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    Using an external USB hard drive on 1520 -> long boot up time

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by ScorpionSX, Feb 14, 2008.

  1. ScorpionSX

    ScorpionSX Notebook Geek

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    Hi there, I have little problem with my Inspiron 1520. I'm using an external hard drive in external box with USB connector and everytime when i restart my laptop, external HDD goes to stand by mode. Until this time is everything OK. But when laptop suppose to boot up (after the "Dell" logo), external HDD turns on from stand by and I think that the laptop is trying to boot from it (I have disabled it in BIOS of course) and it tooks about 1-2 minutes until the hard drive turns off again (back to stand by) and Vista starts to boot from laptop's disk. Before logon screen the external HDD turns on again but that is OK, at this time it doesn't slowdown anything. But what can I do with turning on the HDD before booting?? Except turning it off with the ON/OFF switch??
    I think that it is something with BIOS, but I didn't found anything that could help. Has anyone some experiences with problem like this?? Please help...thanks a lot.
     
  2. millermagic

    millermagic Rockin the pinktop

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    I'm guessing you have a WD my book?

    It could be solved by unplugging it while booting up.

    But there is the boot order in the BIOS.
     
  3. ScorpionSX

    ScorpionSX Notebook Geek

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    No no..I don't have a MyBook...my external HDD is classic 500GB WD hard drive (WD5000AAKS) in this external box...this combination was a lot cheaper when I bought it. I know that in BIOS is boot order, booting from USB device is disabled but it's still trying to boot (or whatever it's doing) from it... :(

    Edit: switching it ON/OFF is a solution, but there must be something else that I can do with it.
     
  4. ScorpionSX

    ScorpionSX Notebook Geek

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    So, I figured it out...it was the setting in BIOS, I didn't remember the exact name of that setting, but it is the last settnig under "POST Behaviour" and it's needed to be turned off...so now I probably can't boot from any USB device, but for me it's not a problem, so now I can leave my external HDD in stand by mode and don't need to turn it ON/OFF on every single restart to prevent 2 minutes long boot up time :)
     
  5. gunned

    gunned Notebook Evangelist

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    Awesome ..since I bought a my book I have had that issue as well ..where the pc would just pause for a min or so until boot...thanks for the tip I will try that out.cheers!!!
     
  6. ScorpionSX

    ScorpionSX Notebook Geek

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    I hope that this will work in your case too :)