Explorer is Extremely Slow

[Dan M]

When I open Windows Explorer it takes a very long time for anything to show
up in the window. It will be blank for about 20-30 seconds and then the
files and folders will list. It also takes a while when changing folders.

Anyone have an idea about how to fix this?

Thank you

 

[Malke]

When I open Windows Explorer it takes a very long time for anything to
show up in the window. It will be blank for about 20-30 seconds and
then the files and folders will list. It also takes a while when
changing folders.

Anyone have an idea about how to fix this?

Not really enough information to give you focused help. Here is a link
which explains what details you need to include in your next post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

In the meantime:

The First Question Of Troubleshooting: what changed between the time
things worked and the time they didn't?

The Second Question of Windows Troubleshooting: what is the
malware/virus status of the machine? If you think it is clean, what
programs (and versions) did you use to determine this?

Be sure the computer is clean:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Also check to see if the hard drive is in PIO mode instead of DMA. See
this information by MVP Hans-Georg Michna for the explanation/fix:
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxDMA.htm

Malke

 

[Dan M]

Nobody else has encountered this?

 

[KC Computers]

When I open Windows Explorer it takes a very long time for anything to
Did you scan for adware and spyware? Here are some free programs
which can be downloaded.

Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.06
http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html

Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Windows Defender
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

 

[Malke]

Nobody else has encountered this?

Did you read my reply? Have you done any of the required
troubleshooting? If the procedures look too complex - and there is no
shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a
professional computer repair shop (not your local version of
BigStoreUSA).

Malke

 

[Dan M]

Actually, your post did not appear when I made my reply.
The issue is now resolved, it was not related to spyware or any viruses but
a simple defrag solved the problem. Apparently it had not been done in quite
a long time, contrary to what the user had told me.

Thank you for the suggestions though.

 

[Guest]

I had a similar problem. We found out that if we create a new user on the
same machine, it would not have the same problems. We saved the user's data
and purged it by creating a new profile for the same user. We then transfered
the old user's data (favorite links, outlook data, etc.) on to the new
profile.
It worked for me.

Ron.