Startup problem with Adaptec FireWire/USB drive enclosure?

I recently acquired a Core Duo 1.66GHz mini. Soon after buying it I noticed that on startup, I get to the gray screen with Apple logo, and it freezes there for about 3-4 minutes before the spinning wheel appears briefly and then OS X starts normally.
I eventually figured out that it only does this when my Adaptec 3.5" FireWire/USB drive enclosure is connected via FireWire. If the drive is not connected the mini starts up lightning fast.
It seems to be an issue specific to the mini and this model of enclosure. I put another drive in the enclosure; same issue. I tried another enclosure I had; issue doesn't happen. I tried the Adaptec enclosure with a MacBook; issue doesn't happen. I exchanged the Adaptec enclosure for another of the same model; the issue still occurs. I even exchanged the mini for another; the issue still occurs.
Any ideas as to why this is happening and what I might do to fix it? I don't restart very often so this isn't too annoying, nonetheless I'd really love to fix it if I can.

Afraid it is all downhill from here: from what I have learnt, that drive uses a Prolific Revision A chipset. This means it cannot be used as the boot drive for your mac. http://www.ultraproducts.com/ seems to be the manufacturer and on their website forums about their enclosures detail similar issues and worse - write failures over firewire.
I cannot say much about the chipsets. Some folk swear by Oxford, which has to the best of my knowledge always supported Firewire startup. Personally, my ext hd is a Prolific Rev C and I have had no problems at all.
That all said and done, I trust that only the firewire connection is made and not the FW and USB? Also, if it is connected only via USB, are the mount problems experienced?
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

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