Slow Startup with External Hard Drive?

Question

I've got an external HD via USB.

When I reboot my PC with it plugged in, it significantly slows down the boot time - by like 2 minutes.  Well, let me clarify - it boots up fine, but it then lags at the Windows welcome screen.  So that means it's not something in the BIOS.  The lights on the HD are both flashing like crazy, so it's obviously working on something...

Why is this? Is it doing something to initialize the HD? What can I do to stop it from happening, short of unplugging it every time I reboot?  It doesn't have an on/off switch.

As well, it didn't do this with my old computer... just my new one!

? · Accepted Answer

I bet you got an AMD processor. Well I have one anyway.. sometimes its a real slow boot up during the windows screen.. i unplug the usb devices and it loads fast. i dug further into it and it was the CD-ROM slowing it down (!!).. not sure why though. I replaced the cd-rom drive and needless to say haven't had any problems since. i'm assuming it was something to do with the IDE detection.. exact cause unknown.. dont even know how the usb devices came into play in terms of slowing down the boot up process. 

i would recommend getting a boot analyzer program that times each process on boot up and how long it takes, so you can detect where the problem is. that's how i found out it was taking 40 seconds for my cd-rom drive/rs to be loaded... i wish i could remember the program i used but ive deleted it now.. its not that hard to find.. good luck!

? · Answer

in case you have combination n matched you inner and externals, they could be different RPM and you need to be overtaxing you PSU with the externals. a speedy restoration is to get a self powered docking station, or USB hub to run the exterior drives and take the burden of your PSU. the 2TB could be self powered, however the 170GB does not. i might toss the one hundred seventy GB because it relatively is slowing your gadget, what's the RPM 5400 or 7200, and the dimensions of the cache? i'm hoping the SSD is your C: rigidity with only you OS , Anti Virus and gadget documents on it, and all different classes on the slave drives? That how i might have it, and you be lower back to under 30 2nd boot-up

Anonymous · Answer

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Computer Slow
 
Download and then run startup.exe (FREEWARE) at: 

http://www.mlin.net/startupcpl.shtml......

Can't live without it and windows...

Then disable and/or uninstall whatever u don't need.

Other things to try:

1 - Disk Cleanup (removal of temp files, cookies, etc.)
2 - Defrag
3 - Registry Cleanup (CAN BE VERY RISKY!)

FROM A HARDWARE PERSPECTIVE THE BEST AND MOST COST EFFECTIVE POSSIBLE UPGRADE (IN GENERAL) IS THE ADDITION OF MORE MEMORY (RAM).

ALL ELSE FAILS - RELOAD YOUR O/S (WINDOWS) AND THEN REINSTALL ALL OTHER PROGRAMS YOU NEED/USE!

Joe... 

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Computer Virus/Spyware/Adware/Malware/etc

All FREE...

Download and then run Avira AntiVir Personal Edition Classic at:

http://www.free-av.com/

Download and then run Spybot - Search & Destroy at:

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/

Download and then run Ad-Aware SE Personal at:

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

Joe... 

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Slow Startup with External Hard Drive?

3 Answers