"MS Windows network" very slow

[Jud McCranie]

I have windows XP home SP2 and a network of three computers around the
house. For several weeks, one thing has been extremely slow. If I go
to Network, it shows several folders under "Local Network". If I
click on any of these, they come up reasonably fast.

Down below are sections for "Internet" and "Unspecified". Under
"unspecified" is "Entire Network". Clicking on it brings it up
quickly. Under that is "Microsoft Windows Network" and two other
things. Clicking on "Microsoft Windows Network" brings up "MSHome"
quickly. Clicking on that quickly shows the three computers. Clicking
on one of the other computers is very slow - about 22 seconds for it
to come up. It didn't use to be this slow - at least I don't think
so. (And, as I said, it is fast under "local network".)

Is there something causing this to be so slow?

 

[Chuck]

I have windows XP home SP2 and a network of three computers around the
house. For several weeks, one thing has been extremely slow. If I go
to Network, it shows several folders under "Local Network". If I
click on any of these, they come up reasonably fast.

Down below are sections for "Internet" and "Unspecified". Under
"unspecified" is "Entire Network". Clicking on it brings it up
quickly. Under that is "Microsoft Windows Network" and two other
things. Clicking on "Microsoft Windows Network" brings up "MSHome"
quickly. Clicking on that quickly shows the three computers. Clicking
on one of the other computers is very slow - about 22 seconds for it
to come up. It didn't use to be this slow - at least I don't think
so. (And, as I said, it is fast under "local network".)

Is there something causing this to be so slow?

Jud,

Malware is always a possibility with your symptoms.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/dealing-with-malware-adware-spyware.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/dealing-with-malware-adware-spyware.html

If you don't have a malware problem (have you ruled that out?), I'd check for a
protocol problem. Maybe excessive alternate protocols.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/fix-network-problems-but-clean-up.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/fix-network-problems-but-clean-up.html

You might look at "browstat status", "ipconfig /all", "net config server", and
"net config workstation", from each computer, and diagnose the problem. Read
this article, and linked articles, and follow instructions precisely (download
browstat!):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp

 

[Jud McCranie]

Malware is always a possibility with your symptoms. ....

If you don't have a malware problem (have you ruled that out?), I'd check for a
protocol problem.

Pretty much ruled out. I run Norton Antivirus, auto updates, MS
Windows Defender, Spyware Doctor, and (from time to time) Ad Aware and
SpyBot.

It is only at that point where it is slow. I'll look at the links you
gave. Thanks.

 

[Chuck]

Pretty much ruled out. I run Norton Antivirus, auto updates, MS
Windows Defender, Spyware Doctor, and (from time to time) Ad Aware and
SpyBot.

It is only at that point where it is slow. I'll look at the links you
gave. Thanks.

HijackThis, and expert advice, would be the only way to rule it out IMHO. It's
your dime though.

 

[Jud McCranie]

HijackThis, and expert advice, would be the only way to rule it out IMHO. It's
your dime though.

I ran HijackThis a year or so ago when it was obvious that I had a
problem. I can try it again.

For good measure, I did a full Windows Defender scan today on all
three computers, then shut everything down and restarted. That one
thing is still slow though.

There is a delay of about 22 seconds when any computer is trying to
get to another under the "entire network". But must of what I need to
do I can get to through "my computer". The links you gave are so
technical to me that I believe I would spend a lot more time
understanding them than I would ever save. But I will try HijackThis.

 

[Jud McCranie]

HijackThis, and expert advice, would be the only way to rule it out IMHO.

I ran HijackThis on this computer, it didn't find anything. I copied
it to a second computer, and ran it there, and it didn't find
anything.

I tried to copy it to the third computer, and it wouldn't copy.
Neither of the first two could copy to the third one and the third one
couldn't copy from either of the other two. It says that I may not
have permissions set.

I know I could download it from the internet again onto the third
computer (or copy by other methods) but this problem is new, and it
may be related.

How can I make it so that I can copy to and from the third computer?
(I used to do this with no problem.)

 

[Jud McCranie]

I tried to copy it to the third computer, and it wouldn't copy.
Neither of the first two could copy to the third one and the third one
couldn't copy from either of the other two. It says that I may not
have permissions set.

Well, HijackThis might not have been copying because MacAfee on the
third computer thinks there is a virus in it.

Another unusual thing:
On the third computer, under "My Computer", "Local Drives", if I click
on the drive of another computer, it doesn't open it with Explorer -
it asks what program to open it with!! (And Explorer is not listed.)

I don't ever remember seeing that before. Is that a symptom of
something wrong?

 

[Jud McCranie]

HijackThis, and expert advice

I ran HijackThis and got a long list of things on each of the
computers, but I have no way of knowing if there is anything bad.

 

[Chuck]

I ran HijackThis and got a long list of things on each of the
computers, but I have no way of knowing if there is anything bad.

Jud,

The Security Cleanup forum at DSL Reports is quite good. Observe requirements
though.
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup

 

[Ms. Linda A.W.]

I have windows XP home SP2 and a network of three computers around the
house. For several weeks, one thing has been extremely slow. If I go
to Network, it shows several folders under "Local Network". If I
click on any of these, they come up reasonably fast.

Down below are sections for "Internet" and "Unspecified". Under
"unspecified" is "Entire Network". Clicking on it brings it up
quickly. Under that is "Microsoft Windows Network" and two other
things. Clicking on "Microsoft Windows Network" brings up "MSHome"
quickly. Clicking on that quickly shows the three computers. Clicking
on one of the other computers is very slow - about 22 seconds for it
to come up. It didn't use to be this slow - at least I don't think
so. (And, as I said, it is fast under "local network".)

Is there something causing this to be so slow?

I don't know if it was fixed, but WinXP had this problem when it first
came out -- it was looking for printers that were shared on every PC it
contacted for files. With many computers, there is no exported printer,
so WindowsXP has to timeout while waiting for this.

The easiest fix was to disable the scan for remote printers when
initiating a session with a remote computer.

Might try http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=320138, or just google
on "Windows XP slow browsing searching for printers". There's too many
suggestions and bugs to enumerate there.

Good luck,
linda