Slow Windows Bootup after POST before Desktop

HDDs: 2x 34GB Western digital Raptors - on Raid 0 using Silicon Drivers
Mobo: ASUS A8N SLI Deluxe - PhoenixAward BIOS version 6.00PG
RAM: 4x Kingston HyperX 512MB DualChannel
Processor: AMD64 3200+ (2.0GHz)

OS:
Windows XP Pro (happens with Media Center aswell)

Problem:
Slow Windows Bootup - It's only been happening recently right after POST but before Windows Login screen. It scrolls continously for almost 30 seconds at the black screen with the windows logo and scrolling bar. Halfway through the scrolling time I can hear the HDDs accessing and finally loading windows.

Attempted Troubleshooting:
1)2x RAID rebuilds
2)2x Disk Wipes
3)2x Windows Installs
4)Ran memtest on ram - no errors for 7 phases
5)Ran CHKDSK - no errors reported

Additional Info:

BIOS: ACPI BIOS Revision 1016
CHIPSET: NF-CK804

30 seconds? It's not really long is it? I'd guess mine takes about the same...

Manually configure your network connection TCP/IP - for all cards/connections, see what happens.

Invaluable tool here:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=664

BootVis, an official (if unsupported) Microsoft tool that breaks down your boot process, shows you a chart of what happens and how long each step takes, and can also optimize things to make the boot faster.

#3 - Even with all network connections disabled in bios and windows the problem persists.

#5 - Nice tool, unfortunately it only managed to show that the delay time was greater then 30 seconds hehe.  I then tried using its optimization option but it had no effect. Pic: http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/376/bootdelay2jo.jpg

zomg, disk write caching is disabled (unless you expect to lose power unexpectably, :-P)! Try:
Right click on 'MY COMPUTER'
MANAGE
Disk Management
Right click on your boot drive (c:)
Properties
Hardware Tab
Click on your boot drive
Properties
Policies
ENABLE WRITE CACHING

>>7

hehe umm.. pic: http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1747/nowritecacheoption10an.jpg

Been googling the problem on and off for the last 2 days but haven't found a solution... does anyone else have any other ideas I can try?

bump

does it boot quick in safe mode? or does it delay there also?

nope, super quick in safe mode

OMG! I figured it out, it was the friggin ASUS BIOS upgrade I did. Horrible... downgarded to 1014 and it boots fine now, wee!

You learned a lesson there: if it works, don't fuck with it.

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