Noticeable lag when doing anything on the desktop

[ReGenesis0]

I was forced to switch to Vista when my last laptop was stolen, and
the only quick replacement I could lay my hands on was a Vista
machine. Joy.

Anyway-- my desktop lags. If I'm copying anything onto it, deleting
files-- even just dragging files.

When I try to open a context menu for something on my desktop-- it
reacts fine. But if I click 'delete,' the entire desktop locks up for
6, 6 seconds and I cant' do anything else until it clears out the
file.

Stranger still, simply dragging a file causes the same lag-- moving a
file from one spot on the desktop to the next (its location int he
filesystem doesn't change) causes everything to grind to a halt.

I've noticed the same lag in many programs when I move to the desktop
in an open/save dialog, lots of things will just cause the computer to
"stop" for up to 10 seconds.

NOTE: I have a lot of items on my desktop. (I have a second screen
they spill over onto.) I'm guessing this is somehow related to the
problem, but I'd like to actually /fix/ the problem rather than simply
cutting my desktop down to 10 items. Because it's a DESKTOP, I should
be able to put stuff on it without my computer having a fit.

NOTE#2: I have indexing turned off because it sucks too badly to be
allowed to live. Don't know if that's related.

-Derik

 

[Richard Urban]

If you state the specs of your new computer it would certainly help others
to assist you. You may just have an under powered computer.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

I was forced to switch to Vista when my last laptop was stolen, and
the only quick replacement I could lay my hands on was a Vista
machine. Joy.

Anyway-- my desktop lags. If I'm copying anything onto it, deleting
files-- even just dragging files.

When I try to open a context menu for something on my desktop-- it
reacts fine. But if I click 'delete,' the entire desktop locks up for
6, 6 seconds and I cant' do anything else until it clears out the
file.

Stranger still, simply dragging a file causes the same lag-- moving a
file from one spot on the desktop to the next (its location int he
filesystem doesn't change) causes everything to grind to a halt.

I've noticed the same lag in many programs when I move to the desktop
in an open/save dialog, lots of things will just cause the computer to
"stop" for up to 10 seconds.

NOTE: I have a lot of items on my desktop. (I have a second screen
they spill over onto.) I'm guessing this is somehow related to the
problem, but I'd like to actually /fix/ the problem rather than simply
cutting my desktop down to 10 items. Because it's a DESKTOP, I should
be able to put stuff on it without my computer having a fit.

NOTE#2: I have indexing turned off because it sucks too badly to be
allowed to live. Don't know if that's related.

A lot of Vista users just love that round swirly wait mouse cursor. Get
used to it!

ss.

 

[ReGenesis0]

If you state the specs of your new computer it would certainly help others
to assist you. You may just have an under powered computer.

....lack of computing power causes Vista to be unable to provide such
basic services as moving files?
The flashy graphics i can understand-- but i turned that all off.
It's the _desktop_. I save files and folders on it, and move things
about. It doesn't have trouble moving stuff in folders with a
comparable number of items in them. There is something wrong with the
deaktop specifically, not an overall underpowered hardware problem.


OS Name Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium
Version 6.0.6000 Build 6000
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name XXXXXXX
System Manufacturer Hewlett-Packard
System Model HP Pavilion dv9700 Notebook PC
System Type X86-based PC
Processor AMD Turion(tm) 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL-60, 2000 Mhz, 2
Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date Hewlett-Packard F.25, 11/29/2007
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Windows Directory C:\Windows
System Directory C:\Windows\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6000.16407"
User Name XXXXXXX\XXXX
Time Zone Central Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 1,982.31 MB
Available Physical Memory 839.68 MB
Total Virtual Memory 4.14 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.80 GB
Page File Space 2.23 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
-Derik

 

[Apache -=CW=-]

You might be able to downgade to XP if you ask Microsoft. I've seen a lot of
people doing that, esp with the notebooks.

Indexing does suck big time, in my case to thrashed my drive so badly that
the drive actually failed. My desktop lagged a lot
as well, so I went back to XP on this computer until SP2 comes out.

 

[Richard Urban]

Your laptop PC likely uses a hard drive that runs at 5400 RPM. This is far
short of the norm of 7500 RPM used in most desktop computers - some even use
10,000 or 15,000 RPM drives. The hard drive is the slowest part of any
computer. File operations are the first to suffer. Then comes loading large
programs into memory - such as M/S Office.

My son just bought a new laptop for his step daughter for Christmas. It was
dog A** slow, even with 2 gig of RAM. I increased it to 4 gig of RAM and it
made a noticeable improvement. Remember, your onboard video chews up a bunch
of installed RAM which leaves you with less for the operating system and
loaded programs.

Also, if you use many large programs you are likely making heavy use of the
pagefile (hence the hard drive). You didn't mess with this, did you. More
RAM means less usage of the page file and speedier operating of the
operating system.

Additionally, clean off all the crap that manufacturers include with a new
computer. Just doing this will speed up a computer substantially.

One last this! I have seen computers that are less that a week old so
infested with malware that it brings the computer to its knees. What is the
first thing that a new owner does. He goes online to his favorite web sites.
With the malware picture the way it is today, a know good site today today
(pick any that you would thing is safe, such as Wal-Mart) may be compromised
by tomorrow - thereby infecting anyone who visits the web site.

Without actually having "hands on" with your computer I can only give
generalities.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience

If you state the specs of your new computer it would certainly help others
to assist you. You may just have an under powered computer.

....lack of computing power causes Vista to be unable to provide such
basic services as moving files?
The flashy graphics i can understand-- but i turned that all off.
It's the _desktop_. I save files and folders on it, and move things
about. It doesn't have trouble moving stuff in folders with a
comparable number of items in them. There is something wrong with the
deaktop specifically, not an overall underpowered hardware problem.


OS Name Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium
Version 6.0.6000 Build 6000
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name XXXXXXX
System Manufacturer Hewlett-Packard
System Model HP Pavilion dv9700 Notebook PC
System Type X86-based PC
Processor AMD Turion(tm) 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL-60, 2000 Mhz, 2
Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date Hewlett-Packard F.25, 11/29/2007
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Windows Directory C:\Windows
System Directory C:\Windows\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6000.16407"
User Name XXXXXXX\XXXX
Time Zone Central Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 1,982.31 MB
Available Physical Memory 839.68 MB
Total Virtual Memory 4.14 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.80 GB
Page File Space 2.23 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
-Derik

 

[Dave]

Most of us hardly ever see it.

 

[+Bob+]

I was forced to switch to Vista when my last laptop was stolen, and
the only quick replacement I could lay my hands on was a Vista
machine. Joy.

Anyway-- my desktop lags. If I'm copying anything onto it, deleting
files-- even just dragging files.

When I try to open a context menu for something on my desktop-- it
reacts fine. But if I click 'delete,' the entire desktop locks up for
6, 6 seconds and I cant' do anything else until it clears out the
file.

Stranger still, simply dragging a file causes the same lag-- moving a
file from one spot on the desktop to the next (its location int he
filesystem doesn't change) causes everything to grind to a halt.

I've noticed the same lag in many programs when I move to the desktop
in an open/save dialog, lots of things will just cause the computer to
"stop" for up to 10 seconds.

NOTE: I have a lot of items on my desktop. (I have a second screen
they spill over onto.) I'm guessing this is somehow related to the
problem, but I'd like to actually /fix/ the problem rather than simply
cutting my desktop down to 10 items. Because it's a DESKTOP, I should
be able to put stuff on it without my computer having a fit.

Try deleting your icon cache and rebooting to see if it helps. Look
for a file name iconcache.db. It may be hidden. Delete it, it will be
recreated on reboot.

Empty your recycle bin and defrag your hard drive. I prefer the defrag
from Auslogics (free).

NOTE#2: I have indexing turned off because it sucks too badly to be
allowed to live. Don't know if that's related.

Shutting off indexing is OK but the service still runs. You should
shut off the indexing service itself by running services.msc. I would
also suggest googling Agent Ransack for an alternative search program
(a better search tool... but nothing to do with your core problem).

There are other services you can shut off or change to manual startup
that might help with general performance. You can check this link for
some other pointers:

http://tweak-vista.blogspot.com/search/label/1. Hundreds of Quick Tips

It's oddly redundant when you read through it, so just filter it down.

Lastly, you might just want to stop using the desktop for general file
operations. It might be the only solution that really helps.

Uber lastly, I've seen a lot of performance improvement and
elimination of problems by reloading Vista and applying all your
tweaks in a systematic fashion to create a cleaner build.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

Most of us hardly ever see it.

I suggest you start opening your eyes, so that you can see.

ss.

 

[Dave]

Ha!
And you don't even use Vista.....

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

Ha!
And you don't even use Vista.....

I use several operating systems, and have been using Vista around September
2006, before it was released. I now only use it on my HTPC, after I decided
to use two workstation computers while working, so less need for 64-bits and
the usability problems of Vista. My HTPC is connected to a large monitor,
as well as my LCD TV, for when I need 64-bit Vista.

ss.