My Computer folder too long to open started few days ago.

[John]

I have WXP SP2. A lengthy delay for My Computer folder using searchlight sent
me to two posts. I tried the stop WIA approach and I have no other problem
items listed by Ramesh. WIA was not started. I tried the Start Run
regsvr32/ i shell32, and setting folders back to defaults. I do not get any
error messages. All other folders open OK. What other possible fixes can I
try.

 

[Iceman]

I have WXP SP2. A lengthy delay for My Computer folder using searchlight sent
me to two posts. I tried the stop WIA approach and I have no other problem
items listed by Ramesh. WIA was not started. I tried the Start Run
regsvr32/ i shell32, and setting folders back to defaults. I do not get any
error messages. All other folders open OK. What other possible fixes can I
try.

A thorough cleanup or "housekeeping" is advised. Here are a few starting
points:

1. In Outlook Express (or whatever email client you use) empty your Deleted
Items folder.
2. In Outlook Express run File, Folder, Compact All whilst OFFLINE.
3. Run Disk Cleanup. Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk
Cleanup with Temporary Internet Files, Offline Web Pages (optional), System
Restore (more Options tab) and Recycle Bin selected for deletion. If you
have more than one drive/partition you may need to do this operation for
each drive/partition.
4. Remove Cookies. Start, Control Panel, Internet Options, General, Delete
Cookies.
5. Run Disk Defragmenter.

 

[John]

Thank you for your suggestions. I usually do most of the items 1 to 5 you
suggest, except cookies, on a regular basis. I will go through the procedure
again in case I have missed one. I shall keep you posted.

My apologies for the delay in my response. It took me some time to find my
original post because the wording I finally used in the Search was not in the
same sequence as the Subject. I had to use "Too long to open MY Computer
folder". I am learning that region and type of support also have to be exact.

 

[John]

Despite all the cleanup steps, the lengthy opening of My Computer folder has
not changed.

 

[Iceman]

I have WXP SP2. A lengthy delay for My Computer folder using searchlight sent
me to two posts. I tried the stop WIA approach and I have no other problem
items listed by Ramesh. WIA was not started. I tried the Start Run
regsvr32/ i shell32, and setting folders back to defaults. I do not get any
error messages. All other folders open OK. What other possible fixes can I
try.

Hello again, John. Your reply was stored on Google but seems not to have
reached the msnews.microsoft.com newsserver (or it has been deleted).

If you still have that problem, have a look at this page:

"Long delay before files appear in My Computer in Windows XP"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;819017

You could also try switching of thumbnail wiew. That could speed things up
a little.

 

[John]

The problem I am having with the MY Computer folder is not due to
fragmentation or the usual steps to speed up a PC. I methodically perform
steps to maintain top performance. I tried other solutions proposed in this
forum for drives taking too long to open to fix the problem with no luck.
Will I have to do a rebuild of my system to get back to normal?

 

[Iceman]

The problem I am having with the MY Computer folder is not due to
fragmentation or the usual steps to speed up a PC. I methodically perform
steps to maintain top performance. I tried other solutions proposed in this
forum for drives taking too long to open to fix the problem with no luck.
Will I have to do a rebuild of my system to get back to normal?

I don't know how large your My Computer folder is, how many programs you
have installed, how many files, etc. etc., that could result in the folder
being slow to open, but I also saw somewhere that an antivirus program
could also be too inquisitive. Try turning your AV program off before you
open My Computer (do that while offline, BTW) and see if that makes any
difference.

A rebuild or reinstallation of the OS should always be a last resort, that
is when it seriously malfunctions or doesn't start up at all.

 

[John]

I will try turning off the AV program to see if that might solve my problem.
It has never been a problem before. Unfortunately, the searchlight and
lengthy delay to open MY Computer folder started to appear from one session
to the next without any warning. Usually, MY Computer folder opens very
quickly. I have had to change a 1 GB RAM module because it became faulty.
However this was after the problem started. Perhaps the faulty RAM was
becoming faulty when the problem started and was the cause. Curiosly, all
other folders open instanly. Even MY Documents folder opens quickly after I
log in.