.11.3 Size -

2.0.11.4 Free Space -

2.0.11.5 Description Removable Disk

try disconnecting your printer and see if you still have the start up hang.

How are your mouse and keyboard connected t to the system

Mouse, printer and keyboard are all connected via USB. The hang doesn't happen when I restart - only when I start up in the morning after the computer has been off all night ...