My Computer Takes Forever to Look At HD's

[ebenezercore]

I double click "My Computer"

It starts trying to look at the two Hard Drives located there.......and it takes 3 to 4 minutes (rough estimate) to finally give me a read of those drives.

Also when I try to do a search for a file, the search just hangs....doesen't crash computer....just sits there, like I hadn't clicked search at all.

Funny thing is IS that there is no considerable lag in opening most other programs.

thanks for reading and your time!

ebX

 

[linney]

Try the first article.

819017 - Long Delay Before Files Appear in My Computer in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;819017&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Also see how it goes if you switch off anti virus software for a few moments.

Update your video drivers.

Computer Speed and Performance May Decrease (Q310419)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q310/4/19.asp

HOW TO: Set Performance Options (Q308417)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/4/17.asp

819101 - Temporary Decline in Performance Occurs When You Right-Click a File or Folder in Windows Explorer

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;819101

If things are OK in Safe Mode, check your machine for malware.

Removing adware & spyware
faq608-4650

 

[BadBigBen]

Could be a corrupt Registry?

A bad case of Indexing and or Prefetching, aswell/or it is looking for Network Drives, that aren't there...

Indexing Service - Plain English Computing

Windows XP comes with an Indexing Service which boosts the efficiency of searches. When enabled, the Indexing Service works in the background, extracting the contents and the properties of documents and organizing them in a way streamlined for fast searching.

If your computer strains under the weight of Windows XP, you may want to keep the Indexing Service switched off, as it slows your system somewhat. If you’d like to have faster searches, then turn it on.

You can switch the Indexing Service on and off, and adjust its properties, via the Search Companion:

1. Open the Search Companion and click Change Preferences.
2. Click the With Indexing Service option (if Indexing Service is already enabled, the option will be Without Indexing Service).
3. Select the options you want and click OK.
(Source Kelly's Korner)

There is also the possibility that the one or all the drives are damaged/corrupt or need defraging...

Ben

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

 

[monsterjta]

Some virus detection programs (McAfee, Norton) cause serious delay in expoling files when you have on-access or on-demand scanning enabled. Try turning this feature off and see the results. I like to just scan email and internet traffic, because it slows me down too much. Then schedule daily scans when I'm not using my PC.

Hope This Helps,

Good Luck!

(I do what I can with what I know)

 

[ebenezercore]

Any Suggestions on how to check for Malware

 

[BadBigBen]

Three...

1.) DL Microsoft AntiSpyware... let it run a scan...
2.) DL SpyBot S&D... Dito on the scan...
3.) DL AdAware... See above...
and just for good measure, DL Ewido and let it do a scan aswell...



Ben

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

 

[firewolfrl]

BHO's can cause that but you need to see in the device manager if the harddrive controllers have a setting other than DMA in their advance tab.
those settings need to have DMA.

then you need to run CHKDSK /R (that setting takes awhile) then CHKDSK /F on all hard drives.

 

[linney]

Removing adware & spyware
faq608-4650

Microsoft (GIANT Antispyware) Beta available
Thread779-979113

Try the free version of "Ewido"

http://www.ewido.net/en/

How is the machine when run from Safe Mode?