Windows Explorer slow, only on startup

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dave
  • Start date Start date
D

Dave

Hi,

I've had a weird problem for a while now I'm hoping someone might have an
insight into.

I'm running WinXP SP2, all patches applied. I have a peer-to-peer home
network with my PC and another PC, both of which have local printers
attached.

When I start my computer, wait for the startup services to finish loading,
and then right-click on Start and choose "Explore," Explorer starts. It
tries to go to C:\Documents and Settings\Dave\Start Menu, but I get an
hourglass, and we sit there and wait....for about 20-30 seconds, during
which time the hard drive light is flashing away, and the CPU usage is way
up high--I can't do anything else.

After those 20-30 seconds, the rest of the folder list comes into view, and
I can use Explorer normally--no problems at all. If I close Explorer and
start it up again, there's no delay--it's only slow the first time starting
it up after rebooting.

My first thought was that Explorer, on startup, is looking for network files
and folders and printers. I went to File, View, and disabled the option to
search for those. The slow startup still occurs.

I've tried looking all over Google for a solution to this, tried a couple of
things (the Remote Namespace Printers and Network subkey deletion trick, for
one), and nothing's worked. It's not adware/viruses; I use Spybot and
NOD32, and keep them up-to-date (I used to be a computer tech support person
in real life). I did scans anyway just to be sure--all negative.

Anyone have any brilliant ideas I could try? :) It's not a huge problem,
but it's frustrating to want to get started with something and having to sit
there staring at Explorer twiddling my thumbs.......

Thanks,
Dave
 
Hi Dave,

This generally is caused by background programs that are loading. Check to
see what isn't needed during a boot here: Start/Run/Msconfig/Startup

From there check to see which process is using the most of your CPU via the
Task Manager/Processes.

Another checkpoint is also in Msconfig/Services/Non-MS

Good luck!

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
 
Hi Kelly,

Thanks for your reply...no, I checked all the startup items (in the
registry, Service Manager, Startup folders, msconfig, etc.)....everything's
started by the time I try to open Explorer. In fact, I know this for sure,
because I can reboot my computer, wait an hour, and then start
Explorer....but it'll still take those 20-30 seconds to try to open its
folder list.

Dave
 
Forgive me, I was just passing by, and I am no pro. But I have an insight,
may be you want to try it:

Suppose you click open My Computer, then Documents and Settings, then Dave,
and then Start Menu.
At which one of them does the delay occur?
Peter
 
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