I've had this problem on several versions of Windows, Win 2000 for sure, Win
NT I think, and also XP.

I use Desktop Explorer in a Mac style to copy, delete, and move files
around. Each folder opens in a new window, and I drag icons around, etc.

Problem is, after a while, opening and closing windows and all, Explorer
won't open new windows, let me move icons (files), or even start new
programs. If I still have a few windows open I can close them and then
Explorer will let me open one or two more, then it hits the wall again.
Sometimes it opens part of a window, either not repainting all of it or not
displaying the menu bar, or not displaying all items in the menu bar.

It seems like Explorer is using resources and then not releasing them again
and eventually maxes out whatever resources it has available. I can close
Explorer using TaskManager, then restart it, and it works again, for a while.

I've run into this problem once again on a fresh install of XP/SP3. I had
thought that in the past Norton Utilities might be to blame, but I haven't
installed Norton yet.

I should note that in Win 2000 Explorer would report an error, close, and
restart itself.

Is this something I can fix? Or is the problem part of Explorer itself, and
if so, how can I get word to Microsoft about this?

Thanks.

m610 wrote:
> I've had this problem on several versions of Windows, Win 2000 for sure, Win
> NT I think, and also XP.
>
> I use Desktop Explorer in a Mac style to copy, delete, and move files
> around. Each folder opens in a new window, and I drag icons around, etc.
>
> Problem is, after a while, opening and closing windows and all, Explorer
> won't open new windows, let me move icons (files), or even start new
> programs. If I still have a few windows open I can close them and then
> Explorer will let me open one or two more, then it hits the wall again.
> Sometimes it opens part of a window, either not repainting all of it or not
> displaying the menu bar, or not displaying all items in the menu bar.
>
> It seems like Explorer is using resources and then not releasing them again
> and eventually maxes out whatever resources it has available. I can close
> Explorer using TaskManager, then restart it, and it works again, for a while.
>
> I've run into this problem once again on a fresh install of XP/SP3. I had
> thought that in the past Norton Utilities might be to blame, but I haven't
> installed Norton yet.
>
> I should note that in Win 2000 Explorer would report an error, close, and
> restart itself.
>
> Is this something I can fix? Or is the problem part of Explorer itself, and
> if so, how can I get word to Microsoft about this?
>
> Thanks.
>


Windows uses "Windows Explorer"


Are you referring to some 3rd party application ?

Sorry for the confusion. I do mean Windows Explorer, the one that runs the
desktop.

"philo" wrote:

> m610 wrote:
> > I've had this problem on several versions of Windows, Win 2000 for sure, Win
> > NT I think, and also XP.
> >
> > I use Desktop Explorer in a Mac style to copy, delete, and move files
> > around. Each folder opens in a new window, and I drag icons around, etc.
> >
> > Problem is, after a while, opening and closing windows and all, Explorer
> > won't open new windows, let me move icons (files), or even start new
> > programs. If I still have a few windows open I can close them and then
> > Explorer will let me open one or two more, then it hits the wall again.
> > Sometimes it opens part of a window, either not repainting all of it or not
> > displaying the menu bar, or not displaying all items in the menu bar.
> >
> > It seems like Explorer is using resources and then not releasing them again
> > and eventually maxes out whatever resources it has available. I can close
> > Explorer using TaskManager, then restart it, and it works again, for a while.
> >
> > I've run into this problem once again on a fresh install of XP/SP3. I had
> > thought that in the past Norton Utilities might be to blame, but I haven't
> > installed Norton yet.
> >
> > I should note that in Win 2000 Explorer would report an error, close, and
> > restart itself.
> >
> > Is this something I can fix? Or is the problem part of Explorer itself, and
> > if so, how can I get word to Microsoft about this?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
>
>
> Windows uses "Windows Explorer"
>
>
> Are you referring to some 3rd party application ?
>

m610 wrote:
> Sorry for the confusion. I do mean Windows Explorer, the one that runs the
> desktop.
>
> "philo" wrote:
>
>> m610 wrote:
>>> I've had this problem on several versions of Windows, Win 2000 for sure, Win
>>> NT I think, and also XP.
>>>
>>> I use Desktop Explorer in a Mac style to copy, delete, and move files
>>> around. Each folder opens in a new window, and I drag icons around, etc.
>>>
>>> Problem is, after a while, opening and closing windows and all, Explorer
>>> won't open new windows, let me move icons (files), or even start new
>>> programs. If I still have a few windows open I can close them and then
>>> Explorer will let me open one or two more, then it hits the wall again.
>>> Sometimes it opens part of a window, either not repainting all of it or not
>>> displaying the menu bar, or not displaying all items in the menu bar.
>>>
>>> It seems like Explorer is using resources and then not releasing them again
>>> and eventually maxes out whatever resources it has available. I can close
>>> Explorer using TaskManager, then restart it, and it works again, for a while.
>>>
>>> I've run into this problem once again on a fresh install of XP/SP3. I had
>>> thought that in the past Norton Utilities might be to blame, but I haven't
>>> installed Norton yet.
>>>
>>> I should note that in Win 2000 Explorer would report an error, close, and
>>> restart itself.
>>>
>>> Is this something I can fix? Or is the problem part of Explorer itself, and
>>> if so, how can I get word to Microsoft about this?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>
>> Windows uses "Windows Explorer"
>>
>>
>> Are you referring to some 3rd party application ?
>>



If the machine you now have XP on is the same one you used for Win2k
then it looks like it may be a H/W problem

at any rate, I'd start out with a RAM test.

> If the machine you now have XP on is the same one you used for Win2k
> then it looks like it may be a H/W problem
>
> at any rate, I'd start out with a RAM test.
>
>
I've got new hardware. New MB, RAM, everything.

The only thing these systems have in common is that I'm using ATI video
cards, though not the same on in each system.

It was a problem on my last system, and on this one. One my last OS, and on
this one. NT had strange problems, like all the icons turning black, all the
same, etc.

m610 wrote:
>> If the machine you now have XP on is the same one you used for Win2k
>> then it looks like it may be a H/W problem
>>
>> at any rate, I'd start out with a RAM test.
>>
>>
> I've got new hardware. New MB, RAM, everything.
>
> The only thing these systems have in common is that I'm using ATI video
> cards, though not the same on in each system.
>
> It was a problem on my last system, and on this one. One my last OS, and on
> this one. NT had strange problems, like all the icons turning black, all the
> same, etc.
>



Pretty odd as I've used NT4, Win2k and XP for many years and never had
any problems with Windows Explorer.

Anyway sorry I cannot be of any more help...
if you got any *specific* error codes you could Google it...

> Pretty odd as I've used NT4, Win2k and XP for many years and never had
> any problems with Windows Explorer.
>
> Anyway sorry I cannot be of any more help...
> if you got any *specific* error codes you could Google it...
>

Thanks.

And, I am not imagining this. I can reproduce this problem. Unfortunately
I don't get an error message. Explorer just quits opening folders or
starting programs. Occasionally a program will fail after starting up part
way. After restarting Explorer it starts fine. I figure I was already close
to Explorer's resource limits when I tried to start that program.

If I can get a screen shot I'll try to post it.

m610 wrote:
>> Pretty odd as I've used NT4, Win2k and XP for many years and never had
>> any problems with Windows Explorer.
>>
>> Anyway sorry I cannot be of any more help...
>> if you got any *specific* error codes you could Google it...
>>
>
> Thanks.
>
> And, I am not imagining this. I can reproduce this problem. Unfortunately
> I don't get an error message. Explorer just quits opening folders or
> starting programs. Occasionally a program will fail after starting up part
> way. After restarting Explorer it starts fine. I figure I was already close
> to Explorer's resource limits when I tried to start that program.
>
> If I can get a screen shot I'll try to post it.
>


well

I don't know if I can be of much help...
but if there is a lot of data in the folders...
\especially images that are cached\
that could cause a slowdown

if that's the case you'd need to unregister Windows Picture viewer

I accidentally clicked "Yes", that the question was answered.

I'll look into the Picture Viewer thing.

But to clarify, Explorer does not slow down, it stops. It won't do anything
more. I have to restart it.

By the way, this also happens after Windows has been running for a few days,
I've been working, opening and closing files and windows. It's the same
problem, but it just takes longer than when i am cleaning up and reorganizing
my stuff.


"philo" wrote:

> m610 wrote:
> >> Pretty odd as I've used NT4, Win2k and XP for many years and never had
> >> any problems with Windows Explorer.
> >>
> >> Anyway sorry I cannot be of any more help...
> >> if you got any *specific* error codes you could Google it...
> >>
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > And, I am not imagining this. I can reproduce this problem. Unfortunately
> > I don't get an error message. Explorer just quits opening folders or
> > starting programs. Occasionally a program will fail after starting up part
> > way. After restarting Explorer it starts fine. I figure I was already close
> > to Explorer's resource limits when I tried to start that program.
> >
> > If I can get a screen shot I'll try to post it.
> >
>
>
> well
>
> I don't know if I can be of much help...
> but if there is a lot of data in the folders...
> \especially images that are cached\
> that could cause a slowdown
>
> if that's the case you'd need to unregister Windows Picture viewer
>

Thanks, but that link doesn't work.

An honestly, when someone shows up spouting "The Real Truth" and "Don't
trust the other guys.." type stuff, well, it smacks of paranoid dedemagogry
and I stay away.

Sorry.

"The Real Truth MVP" wrote:

> Try my Explorer Shell Fix tool. Download it here http://www.ms-mvp.org/
>
>
> --
> The Real Truth http://pcbutts1-therealtruth.blogspot.com/
> *WARNING* Do NOT follow any advice given by the people listed below.
> They do NOT have the expertise or knowledge to fix your issue. Do not waste
> your time.
> David H Lipman, Malke, PA Bear, Beauregard T. Shagnasty, Leythos.
>
>
>
>
> "m610" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:83655C1F-34BA-463D-9DC0-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >
> > I accidentally clicked "Yes", that the question was answered.
> >
> > I'll look into the Picture Viewer thing.
> >
> > But to clarify, Explorer does not slow down, it stops. It won't do
> > anything
> > more. I have to restart it.
> >
> > By the way, this also happens after Windows has been running for a few
> > days,
> > I've been working, opening and closing files and windows. It's the same
> > problem, but it just takes longer than when i am cleaning up and
> > reorganizing
> > my stuff.
> >
> >
> > "philo" wrote:
> >
> >> m610 wrote:
> >> >> Pretty odd as I've used NT4, Win2k and XP for many years and never had
> >> >> any problems with Windows Explorer.
> >> >>
> >> >> Anyway sorry I cannot be of any more help...
> >> >> if you got any *specific* error codes you could Google it...
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> > Thanks.
> >> >
> >> > And, I am not imagining this. I can reproduce this problem.
> >> > Unfortunately
> >> > I don't get an error message. Explorer just quits opening folders or
> >> > starting programs. Occasionally a program will fail after starting up
> >> > part
> >> > way. After restarting Explorer it starts fine. I figure I was already
> >> > close
> >> > to Explorer's resource limits when I tried to start that program.
> >> >
> >> > If I can get a screen shot I'll try to post it.
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >> well
> >>
> >> I don't know if I can be of much help...
> >> but if there is a lot of data in the folders...
> >> \especially images that are cached\
> >> that could cause a slowdown
> >>
> >> if that's the case you'd need to unregister Windows Picture viewer
> >>
>
>