Scrolling through large folders hangs up & is jerky

[SlowScrolling]

In the last few days I have had trouble scrolling through large file
folders on my various hard drives. As you drag the slider the file
list scrolling stalls and then a few seconds later catches up all at
once. This problem is not limited to one hard drive, but occurs
similarly on all my hard drives in folders that contain many files.

My system is a powerful Dell Dimension 8400, XP Pro, 3.4 GHz, 2 GB
RAM, with fast Western Digital hard drives, and never had even a hint
of this problem until a few days ago. However, the number of files in
my various folders has not increased significantly, and they were
scrolling fine a week ago; now they are not. During this time, I've
installed some new programs, including Nero 7 Ultra, Adobe Audition
2.0, some a/v codecs, plus McAfee Internet Security Suite 2006 (had
already been running McAfee, which came on my computer, for a year).

This is not a smooth-scrolling problem. Smooth-scrolling has always
been enabled on my system without any problem, and I have tried
disabling it, and it did not help. Also, I use AdAware SE Personal at
least once a day. Defragging also doesn't help.

All suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Guest]

Hi Slow Scroller:

It really does sound like a RAM problem but it is hard to imagine 2GB RAM
being easily overwhelmed. I would try things in this order to get started
discovering the problem:

Try turning off the programs you recently installed (while you are not
connected to internet of course) and see if the scrolling is still slow on
these files. Report back.

A defrag might help too and is easy & safe to perform: Start > All Programs

Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter. Perform the Analyze

function first and make a note of the reported results. Then do the defrag.
If you have not defragmented in a while, this could take some time and you
might consider performing the defrag twice.

Also, make a note of your Virtual Memory parameters: Start > Control Panel

System > Click the Advanced tab > Click Settings (to the right of

Performance) > Click the Advanced tab in Performance Options > Click "Change"
to the right of Virtual Memory (don't worry, it won't change anything unless
you ask it to). Make a note of the settings and report back here.

PS: just HOW BIG are these files?

Mark

 

[Pennywise]

|>In the last few days I have had trouble scrolling through large file
|>folders on my various hard drives. As you drag the slider the file
|>list scrolling stalls and then a few seconds later catches up all at
|>once. This problem is not limited to one hard drive, but occurs
|>similarly on all my hard drives in folders that contain many files.
|>
|>My system is a powerful Dell Dimension 8400, XP Pro, 3.4 GHz, 2 GB
|>RAM, with fast Western Digital hard drives, and never had even a hint
|>of this problem until a few days ago. However, the number of files in
|>my various folders has not increased significantly, and they were
|>scrolling fine a week ago; now they are not. During this time, I've
|>installed some new programs, including Nero 7 Ultra, Adobe Audition
|>2.0, some a/v codecs, plus McAfee Internet Security Suite 2006 (had
|>already been running McAfee, which came on my computer, for a year).
|>
|>This is not a smooth-scrolling problem. Smooth-scrolling has always
|>been enabled on my system without any problem, and I have tried
|>disabling it, and it did not help. Also, I use AdAware SE Personal at
|>least once a day. Defragging also doesn't help.
|>
|>All suggestions will be greatly appreciated.


Start | Run <type in> regsvr32 -u shimgvw.dll <enter>

See if that helps, it will disable sampling each file, which will hang
up explorer on an AVI file.

You lose things like thumbnails and such but that's what Ifranview is
for http://www.irfanview.com/ to view your pix's

To re register the dll
Start | Run <type in> regsvr32 shimgvw.dll <enter>

 

[SlowScrolling]

Mark, thanks for your suggestions. I, too, believe it's a RAM problem
of some type. Below are my responses to your suggestions:

Hi Slow Scroller:

It really does sound like a RAM problem but it is hard to imagine 2GB RAM
being easily overwhelmed. I would try things in this order to get started
discovering the problem:

Try turning off the programs you recently installed (while you are not
connected to internet of course) and see if the scrolling is still slow on
these files. Report back.

How can these programs (McAfee, Nero, Audition, etc.) be turned off,
without actually deinstalling them?

A defrag might help too and is easy & safe to perform: Start > All Programs
function first and make a note of the reported results. Then do the defrag.
If you have not defragmented in a while, this could take some time and you
might consider performing the defrag twice.

I have defragged, and it does not affect the problem.

Also, make a note of your Virtual Memory parameters: Start > Control Panel
Performance) > Click the Advanced tab in Performance Options > Click "Change"
to the right of Virtual Memory (don't worry, it won't change anything unless
you ask it to). Make a note of the settings and report back here.

Performance Options/Virtual Memory:
Total paging file size for all drives: 2046 MB
Virtual Memory: Lists drives C, D, G, H, I - Paging File Size (MB)
listed beside "C:" is 2046 - 4092. The other drives have do not
specify any Paging File Size.

Drive: C:
Space available: 58519 MB
Custom size (ENABLED):
Initial size (MB): 2046
Maximum size (MB): 4092
System managed size (NOT enabled)
No paging file (NOT enabled)

Total paging file size for all drives:
Minimum allowed: 2 MB
Recommended: 3069 MB
Currently allocated: 2046 MB

PS: just HOW BIG are these files?

The files themselves are not that large - they're mostly mp3's,
between 3 MB and 5 MB. Some folders contain approximately 8000 mp3's.
One hard drive (I: = 500 GB hd) contains 36,000 mp3's. However, I
emphasize that I've had about this many files for over a year, and
until the last few days never had any scrolling problem at all.

The problem seems to have begun before the installation of Adobe
Audition 2, but may have begun a few days earlier, around the time
that McAfee was upgraded for another years' subscription (and
installed from a retail-purchased CD) and Nero was installed, along
with various a/v codecs.

Could the prob be as simple as the newly-installed programs have
increased overnight the need for a larger paging file size than the
currently allocated 2046 MB?

 

[SlowScrolling]

P.S. Just in case they could be a factor, there *are* some AVI files
on each hard drive:

C: (250 GB) = 180
D: (320 GB) = 11
H: (320 GB) = 36
I: (500 GB) = 25

Some of these AVI files are fairly large (over 100 MB). I've been
acquiring them for a couple of months, and they did not seem to
negatively impact scrolling, until the slow-scrolling problem started
about 4 days ago.

And the slow scrolling occurs on every hd where there is a folder
containing many files (mostly mp3's) - particularly D, H & I -
although C: is where most AVI's are.

Again, I don't think that the AVI's are the prob, but wtd to provide
as many clues as possible.

The prob "feels" as if something is using up my RAM and not allowing
any left over for scrolling of folders that contain many files.

 

[Guest]

Your files don't seem overly large for a system with those capabilities.
Your Virtual memory page file size seems adequate too though I prefer the
setting "System-Managed Size".

As regards to turning off particular services, click Start > Run type
"msconfig" (without quotes) in the command box that appears. This opens the
System Configuration Utility. Click the Services tab. For ease of exploring
the promulgated list and based on the assumption it is not an MS service
causing the problem, check the box "Hide All Microsoft Services". What
remains should be self-explanatory (Google the name of any service which is
not obvious).

If a particular service is not listed as "Essential", you should be able to
disable it with impunity. Try un-checking (disabling) the services of your
recently installed programs, click Apply and see if the scrolling problem is
resolved. If it is, then re-enable each service one-by-one until the problem
returns (or vice versa, disable them one-by-one).

If you can isolate the program causing the problem, contact that
manufacturer for advice.

Hope this helps. Let us know.

Mark

 

[SlowScrolling]

|>In the last few days I have had trouble scrolling through large file
|>folders on my various hard drives. As you drag the slider the file
|>list scrolling stalls and then a few seconds later catches up all at
|>once. This problem is not limited to one hard drive, but occurs
|>similarly on all my hard drives in folders that contain many files.
|>
|>My system is a powerful Dell Dimension 8400, XP Pro, 3.4 GHz, 2 GB
|>RAM, with fast Western Digital hard drives, and never had even a hint
|>of this problem until a few days ago. However, the number of files in
|>my various folders has not increased significantly, and they were
|>scrolling fine a week ago; now they are not. During this time, I've
|>installed some new programs, including Nero 7 Ultra, Adobe Audition
|>2.0, some a/v codecs, plus McAfee Internet Security Suite 2006 (had
|>already been running McAfee, which came on my computer, for a year).
|>
|>This is not a smooth-scrolling problem. Smooth-scrolling has always
|>been enabled on my system without any problem, and I have tried
|>disabling it, and it did not help. Also, I use AdAware SE Personal at
|>least once a day. Defragging also doesn't help.
|>
|>All suggestions will be greatly appreciated.


Start | Run <type in> regsvr32 -u shimgvw.dll <enter>

See if that helps, it will disable sampling each file, which will hang
up explorer on an AVI file.

You lose things like thumbnails and such but that's what Ifranview is
for http://www.irfanview.com/ to view your pix's

To re register the dll
Start | Run <type in> regsvr32 shimgvw.dll <enter>

Pennywise, I just tried your suggestion. Unfortunately, it didn't
work. No change was noticed when attempting to scroll through a folder
with many files.

Is there any way to monitor how much RAM has been used up upon first
booting the computer after all the auto-start programs have been
started? Might be interesting. And, is there any way to monitor
exactly what programs are using how much RAM?

I'd like to try Mark's suggestion to "turn off" programs to try and
find if one is the culprit, but don't know how to "turn off" a program
short of uninstalling it. Since the culprit program, if there is one,
seems to be using up the RAM from the very beginning after rebooting,
perhaps that program is being auto-started. I'm not clear on how to
stop a program from auto-starting (and then to restore it if it's not
the prob), but am guessing that may be what Mark means by "turning
off" a program.

Thanks for your suggestion. All are greatly appreciated.

 

[Guest]

PS: you can use Task Manager to monitor CPU usage and Page file (virtual
memory) usage. CTRL-ALT-DEL one time only. Click the Performance tab.. You
can leave the Task Manager Maximized or you can minimize the Task Manger and
a tiny green graph monitor will remain on the tray (lower right).

As far as preventing certain programs from starting up during boot, use the
StartUp tab of the System Configuration Utility.

 

[SlowScrolling]

Thanks, Mark, for the info. Using Windows Task Manager, here are some
more clues:

When a folder with many files in it is opened, Windows Task
Manager/Performance says:
PF Usage: 387 MB
Processes: 56
CPU Usage: 1-6% (usually 2-4%)
Commit Charge: 387M/3940M

However, if I left click and hold on the slider bar at the bottom of
the window, and then pull it to the side (yes, it hangs),
PF Usage: 405 MB
Processes: 56
CPU Usage: spikes to 75 - 82% momentarily, then settles on about 52%
for over 20 seconds before returning to 2 - 4% when the slider bar
finally responds
Commit Charge: 405M/3940M

What does this data suggest?

 

[SlowScrolling]

OK, here's the latest - Using the System Configuration Utility under
Services I turned off first all the programs installed in the last few
days (McAfee, Nero, Adobe, etc.), hit "Apply". The problem persisted.

Then under the StartUp tab of the System Configuration Utility I
disabled McAfee and all others associated with recently-installed
programs. Then rebooted. The problem persisted.

So now I've re-enabled everything, and am not sure how to further
diagnose the problem.

 

[Pennywise]

|>>Start | Run <type in> regsvr32 -u shimgvw.dll <enter>
|>>
|>>See if that helps, it will disable sampling each file, which will hang
|>>up explorer on an AVI file.
|>>
|>>You lose things like thumbnails and such but that's what Ifranview is
|>>for http://www.irfanview.com/ to view your pix's
|>>
|>>To re register the dll
|>>Start | Run <type in> regsvr32 shimgvw.dll <enter>
|>
|>Pennywise, I just tried your suggestion. Unfortunately, it didn't
|>work. No change was noticed when attempting to scroll through a folder
|>with many files.
|>
|>Is there any way to monitor how much RAM has been used up upon first
|>booting the computer after all the auto-start programs have been
|>started? Might be interesting. And, is there any way to monitor
|>exactly what programs are using how much RAM?
|>
|>I'd like to try Mark's suggestion to "turn off" programs to try and
|>find if one is the culprit, but don't know how to "turn off" a program
|>short of uninstalling it. Since the culprit program, if there is one,
|>seems to be using up the RAM from the very beginning after rebooting,
|>perhaps that program is being auto-started. I'm not clear on how to
|>stop a program from auto-starting (and then to restore it if it's not
|>the prob), but am guessing that may be what Mark means by "turning
|>off" a program.

One I use is Process Explorer

download and run Process Explorer
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

Stick it in your start up menu, it has a history, double click on the
top right while it shows ram usage as a whole individual programs can
be seen by double clicking on the process and reading it's performance
graph; or with taskmanager.
also
Start | Run <type in> CMD /K tasklist > task & notepad task <enter>
Works if you want a list

 

[Guest]

Kenneth:

My compliments on your stick-to-it attitude!! Sorry this has become so
drawn-out.

We have just about reached the limit of my ability to "help" without sitting
in your chair. However, I did notice that you say Task Manager shows 56
processes running? Though I don't use four hdd, to me that seems quite a
lot. I have never had more than 38 processes running despite years of
collecting freeware/shareware. Pennywise's suggestion is a good one I think.

This will not likely solve any under-lying problem but, just for giggles,
you might try cutting the number of files in a particular folder by
sub-catagorizing the files within it and placing those sub-catagorized files
into sub-folders. This might reduce the "aggravation factor" while you
continue to look for a solution. It might also uncover a particular file
type causing the grief.

Good luck and let us know.

Mark

 

[bughunter.dustin]

One I use is Process Explorer

download and run Process Explorer
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

It's a nice program... but doesn't really help the user with turning
off applications from starting with windows.

also
Start | Run <type in> CMD /K tasklist > task & notepad task <enter>
Works if you want a list

Programs intent on taskmgr stealth will not be visible with option B
above.

 

[Pennywise]

(e-mail address removed) wrote:

|>
|>[email protected] wrote:
|>
|>> One I use is Process Explorer
|>>
|>> download and run Process Explorer
|>> http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html
|>
|>It's a nice program... but doesn't really help the user with turning
|>off applications from starting with windows.

your snipage show'd a change in stroke
"Is there any way to monitor how much RAM has been used up upon first
booting the computer after all the auto-start programs have been
started? Might be interesting. And, is there any way to monitor
exactly what programs are using how much RAM?"


|>> also
|>> Start | Run <type in> CMD /K tasklist > task & notepad task <enter>
|>> Works if you want a list
|>
|>Programs intent on taskmgr stealth will not be visible with option B
|>above.

rootkits excempt'd.

 

[bughunter.dustin]

|>It's a nice program... but doesn't really help the user with turning
|>off applications from starting with windows.

your snipage show'd a change in stroke
"Is there any way to monitor how much RAM has been used up upon first
booting the computer after all the auto-start programs have been
started? Might be interesting. And, is there any way to monitor
exactly what programs are using how much RAM?"

Hmm, I don't think I said it wouldn't do those things, snippage aside.
Really tho, if your hinting that I'm doing something wrong, just come
out and say it. What I said was it's a poor choice for controlling
applications which startup with windows, that's all.

|>Programs intent on taskmgr stealth will not be visible with option B
|>above.

rootkits excempt'd.

Rootkits, most forms of adware, spyware and trojans, you meant.
Rootkits is but one which hides from taskmanager.

OTH, I'm still waiting for you to explain how BugHunter is a
trojan....?

 

[bughunter.dustin]

In the last few days I have had trouble scrolling through large file
folders on my various hard drives. As you drag the slider the file
list scrolling stalls and then a few seconds later catches up all at
once. This problem is not limited to one hard drive, but occurs
similarly on all my hard drives in folders that contain many files.

Which view type are you using?
under view, is it thumbnails or something? Try setting it to details
and tell us what happens.

 

[SlowScrolling]

Which view type are you using?
under view, is it thumbnails or something?

Am using "List" as my view type.

Note that the first hang-up is brief, lasting a couple of seconds
only, whether viewing in List or Details. However, subsequent attempts
to drag the scrolling slider do not un-hang for significantly longer,
aprox 18 seconds, and then Explorer.exe CPU usage of about 50% ends
after about 30 more secs after the scroll slider un-hangs.

BTW, using ProcessExplorer, it looks like the only thing going on when
the hang-up occurs in List view is that the CPU usage spikes
momentarily, then stays elevated but less so until about 45 seconds
after the hang-up ends.

Explorer.exe seems to be causing the usage, spiking from nothing or
..77 up to 75 - 95% momentarily, then settling down to about 50 until
about 45 seconds *after* the hang-up ends.

Try setting it to details and tell us what happens.

Changing it to Details reduces the hang-up time. However, each
subsequent scroll attempt hangs-up longer than the preceding attempt.
The cumulative effect is still present.

 

[SlowScrolling]

I just solved the problem by completely uninstalling Nero 7 Ultra.
Only disabling Nero Scout was not enough. But uninstalling N7U
completely now has the scroll bar in my large folders dragging and
scrolling soooo nicely and smoothly again!... I knew it could be
restored, because as originally stated, the problem only showed up a
few days ago, without a significant change in the number of files. -
just those darn Nero files...

Looks like Nero is indeed the resource hog that we've all read/heard
about...

Thanks for everyone's help - very much. Am glad to have finally found
the problem.

 

[frodo]

I would guess (as others have done) that there is some sort of background
app running; Adobe would be my guess. Check the Services, look for Adobe
Active File Monitor, disable it. Check all startups (I like Startup
control panel, by Mark Lin), disable them one-by-one.

Do you perhaps have a "folder size" add-on running, either as a service or
a background task? They can cause these kinds of hic-ups.

And of course, Mcafee is most definatley slowing things, as any full-time
virus montior will, perhaps the new version you're now using is just more
"thourough" than the last. [as an example: the newest Zone Alarm (65) is
WAY slower at boot-up than the last version (61), due to a new
architecture. That's progress...]

Also, you might want to put explorer into multi-thread "mode", w/ these
reg tweaks:

--------cut-----
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"DesktopProcess"=dword:00000001
"SeparateProcess"=dword:00000001
;; this is for WINDOWS explorer (suposedly)
"BrowseNewProcess"="yes"

;; this is for INTERNET explorer (suposedly)
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\BrowseNewProcess]
"BrowseNewProcess"="yes"
--------cut-----

If you have hyperthreading or a dual-core these should help. note
taskmanager will now show multiple instances of explorer, that's to be
expected.

good luck and let us know, it's got to be something...

 

[SlowScrolling]

Thanks for your, and all, suggestions.

The prob was Nero 7 Ultra. Upon completely uninstalling it, all probs
vanished!...