MacBook/Leopard bootup slow w/ external drive

[jheathco]

I just recently upgraded to Leopard using Archive&Install. I'm noticing that the bootup time takes MUCH longer when I have my external 160GB WD Passport drive plugged in than without -- the blue screen that follows the gray apple screen stays on for quite awhile, followed by my menubar taking FOREVER to load.

When I reboot without this drive connected, it still takes 40 seconds or so, but is much faster.

I've not put anything on this drive yet (and I have reformatted it a few times). I've tried disabling spotlight to see if that may be the culprit.

Any thoughts on why this is occurring and what to try?

 

[elmo151]

try system preferences>>startup disc

is it set to your good disc or is it hunting for a bootable disc?

 

[jheathco]

It is set as my good, start disk. I also notice there are some kextcache processes running on startup.

I notice most pronouncedly while the menu bar icons are loading... it feels like the Windows tray loading one by one, slowly.