what file system was the stick using? I have found that Vista does not like
Fat32.

"Mick" wrote:
[color=blue]
> I have done some tests on a variety of usb sticks using xp pro 64 bit, vista
> Ultimate 32 bit and vista Premium 64 bit.
>
> I have E6600 processor with 4G memory.
> Gigabyte N680SLI-DQ6 motherboard.
>
> All tests were completed on the same PC / hardware
>
> I have formatted a variety of devices from 8G to 0.5G and they are all
> significantly faster running under XP pro.
>
> Under XP pro the 8G stick takes just 20 seconds... under either vista the
> time taken was just under 10 minutes!!
>
> Ihave tried, changing the policy statements for the sticks ( no difference),
> removed all other usb devices (no difference), plugging them into different
> ports (no difference)
>
> The drivers being used all say Microsoft on all systems. With my limited
> knowledge it very much looks like a Microsoft problem.
>
> However could it be a motherboard / driver problem?[/color]