Windows 7: BitLocker and USB key. FAT vs NTFS format on USB (and boot times)

Hi Everyone,
First post, so bear with me.



I recently installed Windows 7 Enterprise 64 bit on a Dell Inspiron 530S desktop. I ran BitLocker after a fresh install on a new drive. This computer doesn't have a TPM chip, so I saved the recovery key and startup file on a 4-GB USB stick (NTFS formatted).

When I booted the computer, it took anywhere between 8-17 minutes to get to the Windows login screen. This was pretty consistent, and very frustrating.

I was about to give up when I copied the key and startup file to a 1-GB USB stick that was formatted in FAT. No delay whatsoever.

Is this typical behavior? Would one expect an NTFS-formatted USB to take so long? They were only the two files on it.

Thanks for any explanation.

No Problems here with 8Gb formatted with NTFS.

Something else I have just noticed. The USB stick that works without any problems is listed as a Local Disk. The others that I am having problems with are listed as Removable Disk. My BIOS is set up to boot: 1) HDD, 2) Removable Device, 3) CD/DVD

Is it possible that there is something I need to change in the BIOS, or in the group policy?