Slow boot from USB using USB 2.0 flash drive

I created a USB flash drive containing Debian image using Etcher. I get the GNU screen after choosing the USB drive, but then after I choose the default (USB boot device tree), the screen goes blank for a long time, green LED stays solid, blue light flashes indefinitely with two short blue pulses before repeating.

Eventually it booted into Debian from the USB drive, but it is extremely slow. It took over 35 minutes.

UPDATE:My USB is 2.0 so I’m guessing this is why everything is so slow

IMO there should be some indication on the screen that it hasn’t crashed and is still working.

I’m using the power adapter that came with the O6, with a European adapter to US (I was sent a European power supply, but I’m in the U.S.)

I have 990 EVO Plus 2280 SSD inserted.

I have the WiFi module that came with the kit.

I experienced this problem myself where the official Radxa Debian image would not boot up, it hung after the Grub menu with flashing cursor in the top left hand corner of the screen with no other output.

Flashed to a USB 3 device and it booted up in about 20 seconds.