Here I am again - Windows 1 0 driving me nuts 1

[pmonett]

Okay, since September, I have bought a Windows 1 0 license for my desktop gaming rig, and now I have bought a new laptop that came with another Windows 1 0 license to replace the laptop I had since 2012.
Of course, something is driving me crazy. Both desktop and laptop are on the same 21H1 (19043.1348) version, but on the laptop, when I access my NAS, directory display is immediate even in a folder with 1000+ files. On my desktop, in any folder that holds more than 50 files I have to wait practically a minute before I have the full display.
WHY ? What is this problem that seems to simply not go away on the dasktop, whereas the laptop functions perfectly ? What bloody setting do have to check to remove this issue ?
I'm mad as a wasp's nest. Someone please give me a solution.

I've got nothing to hide, and I demand that you justify what right you have to ask.

 

[2ffat]

It sound likes your desktop may 1) not have enough RAM or virtual memory set up, or 2) your RAM in the desktop has a slower refresh rate than the RAM in the new laptop, or 3) you have more programs running in the background of the desktop than you do on the laptop or 4) all of the above. All are very common in nearly 10 year old PCs.

You can adjust the size of the virtual memory but MS recommends you let Win10 handle it. To check on virtual memory, start the Settings program by pressing the Windows key and I. Next click on the System icon.

On the left hand side of the next screen, scroll to the bottom and click on "About." On the right hand side of the screen, scroll to the bottom and click on "Advanced system settings."

A new window should pop up and the Advanced tab should be selected. If it's not, select it. Then press the Settings button under the Performance panel at the top.

Another window should pop up. Click on the Advanced tab at the top. Click the Change button in the Virtual Memory panel. On my 10 year old laptop, I turned OFF the option to automatically manage page file size on all drives. This really slows down my laptop.

Towards the bottom of the screen, I turned ON the option System managed size, hit the SET button and then OK.

IF you want to manually adjust the size of the memory cache, go ahead. Be aware that disk size and speed are also limitations. That's why it's recommended to let the system manage everything.

Note that all of these are hardware limitations and not necessarily Win10 limitations.


James P. Cottingham
I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229!

 

[spamjim]

There are various ways to access NAS. Are the two systems using the same method? Are they using the same method to display files (no optional preview icon building of media files)?

Is it possible you have malware on one of your systems? It seems very odd that your keyboard is repeatedly typing "Windows 1 0" with a space between the digits. I'd look into that.

 

[goombawaho]

Ha ha. I was noticing that. I'd say the latter was user error, though agreed - strange way to write Windows 10. I'm still running Windows X-P
I don't think it has anything to do with memory or computer "horsepower".

I would agree with spamjim - a setting in Explorer or even a view setting.
In a File Explorer window - look at the settings - click VIEW at the top and review settings between PCs
In Control Panel, look at File Explorer Options > View tab - compare all options between PCs

What about connection speed - is one device running at wired gigabit and the laptop possibly connected at much slower speed via wifi???

 

[pmonett]

Okay, I'll admit I didn't think the RAM specs could be an issue.
The desktop is an Intel i9-10980XE with 64GB of DDR4 RAM @2133 in 4 sticks of 16GB.
The laptop is an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX with 32GB of DDR4 RAM @3200, but I don't know how many sticks there are.
Both are connected via Ethernet cable on a GB switch, as is the NAS, a Synology DS414j with 4 3TB HDDs configured in RAID 5.
As for Windows 1 0, that's the way I type it .

I have no idea how the computers are accessing the NAS, I would suppose they're both accessing it in the same way since they're both in exactly the same version of Windows and I haven't configured anything special on either concerning the network.
Both the desktop and the laptop are managing their own page file size. I really don't see what that has to do with the speed at which the systems display folder contents but, given that I can't for the life of me understand what the problem is, it doesn't matter.

I've got nothing to hide, and I demand that you justify what right you have to ask.

 

[Andrzejek]

>As for Windows 1 0, that's the way I type it .
It is like saying: Windows T E N

---- Andy

"Hmm...they have the internet on computers now"--Homer Simpson

 

[goombawaho]

Okay, so network speed is the same. But you didn't tell us whether you looked at our "Folder View and Explorer settings" suggestions. That is likely the source of the problem. Otherwise, something strange is going on.

 

[spamjim]

1000+ files" was effectively typed. It is an unintentional disrespect of other users seeking solutions to a similar problem to mask the details of your issue. Let's not be selfish.

SEO help...
[ul]
[li]Windows 10[/li]
[li]Explorer[/li]
[li]Folder[/li]
[li]Directory[/li]
[li]NAS[/li]
[li]Network[/li]
[li]Slow display[/li]
[/ul]

I have no idea how the computers are accessing the NAS

Sure you do. Look in Explorer on each computer and see what the path is in the address bar. You can also often see the path and type of connection in the "Network locations" section of "This PC" in Explorer.

NAS often offers multiple ways to connect: FTP, SMB, etc. SMB1 should be disabled because of unresolved/unsupported security issues. Make sure both Windows 10 systems are using the same version of the network protocol.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/wi...leshoot/detect-enable-and-disable-smbv1-v2-v3

 

[mikrom]

Maybe try to look in registry at the settings
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters\DirectoryCacheLifetime
as described here

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/fix-slow-access-to-network-drive-from-windows-10

 

[pmonett]

@goombawaho : something strange is going on. I have not changed folder settings on either computer.

@spamjim : I'm using Windows Explorer, no FTP involved. SMB1 is disabled on both computers.

@mikrom : I checked DirectoryCacheLifetime and set it to 0 on the desktop. No change.

Thank you for your suggestions, but I will need something else apparently.

I've got nothing to hide, and I demand that you justify what right you have to ask.

 

[mikrom]

Hi pmonett,
And isn't it possible that you have some stupid antivirus or security software that is slowing down your Windows PC?

 

[mikrom]

Hi pmonett,

Did the NAS access work well on the PC at some point? If you know the date when it was still working, you can use the system restore wizard to restore Windows to the time-restore-point. Then of course you have to reinstall all updates from that point on, but you can investigate after which update it stops working properly. This method is very time consuming, but then you will know what caused the problem. But there is also the chance that you won't help yourself much with it.
Personally, I would be very annoyed by this behavior, so I would probably reinstall Windows. It takes less time than fiddling about what might be badly set in Windows.
If the NAS access works normally after reinstalling Windows, then you have to proceed very carefully: Before each software installation, create a restore point so that you can always restore Windows to the point where it was still working properly.
If after new installation of Windows the NAS access is already slowing down, and if possible I would complain to the retailer or manufacturer, ask for replacement/refund or get my money back.

 

[goombawaho]

Boot with a bootable Linux distro and see if the problem follows OR put in a different hard drive (to save your Windows installation) and load Windows 10 on it. Problem follows to new O.S. = hardware issue. Problem doesn't follow to new O.S. = NOT a hardware problem.

The other thing you can do is use MSCONFIG and disable HALF of the NON-Microsoft services, reboot and check behavior. Then re-enable those you disabled and disable the other half, reboot and test functionality. This might help if the first test says "it's NOT a hardware issue".

For my money, it's 95% chance something related to Windows itself or a third party app or a setting causing this issue. NOT hardware.

 

[pmonett]

@mikrom : nothing more stupid than MS Antimalware Service Given that it's running on the laptop as well, I don't think that that is the issue.

The NAS was fine when I was on Win7. Access was normal, as defined by I open a folder and the file list is there, no waiting. As I said, the laptop and desktop are on the exact same version (19043.1348). Given that I haven't made any system changes on either, what the blazes is going on ?

@goombawaho : I'll check and keep you updated.

Thanks to all and best wishes for 2022 !

I've got nothing to hide, and I demand that you justify what right you have to ask.

 

[mikrom]

Hi pmonett,
When you was first on W7, then how did you install Win10? By upgrading from W7 to W10 or by the clean installation of W10? By upgrading there is greater chance for some issues. Clean installation should be better.

 

[pmonett]

Indeed, I found that out the hard way
First I did an upgrade install, but too many of my apps would either not start or bug rather quickly, so I formatted the drive and did a clean install.
That is what irks me the most. I bought a new work laptop and it works flawlessly, but a clean install of Win 1 0 on my desktop with top-notch hardware and it works less well. Grrr.

I've got nothing to hide, and I demand that you justify what right you have to ask.

 

[mikrom]

If you did clean installation of Windows 10 and the NAS still didn't work properly after that, then I don't know what else to try - probably nothing.

 

[goombawaho]

All my upgrades from Win 7 to Win 10 have been fine except one where the scanner software didn't migrate. So I wouldn't make generalizations about it not being a clean process. The number I have migrated is over 20 for my customers + my personal computers. Everything from ancient hardware to newer stuff.

 

[pmonett]

The NAS is working fine. From my work laptop, I have no problem.
The interesting thing is that I found out yesterday that, when I use Paint.net to go find some pics to edit on the NAS, folder content display is immediate.
I checked with a few other programs (LibreOffice, NotePad ++, SumatraPDF) and they display immediately as well.
So it's only Windows Explorer that shows the problem.

I've got nothing to hide, and I demand that you justify what right you have to ask.

 

[mikrom]

you can google what to do when file explorer is slow, there are lot of tips, for example

https://windowsreport.com/file-explorer-slow-windows-10/