EXS 24 Logic Sampler Users Group

I'm using Logic Audio 6.3.1 with EXSP24.  I have a huge set of sounds (several thousand 
instruments) on a Lacie Firewire drive.  All of the .exs instrument files were installed within 
the folder that also held the samples for each instrument.  That setup worked fine on a 
Logic Platinum system.  All that was needed was an alias in the Logic 6 Series folder 
pointing to the folder on the Lacie.  It doesn't work that way with this system.  When I 
don't have the Lacie plugged in, the autoload takes about 30-45 seconds to load up.  
When I plug it in, it takes literally over 30 minutes to load up.  I have tried duplicating the 
directory structure, removing the audio files (leaving only the .exs files), moving those into 
my Logic 6 Series folder or Shared folder.  Both cause greater-than-30 minute load times.
What's going on??  I know this shouldn't be a problem...