Start -> Documents menu Freezes system

[Scott Falkner]

I never use the Documents menu, but while passing through
on my way to Programs the menu opened and began displaying
files. After four minutes it was about two thrids done. I
was unable to access the task bar, my QuickLaunch icons,
or the Start menu. I couldn't even use Task Manager to end
the process, as no process was visible.

 

[Scott Falkner]

-----Original Message-----
I never use the Documents menu, but while passing through
on my way to Programs the menu opened and began displaying
files. After four minutes it was about two thrids done. I
was unable to access the task bar, my QuickLaunch icons,
or the Start menu. I couldn't even use Task Manager to end
the process, as no process was visible.

More info: This is a very new computer, fast (>3 GHz) and
lots of RAM (>2 Mb). Some file access features are
unbelievably slow. Open and save dialogues from within
just about all applications take up to 30 seconds to
display directory contents, even when showing Desktop (a
local directory with about 10 items in it).

 

[Bill Wolff]

I don't know, but when every time I run into something like that on
somebody else's computer, it is generally either a virus and/or spyware.
Maybe it is worth a shot.

Free Panda Online Virus Scan:

http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/

Ad-aware spyware remove tool:

http://www.lavasoft.de/


Cheers!


_______________________________________________
Bill (using a HP Pavilion 8655c & Windows 2000)
-- written and edited within Word 2000

 

[Gerry Voras]

Quick solution... right click on the task bar, select properties, click the
advanced tab, and click on the clear button.

However, you may want to investigate adjusting the MRU settings in the
registry to limit the number of icons in the Documents folder.

 

[Scott falkner]

-----Original Message-----

Quick solution... right click on the task bar, select properties, click the
advanced tab, and click on the clear button.

I don't want to have to do that 50 times a day. I know I
can do that, but it's just not realistic. I never
(that's "Never") access the document menu deliberately.

However, you may want to investigate adjusting the MRU settings in the
registry to limit the number of icons in the Documents

folder.

What's that in English? I know next to nothing about the
Registry. What little I know makes me compare it to the
scene in The Abyss when Ed Harris can't tell which wire to
cut to defuse an atomic warhead.

 

[Gerry Voras]

I'd say that you'd only have to clear the thing once before the issue fixes
itself. The Documents folder only lists documents that have been opened
(not accessed). The list should never be more than 26, and I think is
limited to 10.

MRU stands for "Most Recently Used". The registry keeps a list of these
MRUs for many purposes, including "doskey"-like features and the documents
folder. Do a search for "MRUlist" in the registry, and you'll find several.
I don't remember at this point which key is the exact one you're looking for
however.

 

[Scott F]

-----Original Message-----
I'd say that you'd only have to clear the thing once before the issue fixes
itself. The Documents folder only lists documents that have been opened
(not accessed). The list should never be more than 26, and I think is
limited to 10.

I think it's about 10. Since it lists most recenly used
items, then every time I open my 10th file, the list is
full again. Since I open dozens of files a day, keeping
that list at 0 would require constantly clearing it.

MRU stands for "Most Recently Used". The registry keeps a list of these
MRUs for many purposes, including "doskey"-like features and the documents
folder. Do a search for "MRUlist" in the registry, and you'll find several.
I don't remember at this point which key is the exact one you're looking for
however.

Still a little vague on Registry. Accordign to Windows
Help, there are programs for editing the Registry. Are any
included as part of Windows 2k?

 

[Gerry Voras]

Use regedit to edit the registry.

I think it's about 10. Since it lists most recenly used
items, then every time I open my 10th file, the list is
full again. Since I open dozens of files a day, keeping
that list at 0 would require constantly clearing it.



Still a little vague on Registry. Accordign to Windows
Help, there are programs for editing the Registry. Are any
included as part of Windows 2k?