Intel® NUC X15 Laptop Kit - LAPKC71F - bios boot is slow

overon · ‎07-10-2022

Hello,

Yesterday I got this Intel® NUC X15 Laptop Kit - LAPKC71F (with 2x16gb ram + ssd Intel 670p 1TB NVMe gen3)

My problem is that Intel NUC bios screen appears for around 22 seconds before proceeding to windows11 (which fully loads in about 5 more seconds).

There's apparently a Fast Boot bios option, which I can enable but it changes nothing.

Has anyone experienced such issue? Any suggestions on how I can reduce the bios screen up time?

Thanks.

overon · ‎07-10-2022

Update: disabling and then enabling windows' fast startup reduced the bios splash screen duration by a half, to around 10s (the missing half used to have a spinner too).

Enabling/disabling fast boot from bios still doesn't do anything helpful though, other than making me have to perform the above operation again since it messes up windows' fast boot for some reason and splash screen time goes again to 20s again

Alberto_R_Intel · ‎07-11-2022

overon, Thank you for posting in the Intel® Communities Support.

For this scenario, in order to try to fix the problem of slow boot, even though the latest BIOS version is already installed on your computer, which is 0040, we can try a BIOS recovery to that same version.

In the link below you will find the instructions on how to do the BIOS recovery:

https://downloadmirror.intel.com/710390/NUC-Laptop-AptioV-UEFI-Firmware-BIOS-Update-Readme.pdf

Here is the .CAP file needed for version 0040:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/648490/bios-update-kctgl357-for-the-intel-nuc-x15-laptop-kits-lapkc71f-lapkc71e-lapkc51e.html?wapkw=lapkc71f

If the problem persists after that, we just wanted to confirm:

You mentioned you got the Intel® laptop yesterday, did the boot process ever work fine on this machine?

If yes, when did the issue start?

Did you make any recent hardware/software changes that might cause this issue?

Does the problem happen at home or in the work environment?

Any questions, please let me know.

Regards,

Albert R.

Intel Customer Support Technician

overon · ‎07-11-2022

Hi Albert,

Thanks for looking into this!

> For this scenario, in order to try to fix the problem of slow boot, even though the latest BIOS version is already installed on your computer, which is 0040, we can try a BIOS recovery to that same version.

I've updated BIOS via KCTGL357.0040.EBU.EXE (not the cap file/boot drive) and the issue still persists. Is there a difference to using the other method?

> You mentioned you got the Intel® laptop yesterday, did the boot process ever work fine on this machine?

It always worked like that. The only difference is that I now have windows 11 fast startup functionality enabled (not bios related) and so the now the Intel NUC splash screen stays on for 8-10 seconds before proceeding to loading windows. But that's regardless of whether or not Fast Boot is enabled.

> Did you make any recent hardware/software changes that might cause this issue?

I installed w11, all latest drivers and the latest BIOS version 0040 (with all default settings, including fast boot).

> Does the problem happen at home or in the work environment?

Home, it's my PC.

PS

The computer was completely intact by what I can tell (at least on the outside); box was properly sealed and protected.

Once it loads windows 11 everything works exceptionally well and I'm really happy with it. Here's my benchmark result!

From what I've read online, people usually complain that their fast boot option is turned on and so they can't enter the bios via F2 because their computer loads too fast. This is exactly what I want - no bios splash screen waiting, I want w11 to start booting asap.

Isn't the expected behaviour for Fast Boot to completely bypass the BIOS screen and move to OS boot up, without giving me any seconds to press F2 and enter bios? According to this article, I shouldn't be able to enter BIOS using F2 with fast boot enabled but yet I do.

Alberto_R_Intel · ‎07-12-2022

Hi overon, You are very welcome, thank you very much for providing that information.

In reference to your first question, yes, there is a difference in doing the BIOS recovery on the Intel® laptop. It is a more direct way to make sure the updates get installed properly along with the fixes contained in that BIOS version.

"This is exactly what I want - no bios splash screen waiting, I want w11 to start booting asap". "Isn't the expected behaviour for Fast Boot to completely bypass the BIOS screen and move to OS boot up, without giving me any seconds to press F2 and enter bios?" Yes, that is correct.

So, we will do further research on this matter, as soon as I get any updates I will post all the details on this thread.

Regards,

Albert R.

Intel Customer Support Technician

overon · ‎07-13-2022

Hi Albert,

I've done the USB drive .cap file bios update (attached screenshots) but the outcome is the same.

After the update Fast Boot was still enabled so I didn't touch any of the bios settings.

Here are my startup time measurements from pressing the power button (no changes but it provides more context):

0s - press power button

7,71s - black screen

10,19s - Intel NUC logo

2,45s - black screen, into lock screen, into Windows Hello and proceeding to W11 Desktop

total: 20,35s

From my understanding, if Fast Boot worked correctly the "10,19s - Intel NUC logo" part should be skipped, right?

Update: I've also posted my issue on reddit and another user confirmed experiencing it on his NUC m15 kit. So this might indeed be an issue related to the bios version, no?

I'd also try downgrading to a previous BIOS version to see if it works there but I can only see 0040 avaliable for download

Alberto_R_Intel · ‎07-13-2022

Hi overon, Thank you very much for letting us know those results and providing the pictures.

We are sorry to hear the issue persists after trying the BIOS recovery. Correct, if fast boot works as it should the Intel® NUC logo part should be skipped.

And yes, only BIOS version 0040 is available for update, so the option to downgrade the BIOS will not be available for the moment.

We will do further research on this matter. First, we just wanted to verify:

Could you please check if the fast boot setting is actually saved as enabled in the BIOS?

According to the BIOS glossary, this feature can not be enabled while a "User Password" or "HDD Password" are installed, or when the "Chipset SATA Mode" is set to "Intel® RST Premium with Intel® Optane System Acceleration". Could you please verify those options and let us know if any of them is activated in the BIOS?

https://www.intel.com/content/dam/support/us/en/documents/intel-nuc/laptop-kit/NUC-Laptop-AptioV-BIOS-Glossary.pdf

Regards,

Albert R.

Intel Customer Support Technician

overon · ‎07-13-2022

Hi Albert,

I've checked and Fast Boot is enabled, yes. You can also see it in my 2nd screenshot attached above. Enabling user/hdd password disables it and makes it grayed out (unclickable).

Moreover I found other examples of Intel NUC fast boot not working, other than the reddit link above, on youtube:

- https://youtu.be/vUycVxgXVqg?t=1178 (you can see him toggle fast boot and Intel NUC logo is always displayed for every restart afterwards)

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69sjS_krCuA (in the end of the video NUC logo is displayed, but it's not shown if fast boot is enabled; it is by default so we can assume so; also I asked in the comments and the person said it boots slow)

So I'm glad to hear you doing a research on the matter. Ideally you can get your hands on one of these laptops or request someone to try v0040 on a device and confirm if it's the bios or the hardware/OS causing the problem.

Thanks,

Krum

Alberto_R_Intel · ‎07-14-2022

Hello overon, Thank you very much for confirming those details.

We will continue with our research on this scenario with all the additional information you provided. As soon as I get more updates I will post all of them on this thread.

Regards,

Albert R.

Intel Customer Support Technician

ahalol · ‎07-14-2022

I can also witness the same issue on my NUC M15 kit after updating to the latest 0075 BIOS.

Star_Hero · ‎07-30-2022

My Intel NUC M15 too :<. 18s blackscreen to display logo and loading window.

Alberto_R_Intel · ‎07-18-2022

Hello overon, I just received an update on this matter.

After reviewing the case, it is important to mention that this is actually the expected behavior. With Fast Boot Enable the POST does not check on the USB ports so it happens quickly. The article you shared (Using Fast Boot in Intel® Visual BIOS) is related to models that need an external USB keyboard/mouse. Since you are using a Laptop Kit you will still see the BIOS splash screen with Fast Boot Enable. Fast Boot, on this scenario, just helps to boot the system in a faster way.

Regards,

Albert R.

Intel Customer Support Technician

overon · ‎07-19-2022

Ok Alberto, but I don't see a difference in boot time with and without fast boot enabled; the splash screen stays for 10s straight in both cases.

So in short - no bios update is expected that will allow skipping the 10s BIOS splash screen?

Alberto_R_Intel · ‎07-19-2022

overon, Thank you very much for your response.

Even though it is an expected behavior, I will double-check if there might be a future BIOS update release addressing this behavior to skip the 10s BIOS splash screen. Once I confirm that information I will post all the details on this thread.

Regards,

Albert R.

Intel Customer Support Technician

Alberto_R_Intel · ‎07-20-2022

Hello overon, Just an update on this matter.

I just confirmed that, since this scenario is considered an expected behavior, there will be no new BIOS update release addressing this situation.

Regards,

Albert R.

Intel Customer Support Technician

Star_Hero · ‎08-01-2022

i wish i hadn't updated this <REMOVED> bios

overon · ‎07-21-2022

Ok, thanks for confirming that, Albert.

Alberto_R_Intel · ‎07-21-2022

overon, You are very welcome, thank you very much for your response.

Any other inquiries, do not hesitate to contact us again.

Regards,

Albert R.

Intel Customer Support Technician

Alberto_R_Intel · ‎08-05-2022

Hello overon, I just received an update on this matter.

We did some testing and below are the results. As you can see, across both BIOS 0038 and 0040 we are getting nearly the exact same results.

Fast boot should be enabled.

PXE boot should be disabled.

Both of those items can increase boot time to about 15-20 seconds. Another way you can make sure everything is set correctly is to load the BIOS defaults using the F9 key and then F10 to save and exit.

Regards,

Albert R.

Intel Customer Support Technician

Timothy_S · ‎08-12-2022

I am also experiencing 15-20 seconds of black screen before the Intel logo shows up.

Intel NUC M15 (Eluktronics XE-15) i7, 16gb RAM.

The unit has already been back and forth from the retailer after an initial attempt at updating the BIOS to 0075 resulted in a failure to POST at all. The retailer was kind enough to reset and update the BIOS, yet the issue persists on 0075.

Please advise, thank you.

ahalol · ‎08-15-2022

The Intel support person told there will be a new BIOS shortly and gave me an internal version to test. That BIOS solved my M15 slow POST time.