How to stop Windows from reading info about files?

[JonathanMortimer]

Hi,

I have a problem - when I insert a flashdrive or go to a remote network folder and attempt to navigate, just moving the cursor over some icons can cause the machine to furiously start working, I can only imagine it must be reading the files in for some cataloguing purpose, which as you can imagine can take ages (not to mention network overhead) if the files are a few hundred megs (e.g. a Windows SP). I must stress that I probably have not even clicked on these files. Using a flash drive with a machine that is only USB1 is also painfully slow when it does this, I could probably have run the SP by the time it finishes what ever it's doing. I am effectively locked out of the machine while this goes on, it seems to use all of the I/O resources.

Does anyone know exactly what is going on here, and how (if it's sensible) can I stop it from happening? It's just a waste of time and network traffic (especially important as our phones are VOIP so need the network to remain clear).

We are running Windows XP SP2 / SP3 (not all machines have been updated).

Thanks!

 

[Sympology]

This may not be a windows issue but an AV issue. I know we turn off Scan Network Drives on our AV because of this very problem.
Disable your av and try again and see if it help.s

Stu..

Most people spend their time on the "urgent" rather than on the "important."

 

[BadBigBen]

Also take a look at the Microsoft WindowsSearch 4.0 that gets installed on some systems through Windows Update...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[linney]

Can you reproduce the same behavior if you load "Safe Mode with Networking" for testing purposes?

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310560&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

As far as the flash drive is concerned, have you tried just setting the Autoplay options to do nothing other than opening up in the Explorer view?

Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay action

http://content.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-6184918.html

 

[JonathanMortimer]

I believe it is AVG that's doing the scanning, but try as I might I cannot prevent it. I tried telling the resident shield not to scan network and D: or E: in the exceptions list but it still seems to do it! It hangs the machine completely (cannot even get Task Manager up) until it's finished, everything just stops and is queued up, even things like Outlook email downloading and software installs (opening up an explorer window is enough to set it off).

Is there a way I can demote the AVG resident shield to low CPU time priority so that everything else on the system can continue working while it scans?

 

[robmazco]

I have found removing the Windows Search 4 has stopped this. I never install it on any pc.

 

[JonathanMortimer]

Windows Search 4 is not installed as far as I know (that's the little magnifying glass on the Task bar isn't it?)

 

[linney]

Did you ever check the situation from "Safe Mode with Networking"?

Have you tried just disabling Resident Shield for testing purposes?

Yes, Windows Search 4 does have a magnifying glass near the Clock in the Notification Area, and it may have a Search Box in the Taskbar, if so selected in Toolbars (right-click Taskbar).

Maybe something like Process Monitor v1.37

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/processesandthreads/processmonitor.mspx

might help you identify what process is reading those files?