Windows Explorer Hangs - Sometimes!

[Mike]

If I launch Windows Explorer via the "My Computer" icon or the WindowsLogo-E
shortcut key, it hangs. When I launch Windows Explorer via the "My Documents"
icon or the Start menu, it's fine.

(When I reboot, it's usually okay either way for a little while. It starts
to hang after I've launched it a few times.)

Weird. Any thoughts?

 

[John Wunderlich]

If I launch Windows Explorer via the "My Computer" icon or the
WindowsLogo-E shortcut key, it hangs. When I launch Windows
Explorer via the "My Documents" icon or the Start menu, it's fine.

(When I reboot, it's usually okay either way for a little while.
It starts to hang after I've launched it a few times.)

Weird. Any thoughts?

Here's a thought...

When you launch it via "My Computer" or Windows-E key it brings up the
explorer window that includes all drives including network drives.
When you double-click on "My Documents", you only get a single folder
on your hard drive. Perhaps you have a network drive that is not
responding and Explorer is waiting for it to respond. Network timeouts
are usually in the order of 20-30 seconds or so. If queried serially,
multiple network drives could really add up on the time delay.
Something to try: When you see this delay, try unplugging your network
cable and/or turn off wireless networking (this should eliminate all
network delays) before bringing up Explorer. See if things change.

Also, having a drive that is not responding can cause similar delays.

HTH,
John

 

[Mike]

Well, it turned out that it was a drive connection to a share/server that no
longer exists. (Actually, there were two of them.)

Your suggestion made me double-check my drive connections.

Still seems rather strange, though. When I would open My Documents, I would
click on the folders icon, so it would list all my connected drives, just
like My Computer. And My Computer would hang permanently - not just the 20 -
30 seconds (or 40 - 60 seconds) that I would have expected.

Anyway, it looks like I'm good.

 

[John Wunderlich]

Your suggestion made me double-check my drive connections.

Still seems rather strange, though. When I would open My
Documents, I would click on the folders icon, so it would list all
my connected drives, just like My Computer. And My Computer would
hang permanently - not just the 20 - 30 seconds (or 40 - 60
seconds) that I would have expected.

Anyway, it looks like I'm good.

I'm glad the problem is solved even if there are still some mysteries.
Thanks for the feedback.
-- John