Delay Launching With Shortcut Keys

[Guest]

I have a new machine. It's stable, fast.

If I run a program by doubleclicking its icon, or selecting it from the
Start menu groups, all is well. It launches immediately as expected.

However, if I launch the same apps using shortcut keys that I've assigned
via the icon's general properties, there is a delay of 12 to 15 seconds. This
happens with any app.

Any idea why the delay, or more importantly, how to eliminate the delay?

Thank you.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have a new machine. It's stable, fast.

If I run a program by doubleclicking its icon, or selecting it from the
Start menu groups, all is well. It launches immediately as expected.

However, if I launch the same apps using shortcut keys that I've assigned
via the icon's general properties, there is a delay of 12 to 15 seconds.
This
happens with any app.

Any idea why the delay, or more importantly, how to eliminate the delay?

Thank you.

I suspect that your shortcut is flawed. Instead of rolling your own,
try copying it from the Startup menu to whereever you want it.

 

[Guest]

Thank you, but this happens with all shortcuts with all programs (i.e. Word,
Excel, Outllook, legacy apps, etc.).

 

[Guest]

Can anyone direct me to a person, place or thing for help to resolve this?

This is much more of a problem than I thought it could be. 15 seconds is
long enough for the phone to ring, dog to bark, baby to cry, guy across the
hall to call your name... after which I've forgotten what I was going to the
computer for.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I tried to help you in my first reply by suggesting an easy step:
Instead of you creating your own shortcut, copy an existing,
tried and proven shortcut to your desktop. From your reply
I got the impression that you were not interested in trying
this recipe.

 

[Guest]

Thank you, Pegasus. Apologies if I was unclear in my postings.

You suggest using a "tried and proven shortcut". There aren't any. None of
the shortcuts (keystrokes) on this computer work. All of them, when activated
via keystrokes, create a delay of ~15 seconds.

When I click directly on those shortcut icons, the apps launch properly. If
I go into the properties of those icons, assign a "Shortcut key", then using
that Shortcut key launches the apps after ~15 seconds.

Part of the problem here is dealing with two different definitions of
"shortcut". Hopefully, I've done a better job of describing the issue.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

It seems we need to get the semantics sorted out.

When you go into Windows Explorer (or into "My Computer")
and navigate to the place where an executable file resides, and
when you then double-click this executable, then you are
invoking the application directly. There is no shortcut involved
here. Example:

"c:\program files\Microsoft Office\Office11\winword.exe"

Note the extension ".exe". It means that this is an executable
file. If you cannot see its extension then you must untick the
Explorer option that hides extension of known file types.

Now if you drag winword.exe to the desktop and instruct
Windows to create a shortcut, then the new file on the desktop
is no longer an .exe file. It is a .lnk file. Have a look at your
own desktop folder - it is located here:
c:\documents and settings\JohnC\Desktop.

Now comes the bit that confuses me. You wrote in your
first post "If I run a program by [..] selecting it from the
Start menu groups, all is well. It launches immediately as expected."

Items in the Start Menu groups are normally shortcuts, not
executables. Have a look for yourself - they are here:
c:\documents and settings\JohnC\Start Menu and
c:\documents and settings\All Users\Start Menu

Since, by your own admission, these shortcuts work well,
I suggested that you should copy these very shortcuts to your
desktop, i.e. to c:\documents and settings\JohnC\Desktop.
Don't create a shortcut to the shortcut - you must copy
the whole .lnk file as it is!

While this may not solve the problem, at least it will shed
some light on the issue.

 

[Guest]

First the strange part: the problem has completely gone away on its own.

Secondly, I should do a better job of explaining in case it's of benefit to
anyone else.

You're correct in that semantics need sorting out. My issue involved two
things:

1. "Shortcut key" as seen when right clicking on an icon or executable,
selecting properties; selecting the 'Shortcut' tab. 3rd field down is
"Shortcut key";

2. Shortcuts as in the .lnk file.

When clicking on any .lnk file, everything was fine.

However, I assign "Shortcut keys" to many of my apps (or sometimes to their
..lnk files).

Now using the "Shortcut key", I might launch Word with Alt-Shift-Ctrl-W.
When entering this "Shortcut key", I would have to wait for ~15 seconds
before Word appeared.

But as I say, everything's fine now. The only thing I've done recently is an
offline defrag.

It seems we need to get the semantics sorted out.

When you go into Windows Explorer (or into "My Computer")
and navigate to the place where an executable file resides, and
when you then double-click this executable, then you are
invoking the application directly. There is no shortcut involved
here. Example:

"c:\program files\Microsoft Office\Office11\winword.exe"

Note the extension ".exe". It means that this is an executable
file. If you cannot see its extension then you must untick the
Explorer option that hides extension of known file types.

Now if you drag winword.exe to the desktop and instruct
Windows to create a shortcut, then the new file on the desktop
is no longer an .exe file. It is a .lnk file. Have a look at your
own desktop folder - it is located here:
c:\documents and settings\JohnC\Desktop.

Now comes the bit that confuses me. You wrote in your
first post "If I run a program by [..] selecting it from the
Start menu groups, all is well. It launches immediately as expected."

Items in the Start Menu groups are normally shortcuts, not
executables. Have a look for yourself - they are here:
c:\documents and settings\JohnC\Start Menu and
c:\documents and settings\All Users\Start Menu

Since, by your own admission, these shortcuts work well,
I suggested that you should copy these very shortcuts to your
desktop, i.e. to c:\documents and settings\JohnC\Desktop.
Don't create a shortcut to the shortcut - you must copy
the whole .lnk file as it is!

While this may not solve the problem, at least it will shed
some light on the issue.

Thank you, Pegasus. Apologies if I was unclear in my postings.

You suggest using a "tried and proven shortcut". There aren't any. None of
the shortcuts (keystrokes) on this computer work. All of them, when
activated
via keystrokes, create a delay of ~15 seconds.

When I click directly on those shortcut icons, the apps launch properly.
If
I go into the properties of those icons, assign a "Shortcut key", then
using
that Shortcut key launches the apps after ~15 seconds.

Part of the problem here is dealing with two different definitions of
"shortcut". Hopefully, I've done a better job of describing the issue.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Thanks for the feedback and the clarification. It seems that
I was off-target: I did not realise that you were invoking
your applications with a combination of keyboard shortcuts.

While I'm glad that your problem went away by itself,
I do not have much confidence that it is permanently
resolved. It might come back some day . . .

First the strange part: the problem has completely gone away on its own.

Secondly, I should do a better job of explaining in case it's of benefit
to
anyone else.

You're correct in that semantics need sorting out. My issue involved two
things:

1. "Shortcut key" as seen when right clicking on an icon or executable,
selecting properties; selecting the 'Shortcut' tab. 3rd field down is
"Shortcut key";

2. Shortcuts as in the .lnk file.

When clicking on any .lnk file, everything was fine.

However, I assign "Shortcut keys" to many of my apps (or sometimes to
their
.lnk files).

Now using the "Shortcut key", I might launch Word with Alt-Shift-Ctrl-W.
When entering this "Shortcut key", I would have to wait for ~15 seconds
before Word appeared.

But as I say, everything's fine now. The only thing I've done recently is
an
offline defrag.

It seems we need to get the semantics sorted out.

When you go into Windows Explorer (or into "My Computer")
and navigate to the place where an executable file resides, and
when you then double-click this executable, then you are
invoking the application directly. There is no shortcut involved
here. Example:

"c:\program files\Microsoft Office\Office11\winword.exe"

Note the extension ".exe". It means that this is an executable
file. If you cannot see its extension then you must untick the
Explorer option that hides extension of known file types.

Now if you drag winword.exe to the desktop and instruct
Windows to create a shortcut, then the new file on the desktop
is no longer an .exe file. It is a .lnk file. Have a look at your
own desktop folder - it is located here:
c:\documents and settings\JohnC\Desktop.

Now comes the bit that confuses me. You wrote in your
first post "If I run a program by [..] selecting it from the
Start menu groups, all is well. It launches immediately as expected."

Items in the Start Menu groups are normally shortcuts, not
executables. Have a look for yourself - they are here:
c:\documents and settings\JohnC\Start Menu and
c:\documents and settings\All Users\Start Menu

Since, by your own admission, these shortcuts work well,
I suggested that you should copy these very shortcuts to your
desktop, i.e. to c:\documents and settings\JohnC\Desktop.
Don't create a shortcut to the shortcut - you must copy
the whole .lnk file as it is!

While this may not solve the problem, at least it will shed
some light on the issue.

Thank you, Pegasus. Apologies if I was unclear in my postings.

You suggest using a "tried and proven shortcut". There aren't any. None
of
the shortcuts (keystrokes) on this computer work. All of them, when
activated
via keystrokes, create a delay of ~15 seconds.

When I click directly on those shortcut icons, the apps launch
properly.
If
I go into the properties of those icons, assign a "Shortcut key", then
using
that Shortcut key launches the apps after ~15 seconds.

Part of the problem here is dealing with two different definitions of
"shortcut". Hopefully, I've done a better job of describing the issue.



:

I tried to help you in my first reply by suggesting an easy step:
Instead of you creating your own shortcut, copy an existing,
tried and proven shortcut to your desktop. From your reply
I got the impression that you were not interested in trying
this recipe.


message
Can anyone direct me to a person, place or thing for help to resolve
this?

This is much more of a problem than I thought it could be. 15
seconds
is
long enough for the phone to ring, dog to bark, baby to cry, guy
across
the
hall to call your name... after which I've forgotten what I was
going
to
the
computer for.

:

I have a new machine. It's stable, fast.

If I run a program by doubleclicking its icon, or selecting it from
the
Start menu groups, all is well. It launches immediately as
expected.

However, if I launch the same apps using shortcut keys that I've
assigned
via the icon's general properties, there is a delay of 12 to 15
seconds.
This
happens with any app.

Any idea why the delay, or more importantly, how to eliminate the
delay?

Thank you.

 

[Guest]

You were right. The problem is back. Terribly annoying.

Anyone know how to figure this one out?

Thanks for the feedback and the clarification. It seems that
I was off-target: I did not realise that you were invoking
your applications with a combination of keyboard shortcuts.

While I'm glad that your problem went away by itself,
I do not have much confidence that it is permanently
resolved. It might come back some day . . .

First the strange part: the problem has completely gone away on its own.

Secondly, I should do a better job of explaining in case it's of benefit
to
anyone else.

You're correct in that semantics need sorting out. My issue involved two
things:

1. "Shortcut key" as seen when right clicking on an icon or executable,
selecting properties; selecting the 'Shortcut' tab. 3rd field down is
"Shortcut key";

2. Shortcuts as in the .lnk file.

When clicking on any .lnk file, everything was fine.

However, I assign "Shortcut keys" to many of my apps (or sometimes to
their
.lnk files).

Now using the "Shortcut key", I might launch Word with Alt-Shift-Ctrl-W.
When entering this "Shortcut key", I would have to wait for ~15 seconds
before Word appeared.

But as I say, everything's fine now. The only thing I've done recently is
an
offline defrag.

It seems we need to get the semantics sorted out.

When you go into Windows Explorer (or into "My Computer")
and navigate to the place where an executable file resides, and
when you then double-click this executable, then you are
invoking the application directly. There is no shortcut involved
here. Example:

"c:\program files\Microsoft Office\Office11\winword.exe"

Note the extension ".exe". It means that this is an executable
file. If you cannot see its extension then you must untick the
Explorer option that hides extension of known file types.

Now if you drag winword.exe to the desktop and instruct
Windows to create a shortcut, then the new file on the desktop
is no longer an .exe file. It is a .lnk file. Have a look at your
own desktop folder - it is located here:
c:\documents and settings\JohnC\Desktop.

Now comes the bit that confuses me. You wrote in your
first post "If I run a program by [..] selecting it from the
Start menu groups, all is well. It launches immediately as expected."

Items in the Start Menu groups are normally shortcuts, not
executables. Have a look for yourself - they are here:
c:\documents and settings\JohnC\Start Menu and
c:\documents and settings\All Users\Start Menu

Since, by your own admission, these shortcuts work well,
I suggested that you should copy these very shortcuts to your
desktop, i.e. to c:\documents and settings\JohnC\Desktop.
Don't create a shortcut to the shortcut - you must copy
the whole .lnk file as it is!

While this may not solve the problem, at least it will shed
some light on the issue.


Thank you, Pegasus. Apologies if I was unclear in my postings.

You suggest using a "tried and proven shortcut". There aren't any. None
of
the shortcuts (keystrokes) on this computer work. All of them, when
activated
via keystrokes, create a delay of ~15 seconds.

When I click directly on those shortcut icons, the apps launch
properly.
If
I go into the properties of those icons, assign a "Shortcut key", then
using
that Shortcut key launches the apps after ~15 seconds.

Part of the problem here is dealing with two different definitions of
"shortcut". Hopefully, I've done a better job of describing the issue.



:

I tried to help you in my first reply by suggesting an easy step:
Instead of you creating your own shortcut, copy an existing,
tried and proven shortcut to your desktop. From your reply
I got the impression that you were not interested in trying
this recipe.


message
Can anyone direct me to a person, place or thing for help to resolve
this?

This is much more of a problem than I thought it could be. 15
seconds
is
long enough for the phone to ring, dog to bark, baby to cry, guy
across
the
hall to call your name... after which I've forgotten what I was
going
to
the
computer for.

:

I have a new machine. It's stable, fast.

If I run a program by doubleclicking its icon, or selecting it from
the
Start menu groups, all is well. It launches immediately as
expected.

However, if I launch the same apps using shortcut keys that I've
assigned
via the icon's general properties, there is a delay of 12 to 15
seconds.
This
happens with any app.

Any idea why the delay, or more importantly, how to eliminate the
delay?

Thank you.

 

[=?windows-1252?Q?Uwe_Schr=F6der?=]

However, if I launch the same apps using shortcut keys that I've assigned
via the icon's general properties, there is a delay of 12 to 15 seconds. This
happens with any app.

Heh. I had exactly the same problem for more than a year, and I can
confirm how annoying that was. Last week I set up a new PC - entirely
different hardware, a different XP setup CD - and everything was fine.
Until yesterday, when the delay suddenly reappeared.

I checked the task manager and noticed two processes running under my
user account that had not been there before: "dlbabmgr.exe" and
"dlbabmon.exe". I killed them, and guess what — the delay was gone!
All shortcut keys responded normally again.

Now the last change I had made to the system was installing the
printer drivers for my Dell AIO printer. And in fact, those two
programs are part of the driver package. "dlbabmgr" is the applet that
displays the little tray icon, and it launches "dlbabmon" in turn
which has the sole purpose to monitor the printer's scan buttons and
invoke the associated imaging software when one of them is pressed. It
seems that dlbabmon checks the scan button only every so often, and
freezes the shortcut message queue during its idle time.

So if you have a Dell or Lexmark printer/scanner unit, check for
"dlbabmgr.exe" (or "lxbabmgr.exe" respectively) in the task manager,
or for something with a similar name. If such a process is there under
your user account – *don't* fiddle with the tasks running as SYSTEM –
start msconfig (somewhere under c:\windows\pchealth), go to the
Startup tab, uncheck the corresponding entry, hit "Ok", and reboot.

The only adverse effect I have found so far is that this disables the
"photo", "scan", and "fax" buttons on the printer's front panel. The
two "copy" buttons still work, however. I can happily live with that
for the benefit of working keybord shortcuts. Now I can even launch
the imaging software using the computer keyboard instead of the scan
button

Good luck.

usch