Well, now that I'm sure I've figured out the cause I'll post it here in case anyone else has this issue. I got my information from here
http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus-gaming-notebook-forum/538244-g73jh-belly-up.html.
aswell as this conversation with Asus tech support
You're now talking to Garren from 'Notebook Technical Live Support' The topic is : Upon boot my computer hangs at the asus/intel screen F1 continues the boot.
Garren> Hello, how can I help you today?
Paul> He, My Asus G73JH-A2 hangs at the Asus/intel logo screen, if I press F1 the boot continues and I can use the computer as normal.
Paul> Why is this?
Garren> you have a error of some sort so the bios wants to tell you something is off
Paul> So should I trial and error my way through the hard drives and memory to rule them out?
Garren> its usually a fan running to slow I would check that 1st
Paul> erm... That's something I don't know how to check.
Garren> should be in the bios under hardware controll
Paul> Okay give me a second
Garren> okay
Paul> I don't see that anywhere in the BIOS
Garren> hum.... one moment
Paul> No problem
Paul> I took the hard drives out and it boots to an insert boot media screen, so I think it's one of the HDD's
Garren> yes it can be
Garren> you laptop doesnt have the fan option
Garren> so its not that
Paul> I think we've nailed it. Would Asus send me just a new hard drive? or do I need to send them my whole computer for warranty stuff?
Garren> I think you have to send the entire unit but I could be wrong I just help with their overflow you will have to call 888 678 2688 they can set up the RMA and also answer that question 100%
Paul> Thanks for the help Garren, it's been a pleasure.
It turns out the issue is a failing hard drive. The BIOS detects this and doesn't let the computer boot, in order to let the user know the computer needs to be serviced. Pressing F1 bypasses this warning presumably a feature designed for the technicians. Anyways upon pressing F! the computer boots normally and you can use it how you please. however it will do this every time. I figured out it was the hard drive when I pulled it out and it booted past the point it was getting stuck at without hitting f1.
Anyways if Asus won't send me a hard drive without me sending in the whole computer I'll just buy a new one, I'm not sending in a whole computer for a hard drive. I'll find out tomorrow if they'll do that. I hope this information is helpful so someone at some point so they don't have to go searching everywhere.
