XP Pro - Using Keyboard Shortcuts sometimes hangs ~20 secs 2

[humbletech99]

When using keyboard shortcuts to open programs via the shortcut key that you can set on a .lnk to that program, I find that my workstation can sometimes hang for around 15-20 seconds.

Most of the time, the shortcuts work fine, but then every now and again using one will just cause everything to block and hang, everything you do in the next 20 seconds doesn't materialize on the computer until that original action is unblocked and then everything races through a catch up, like a sudden gush of released water....

Anyone know how to fix this behaviour to not block/freeze the desktop?

 

[gaiageek]

I sent an email to that address, but the point is that part of what makes forums like this great is that people can search and find solutions to problems, even when the discussion occurred months or years before. In this case, the solution involves some software that isn't available anywhere else (as far as I know)! Better if it can be posted here, or a link to it here on a server which will be around for awhile. If someone needs a host, just let me know and I can give it a home.

 

[linney]

You have a possible lead until the poster posts a better link. While your sentiments are true and correct, and most people do leave a clearly followable trail, we are all in the hands of "teho" in this instance. I too hope that a file hosting site is linked to. Maybe he can even post the code directly into a Reply?

 

[smdelapp]

I think humbletech99's initial problem can be solved with a PERFORMANCE setting in XP. I had the same (agonizing) problem, and this worked for me:

Control Panel -> System -> Advanced -> Performance Settings -> Advanced

For the processor scheduling, select "Background services".

Give it a try. I haven't had the problem since I made that switch, and I haven't noticed any qualitative reduction in general performance.

 

[gaiageek]

Hmm, I set my processor scheduling to Background Services a few weeks ago, but I've been deliberately avoiding using keyboard shortcuts because of this problem so I don't know if it's fixed the problem, especially since it occurs so randomly. I'll start using them again and see.

Anyone else have feedback on this method?

 

[gaiageek]

Following up, changing processor scheduling to background services does not work - at least on my machine. I tried a keyboard shortcut for Calculator today and sure enough, it took nearly a minute to open and the Start menu was frozen that entire time.

 

[Chenne]

I can't believe this problem still exists. I also experience it since Windows 2000, not realising until a few days ago that it was a common problem. (I actually avoided using shortcuts for years, and used the mouse instead.)

As for determining the cause I note the following:
- When it hangs, everything works except for the taskbar and any other 'explorer like' shortkeys like Windows key + D.
- It only occurs with shortkey combinations that have been assigned in a shortkey file (.lnk); other combinations that are not assigned don't suffer from it when pressed. So a non existing combination does nothing, not even hang. This means it is not a problem with explorer looking up the .lnk file, because it already knows which combinations have been assigned.
- I doesn't always occur, but occurs randomly it seems, i.e. pressing ctrl+alt+[different letters] produces the bug half the time or so. Also, even repeating the same shortkey over and over still hangs after a few times, so it doesn't even cache it.

This bug is beginning to antagonise me and makes me want to report this to Microsoft. Can't we direct MS to this thread?

 

[gaiageek]

(Perhaps making an argument like... )

Dear Microsoft,

We've firmly established a bug with the shortcut keys feature that has apparently existed for years in Windows XP, even dating back to Windows 2000. With the coming release of Windows 7, as a measure of good faith for all of us who will be considering its purchase over alternatives such as Mac OSX or a Linux distribution, we ask this of you: fix this bug. Show us that you stand behind your current product as a way of demonstrating that you will do so with the next generation.

Regards,

Frustrated Windows XP users.

(I would actually be impressed if they fix this. Now, where to send this?)

 

[smdelapp]

The background services setting worked for me for about 3 days. Now I get the lags again. Weak.

 

[linney]

How to report a bug to microsoft?

http://www.google.com/search?q=repo...-au&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

Incident Reports for Technical Support from Microsoft

http://ampalliance.org/blogs/micros...rts-for-Technical-Support-from-Microsoft.aspx

Microsoft Product Support Reports

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...7C-7CA5-408F-88B7-F9C79B7306C0&displaylang=en

 

[gaiageek]

I've submitted a support request to Microsoft with the following message:

Using shortcut keys (keyboard shortcuts) causes taskbar to hang

See this thread for more info:

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1437206

Example: if a keyboard shortcut Ctrl-Alt-C has been assigned to Calculator, after hitting the key combination the program won't load and the taskbar will be unresponsive for anywhere from 20 seconds to over 1 minute, after which it will unfreeze and the program will launch (perhaps in sudden multiple instances if the user pressed the key combination multiple times trying to get the program to launch).

The thread mentioned above documents that this problem has persisted for a long time, even since Windows 2000. The fact that it has existed this long and never been addressed is almost shameful.

Given the upcoming release of Windows 7 at a time when people have more viable options for non-Microsoft operating systems than ever before, we would like to see this seemingly simple bug addressed as a measure of good faith that Microsoft stands behind its products.

A response is expected.

Now let's see if they actually do something about it.

 

[Chenne]

Thanks for doing that. Now let's keep our hopes up for Windows 7.

 

[GeBru]

Hi colleague sufferers,

I have the same problem with desktop shortcuts for one or two years (since I use them more heavily) and have already searched the web several times about that problem. Now it is the first time that I really find useful and detailed info about it! Thanks!

The hanging for about 20 seconds occurred quite frequently but till very recently I could not find any specific behavior.

But just a few days ago, I noticed that I can absolutely reproduce the hangup with a single software. It is PyScripter 1.9.9.7 which is an IDE for Python programming. If I just start this software, all my desktop shortcuts are blocked for that 20 seconds or so. It is absolutely reproducible! Even if no other program is open.

So it seems that certain software is blocking something in the operating system (in my case Win XP) so that it cannot resolve the shortcuts. I have also tried to set the "Background services" as recommended in this forum, but it did not help at all!

many greetings and thanks for your engagement,

Gerhard