slow and blind booting

[Rolf Bode-Meyer]

Hi!

I've just managed to install Feisty's Herd3 but right upon start it
somewhat differs from my past Linux experiences.

I'm used getting to the login prompt in about 45 seconds and X to
start in about 15 seconds after startx. While booting, messages scroll
over the screen and I can see what's going on.

But starting Herd3 from GRUB to seeing the X mouse cursor took about 3
minutes in which the disk usage (LED)  was sporadically. The screen
was blank (black) in the time between but had a signal (if not it had
switched to power-safe).

Is that normal? If yes, why and how to change that to normal and fast?

Bye, Robert