Windows Explorer slow, only on startup

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
 
K

Kelly

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
 
D

Dave

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
 
H

Humpty Dumpty

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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