Mouse and Keyboard take ages to become active at startup

One quick angle you can try.

If they aren't already, try moving the USB connections as close to the MB USB outputs as possible.
If you have to move other connections, move them.

or

Try a clean boot to see what is slowing down the loading process of the keyboard, mouse drivers. How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

The reason they work okay in the BIOS is because windows hasn't loaded yet.

You've tried the keyboard/mouse on other computers, and they work fine. What about another keyboard/mouse on this computer? Another thing to try is plugging them into different USB ports.

I use bluetooth and I have the mouse and keyboard in my startup (msconfig) so it will load quicker.

It seems this problem has been around since the 98, XP days as more, and more users have discovered external HDD's.

Check your BIOS settings, If your MB has a Legacy USB Detect setting disable it.
I would re-start your machine after the change.

Thank you for filling out your System Specs that allowed me to find some settings in your BIOS that you can try:

Boot Device Configuration

• Boot Settings Configuration | Configures the settings during system boot.

• Hard Disk Boot Priority | Sets the hard drive boot priority. The items displayed are dynamically updated according to the hard drives detected.

• First Boot Device | Specifies the boot sequence from the available devices. Removable; CD/DVD; Hard Drive; Disabled (Removable by default).

• Second Boot Device | Specifies the boot sequence from the available devices. Removable; CD/DVD; Hard Drive; Disabled (CD/DVD by default).

• Third Boot Device | Specifies the boot sequence from the available devices. Removable; CD/DVD; Hard Drive; Disabled (Hard Drive by default).

• Boot Other Device | No; Yes (Yes by default).

Source: System Setup | Dell Studio XPS™ 435MT Service Manual

There is also this comprehensive Manual: Dell Studio XPS™ 435MT Service Manual

There are instructions at the first link inside the Quote Box that will show you how to enter the BIOS.
Then I would set them like this:

• Hard Disk Boot Priority | See if you can choose the machines HDD only or change the priority so that the external is last.

• First Boot Device | Main machine's HDD.

• Second Boot Device | CD/DVD.

• Third Boot Device | Disable.

• Boot Other Device | No.

• You might have to try several configurations for best performance.

   Note

Remember to re-start your machine after any changes

There are also updates for the BIOS, and other areas for your machine here: XPS Desktop 435MT - Dell - Search - All Dell.com, but you may feel more comfortable using the upgrade wizard - Dell - Search - All Dell.com. You would have to pick out the best route to take as there are several ways to go.
There may be a link already on your machine that will start the upgrade process for you.

I did find some steps you can try at this thread, but from what I have run into this seems more, and more that it is a POST, and not an OS problem:
Startup Extremely Slow When External Hard Drive Attached

Post #'s: 2, 7, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 21

11 suggests a possible BIOS upgrade

19 relates to slowness also at shutdown.

23 relates to slowness with iDevices.

Some users only plug in the external when needed, but this procedure seems to defeat the purpose, maybe a switch is in order?

But again, it defeats the ease of use parameter.

Please let us know the results of carrying out all of Anak's excellent suggestion.

You are very fortunate to have received such a thorough answer.

karl

karlsnooks said:

Please let us know the results of carrying out all of Anak's excellent suggestion.

You are very fortunate to have received such a thorough answer.

karl

:) sorry I have been busy recently working this is the first time since he replied that I have managed to get on my computer. I will definitely let you know if this fixes it.

Update: Right so I tried everything that you said and none of it works. The only difference now is that when windows starts the lights on my keyboard go off and then do a quick on and off and then stay off for 30seconds until they turn back on and I can use it. Before it used to be on when I was in BIOS and then turn off once windows started but didn't do the quick on off. No idea if that helps but I thought I should say.

SoulPursuer said:

:) sorry I have been busy recently working this is the first time since he replied that I have managed to get on my computer. I will definitely let you know if this fixes it.

That's okay, I've been busy myself the last few days....

SoulPursuer said:

Update: Right so I tried everything that you said and none of it works. The only difference now is that when windows starts the lights on my keyboard go off and then do a quick on and off and then stay off for 30seconds until they turn back on and I can use it.

SoulPursuer said:

Before it used to be on when I was in BIOS and then turn off once windows started but didn't do the quick on off. No idea if that helps but I thought I should say.

My apologies if it made it worse.

Okay, if you haven't already, do you think you can change the BIOS settings back to the way they were? You could use the Boot Device Configuration guide I posted in post#6 to refresh your memory.
Hopefully you were taking notes.

Do you know if your external HDD has a service related to it in Services? You can use this tutorial to help you to get to Services - Start or Disable If it does, make sure it's set to Auto (delayed), and started. Try a restart.

Can you post a screenshot of your disk management screen after your machine finishes its boot, and loading of the OS? Go to:

• Start
• In Search box, type/copy/paste Computer Management.
• Click on Computer Management.
• When that opens, click on Disk Management on the left.
• Allow the window to refresh.
• Take screenshot, and post.

I would like to see your disk management before you do this next step.

The Startup Extremely Slow When External Hard Drive Attached link I posted earlier suggests that a Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command has been found to help.

If you do follow through on this, make sure you have all your information on the External HDD backed up. read the blue Note box.


I also found another: Studio XPS Desktop pdf Setup Guide