SLOW explorer !? 5

[J741]

Recently, when I use windows' explorer to browse folders on my hard drive, it often takes more than 5 minutes to display the folder contents. During this time, I can not open Internet Explorer, or any other program, but I can alt-tab between programs which are already open, and use the already active programs without any major problems, unless I want to open or save a file. This is extremely annoying.

This issue seems to have begun about a month ago, and gets worse daily. I have run multiple diagnostics tools and utilitiy programs on my system to try and isolate the source of the problem, but have not yet been successful. The system is normaly very fast and responsive. It is only when exploring hard drive folders that the system seems to have a problem.

Anyone out there got any ideas about this one?

- James.

 

[koresnordic]

What I have noticed is if the folder contains zip files, my anti-virus will scan all the files in all the zips before it lets me do anything else. This can be quite some time with the larger zips. So either create a more branchable tree with only a couple of zips in each folder or turn of zip file checking in your anti-virus product (not recommended btw).



Graham

 

[bcastner]

To stop XP from enumerating ZIP files as folders:

Start, Run, regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll

 

[linney]

There is not a lot left to be said that is new or earth shattering.

"koresnordic's" comment about virus scanners is worth considering. Expanding on his thoughts, you could try setting the "real time" settings of the scanner to only scan the default files, but keep any "on demand" setting to scan all files.

Check to see if you have the same slowness in Safe Mode.
If you recover your speed in Safe Mode, consider these articles in order to diagnose the problem.

310353 - How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310353&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

316434 - HOW TO: Perform Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316434&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

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

Some general things to try.

Check out your Event Viewer for any clues.

See if System Restore will get you back to a restore point before your problem with Explorer.

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking.

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp

If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

And finally a complete format and reinstall.


"could be sorted out by converting it to NTFS. Can anyone verify please?"

I haven't heard of that, but when your desperate it is worth trying anything.

307881 - HOW TO: Convert a FAT16 or FAT32 Volume to NTFS in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307881&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

 

[bcastner]

Other than to re-emphasise some aspects of the XP native GUI interface:

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

 

[jamesknox]

Came across this thread because I had a similar problem with my laptop and had also had it on a previous laptop. Seems to occur around Christmas time... Hmmmm, an e-card perhaps?

No... It turns out there were some very large zip files of directories I had created so that I could copy them to another machine (to work on over Christmas). They were stored in the root folder. I guess they were being indexed because I deleted them and poof no more problem. Now to stop the Zip files from being pre-indexed....

Interestingly, the problem only occurs when the drive is selected in the tree listing on the directory pane, not when the drive is selected from the drop-down at the top.

Hope this helps someone else with a similar problem.

Cheers

 

[bcastner]

A direct steal from Kelly Theriot: (

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_s.htm)

Stop Search from Scanning ZIP files:

Un-register the zip and cab file dlls, then re-register them after that.

Before Search:
regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll
regsvr32 /u cabview.dll

After Search:
regsvr32 cabview.dll
regsvr32 zipfldr.dll

Tip: Windows XP keeps a record of all files on the hard disk so when you do a search on the hard drive it is faster.
There is a downside to this and because the computer has to index all files, it will slow down normal file commands like open, close, etc. If you do not do a whole lot of searches on your hard drive then I suggest turning this feature off: Open My Computer/Right click your hard drive/properties. Uncheck "Allow indexing service to index this disk faster searches". Apply to all folders and subfolders.

 

[MickMickMick]

HI,
I just wanted to thank you for the solution you provided (
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}\InProcServer32.
I have been suffering this problem for the past 6 months and thought I had tried everything.. unistalling codecs, players (sound and video).... I upgraded to WinXP Prof from Home Edition in the hope that it would fix the problem... but to no avaial... MS SUpport told me to "install SP2", which was already installed.... pulling my hair out... until I found you!
Thank you.
Mick

 

[Technotronic]

Wanna thank you all for helping me with HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}\InProcServer32

It solved everything!!!!

Thanx Greg Palmer!!! You the man!!!

 

[bcastner]

Actually, linney suggested it first. I repeated it. and Greg Palmer copied it.

(Just kidding. linney is the one worthy of "You the man!!!)

 

[linney]

I forgot about it completely and pinched it back from Greg. In any case we all found it on Google I suspect. It's just the way forums work for the benefit of everybody.

Does it therefor follow that in Tek-Tips we're "all the men" even the ladies among us?

 

[grubgal]

I was having the original problem of extremely slow browsing of windows explorer. That's how I found this site. Turns out none of the above solutions helped me. So I wanted to share my solution in case there are some people out there who still have the problem and the above fixes didn't work for them also.

I found this page which helped me.

http://www.ss64.com/nt/slow_browsing.html

Turns out I had probably about 15-20 connections set up in My Network Places and each time I would click on a folder it would try to establish a connection to each of these thus greatly slowing down windows explorer. Once I deleted all of these connections it returned to normal. I started using My Network Places instead of mapping drives cause someone told me it was harder for viruses to propogate over unc mapped drives instead of the regular letter mappings. Don't know if this is true or not, but I'm not using My Network Places anymore. I think it works fine if you only have a few, but get anymore than about 4-5 and it will slow it down.

Hope this helps some people.

 

[toxit]

bcastner, please can you help me i did what you wrote now i would like to reverse and add the thumnail option to it as i found out it was something else, could you help me on the i did the registery key as well as the cmd regedit /u

toxit

 

[bcastner]

regsvr32/i cabview.dll
regsvr32/i zipfldr.dll
regscr32 /i shmedia.dll

 

[bcastner]

Sorry, typo:
regsvr32 /i shmedia.dll

 

[RobertGos]

Had the same problem, and was looking over
you gents shoulders.
Explorer took over 1 minute to open a sub-directory
with thousands of files in it.

I performed the AVI correction, followed the MS
instruction about switching of transition effects,
and removed key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}\InProcServer32.

Now explorer opens the sub directories under 4 seconds.
A joy. many thanks again.

 

[sprentice]

Another Win XP Pro bug, can cause a programs File browse window to slow to a crawl.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;832161

One work around, is to disable the WebClient service on a WebDAV client computer, by following these steps:

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Computer Management.
2. In the details pane, double-click Services and Applications.
3. Double-click Services.
4. Right-click WebClient, and then click Properties.
5. Click the General tab.
6. In the Startup type list, click Disabled.
7. Click Apply, and then click OK.