XP Home - right click on desktop causes system to "refresh"

[Guest]

Upgraded from ME to XP Home with SP2. After I rebuilt my address list
(luckily i had zipped my messages) I have notice 2 problems that are likely
related. If I right-click on the desktop (arrange icons, etc.) the system
hangs and then refreshes itself - almost like I logged off and logged back
on.

A second (related?) problem is that if I am in Windows Explorer and select
File (to create a new folder, etc.) it does the same thing. I can install a
new folder in an MS Office "save as" screen, but not from the File command.

I have already reinstalled XP once - first time Outlook Express displayed
messages but you could not open them. I hate to reinstall again if somebody
has an idea...

THANKS!!!

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Don't keep doing something that isn't fixing the problems. I have had
difficulties in the past upgrading from ME to XP. Describle your computer
(make and model, ram, cpu, hard drive type, etc).

 

[Guest]

It is a Gateway - P866. 866 mhz CPU, 128mb RAM (I have ordered 2 - 256mb
cards that should be here in a day or two), 40gb disk - with 65% free space.
I defrag'd after the XP install.

Don't keep doing something that isn't fixing the problems. I have had
difficulties in the past upgrading from ME to XP. Describle your computer
(make and model, ram, cpu, hard drive type, etc).

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

Upgraded from ME to XP Home with SP2. After I rebuilt my address list
(luckily i had zipped my messages) I have notice 2 problems that are
likely
related. If I right-click on the desktop (arrange icons, etc.) the system
hangs and then refreshes itself - almost like I logged off and logged back
on.

A second (related?) problem is that if I am in Windows Explorer and select
File (to create a new folder, etc.) it does the same thing. I can install
a
new folder in an MS Office "save as" screen, but not from the File
command.

I have already reinstalled XP once - first time Outlook Express displayed
messages but you could not open them. I hate to reinstall again if
somebody
has an idea...

THANKS!!!

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

What video card? If it is onboard video then adding memory may resolve some
of the 'hanging' since you may only be using 96mb of ram for the system, but
watch your power supply. Make sure you don't exceed its rating.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

It is a Gateway - P866. 866 mhz CPU, 128mb RAM (I have ordered 2 - 256mb
cards that should be here in a day or two), 40gb disk - with 65% free
space.
I defrag'd after the XP install.

Don't keep doing something that isn't fixing the problems. I have had
difficulties in the past upgrading from ME to XP. Describle your
computer
(make and model, ram, cpu, hard drive type, etc).

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

Upgraded from ME to XP Home with SP2. After I rebuilt my address list
(luckily i had zipped my messages) I have notice 2 problems that are
likely
related. If I right-click on the desktop (arrange icons, etc.) the
system
hangs and then refreshes itself - almost like I logged off and logged
back
on.

A second (related?) problem is that if I am in Windows Explorer and
select
File (to create a new folder, etc.) it does the same thing. I can
install
a
new folder in an MS Office "save as" screen, but not from the File
command.

I have already reinstalled XP once - first time Outlook Express
displayed
messages but you could not open them. I hate to reinstall again if
somebody
has an idea...

THANKS!!!

 

[Guest]

It is an onboard card. I put in a new one about 2 months ago as the original
one "died". Nothing fancy since we don't do games or anything, basically a
simple replacement of the one that ws in there. The video card stats
displayed during boot-up indicate something about 64mb... Not sure that does
you any good.

Anyway, I would absolutely LOVE it if it were simply a memory issue. My
wife just called and the memory arrived today. I will test it out tonight!

What video card? If it is onboard video then adding memory may resolve some
of the 'hanging' since you may only be using 96mb of ram for the system, but
watch your power supply. Make sure you don't exceed its rating.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

It is a Gateway - P866. 866 mhz CPU, 128mb RAM (I have ordered 2 - 256mb
cards that should be here in a day or two), 40gb disk - with 65% free
space.
I defrag'd after the XP install.

Don't keep doing something that isn't fixing the problems. I have had
difficulties in the past upgrading from ME to XP. Describle your
computer
(make and model, ram, cpu, hard drive type, etc).

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
Upgraded from ME to XP Home with SP2. After I rebuilt my address list
(luckily i had zipped my messages) I have notice 2 problems that are
likely
related. If I right-click on the desktop (arrange icons, etc.) the
system
hangs and then refreshes itself - almost like I logged off and logged
back
on.

A second (related?) problem is that if I am in Windows Explorer and
select
File (to create a new folder, etc.) it does the same thing. I can
install
a
new folder in an MS Office "save as" screen, but not from the File
command.

I have already reinstalled XP once - first time Outlook Express
displayed
messages but you could not open them. I hate to reinstall again if
somebody
has an idea...

THANKS!!!

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

That in not on-board (integrated with the motherboard). That is add-in
(card that sits in a slot). Let us know about the memory. It will improve
performance. If you have problems booting after adding the ram, try with
one card out.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

It is an onboard card. I put in a new one about 2 months ago as the
original
one "died". Nothing fancy since we don't do games or anything, basically
a
simple replacement of the one that ws in there. The video card stats
displayed during boot-up indicate something about 64mb... Not sure that
does
you any good.

Anyway, I would absolutely LOVE it if it were simply a memory issue. My
wife just called and the memory arrived today. I will test it out
tonight!

What video card? If it is onboard video then adding memory may resolve
some
of the 'hanging' since you may only be using 96mb of ram for the system,
but
watch your power supply. Make sure you don't exceed its rating.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

It is a Gateway - P866. 866 mhz CPU, 128mb RAM (I have ordered 2 -
256mb
cards that should be here in a day or two), 40gb disk - with 65% free
space.
I defrag'd after the XP install.

:

Don't keep doing something that isn't fixing the problems. I have had
difficulties in the past upgrading from ME to XP. Describle your
computer
(make and model, ram, cpu, hard drive type, etc).

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
Upgraded from ME to XP Home with SP2. After I rebuilt my address
list
(luckily i had zipped my messages) I have notice 2 problems that are
likely
related. If I right-click on the desktop (arrange icons, etc.) the
system
hangs and then refreshes itself - almost like I logged off and
logged
back
on.

A second (related?) problem is that if I am in Windows Explorer and
select
File (to create a new folder, etc.) it does the same thing. I can
install
a
new folder in an MS Office "save as" screen, but not from the File
command.

I have already reinstalled XP once - first time Outlook Express
displayed
messages but you could not open them. I hate to reinstall again if
somebody
has an idea...

THANKS!!!

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

*That is...

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

That in not on-board (integrated with the motherboard). That is add-in
(card that sits in a slot). Let us know about the memory. It will
improve performance. If you have problems booting after adding the ram,
try with one card out.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

It is an onboard card. I put in a new one about 2 months ago as the
original
one "died". Nothing fancy since we don't do games or anything, basically
a
simple replacement of the one that ws in there. The video card stats
displayed during boot-up indicate something about 64mb... Not sure that
does
you any good.

Anyway, I would absolutely LOVE it if it were simply a memory issue. My
wife just called and the memory arrived today. I will test it out
tonight!

What video card? If it is onboard video then adding memory may resolve
some
of the 'hanging' since you may only be using 96mb of ram for the system,
but
watch your power supply. Make sure you don't exceed its rating.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
It is a Gateway - P866. 866 mhz CPU, 128mb RAM (I have ordered 2 -
256mb
cards that should be here in a day or two), 40gb disk - with 65% free
space.
I defrag'd after the XP install.

:

Don't keep doing something that isn't fixing the problems. I have
had
difficulties in the past upgrading from ME to XP. Describle your
computer
(make and model, ram, cpu, hard drive type, etc).

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
message
Upgraded from ME to XP Home with SP2. After I rebuilt my address
list
(luckily i had zipped my messages) I have notice 2 problems that
are
likely
related. If I right-click on the desktop (arrange icons, etc.) the
system
hangs and then refreshes itself - almost like I logged off and
logged
back
on.

A second (related?) problem is that if I am in Windows Explorer and
select
File (to create a new folder, etc.) it does the same thing. I can
install
a
new folder in an MS Office "save as" screen, but not from the File
command.

I have already reinstalled XP once - first time Outlook Express
displayed
messages but you could not open them. I hate to reinstall again if
somebody
has an idea...

THANKS!!!

 

[Guest]

Well, the memory sure made it run faster - currently have 512mb (that is the
max Gateway says this machine will handle) and response time is great.
However, there is no change to the two issues below. If I right click on the
desktop or if i select the File command in Windows explorer the machine
"hangs" (hourglass) for about 30 - 45 seconds, closes all open applications,
and brings me back to the desktop as if I had just booted up....

The only other thing that does not seem to work since the upgrade from ME to
XP is sound. I have an SB Live! soundboard from Creative that came with the
unit. I have gone to their site and downloaded a full driver that was
supposed to work with XP but there is still no sound. I can buy a new sound
board easy enough but any hints here would be great. The first problem is
the most annoying though, so if you have any other ideas there I will
DEFINATELY try them out!

*That is...

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

That in not on-board (integrated with the motherboard). That is add-in
(card that sits in a slot). Let us know about the memory. It will
improve performance. If you have problems booting after adding the ram,
try with one card out.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

It is an onboard card. I put in a new one about 2 months ago as the
original
one "died". Nothing fancy since we don't do games or anything, basically
a
simple replacement of the one that ws in there. The video card stats
displayed during boot-up indicate something about 64mb... Not sure that
does
you any good.

Anyway, I would absolutely LOVE it if it were simply a memory issue. My
wife just called and the memory arrived today. I will test it out
tonight!

:

What video card? If it is onboard video then adding memory may resolve
some
of the 'hanging' since you may only be using 96mb of ram for the system,
but
watch your power supply. Make sure you don't exceed its rating.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
It is a Gateway - P866. 866 mhz CPU, 128mb RAM (I have ordered 2 -
256mb
cards that should be here in a day or two), 40gb disk - with 65% free
space.
I defrag'd after the XP install.

:

Don't keep doing something that isn't fixing the problems. I have
had
difficulties in the past upgrading from ME to XP. Describle your
computer
(make and model, ram, cpu, hard drive type, etc).

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
message
Upgraded from ME to XP Home with SP2. After I rebuilt my address
list
(luckily i had zipped my messages) I have notice 2 problems that
are
likely
related. If I right-click on the desktop (arrange icons, etc.) the
system
hangs and then refreshes itself - almost like I logged off and
logged
back
on.

A second (related?) problem is that if I am in Windows Explorer and
select
File (to create a new folder, etc.) it does the same thing. I can
install
a
new folder in an MS Office "save as" screen, but not from the File
command.

I have already reinstalled XP once - first time Outlook Express
displayed
messages but you could not open them. I hate to reinstall again if
somebody
has an idea...

THANKS!!!

 

[Guest]

Have you found a solution to this problem yet? I just upgraded from Win98 to
XP Pro, and I'm having the exact same problem.

 

[Guest]

What happens when you use Windows Updates?

Have you found a solution to this problem yet? I just upgraded from Win98
to
XP Pro, and I'm having the exact same problem.

 

[Malke]

What happens when you use Windows Updates?

This has nothing to do with Windows Updates. For both posters - check to
see what third-party programs have put entries into the right-click
context menu. Often this will cause problems. The easiest way to do this
is with the free ShellExView program. Disable all non-MS context menus
and test. If everything now works, enable one non-MS context menu item
at a time, testing after each to find the culprit.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html

Malke

 

[Guest]

Malke - I will try following the instructions below but I have a very hard
time believing that is going to do anything. When I started the upgrade
everything worked, when I finished I could not use the File command in
Windows Explorer or Right click on the desk top. There were absolutely no
other changes made to the machine.

hitmeister - The only way I have now to create new folders is in DOS. If
you don't know the DOS commands send me an e-mail and I will walk you through
it - easy but a royal pain.

 

[Guest]

:
..

This has nothing to do with Windows Updates. For both posters - check to
see what third-party programs have put entries into the right-click
context menu. Often this will cause problems. The easiest way to do this
is with the free ShellExView program. Disable all non-MS context menus
and test. If everything now works, enable one non-MS context menu item
at a time, testing after each to find the culprit.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html

Malke

I've tried shexview already. I only have two apps that use context menus:
winzip and AGV anti-virus. I disabled both, and the problem still occurred.


Any other ideas?

 

[Malke]

Malke - I will try following the instructions below but I have a very hard
time believing that is going to do anything. When I started the upgrade
everything worked, when I finished I could not use the File command in
Windows Explorer or Right click on the desk top. There were absolutely no
other changes made to the machine.

hitmeister - The only way I have now to create new folders is in DOS. If
you don't know the DOS commands send me an e-mail and I will walk you through
it - easy but a royal pain.

You say you did an upgrade. To me, this implies you installed XP *over*
a previous operating system such as Windows 98 or ME. If this is the
case, then most certainly there could be programs you had installed in
the older operating system that don't play nice with the right-click
context menu in XP. There were issues with certain DivX codecs, for
instance after SP2.

If you are saying that you did a *clean* install; i.e., deleted the
partition, formatted the drive, and then installed Windows XP and there
is nothing else on the machine - no programs - yet, then there are other
issues. Please post back with clarification of your situation.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Malke - both hitmeister and I did upgrades. Mine from ME and his from 98.
My PC is a Gateway 966 - 512mb RAM. I am not sure I found the correct info
for the video card - XP is far from intuitive and the inability to
right-click on the desktop prevents me from doing things the way I used to
know how to do them, but under Device Manager I found Video codecs - it
listed Indeo Video 5.10....

 

[Malke]

:
.



I've tried shexview already. I only have two apps that use context menus:
winzip and AGV anti-virus. I disabled both, and the problem still occurred.


Any other ideas?

How much memory do you have? What are the computer's hardware specs,
particularly the video card? And please clarify whether or not this was
an upgrade or clean install.

Malke

 

[Malke]

Malke - both hitmeister and I did upgrades. Mine from ME and his from 98.
My PC is a Gateway 966 - 512mb RAM. I am not sure I found the correct info
for the video card - XP is far from intuitive and the inability to
right-click on the desktop prevents me from doing things the way I used to
know how to do them, but under Device Manager I found Video codecs - it
listed Indeo Video 5.10....

To determine what is in your computer, get and install the free Everest
Home program from:

http://www.lavalys.com/index.php?page=product&view=1

This will tell you what video card you have. Go to the card mftr.'s
website and download/install the latest drivers for WinXP. If you did
not replace the hardware that came with your OEM machine (Gateway), see
if there are XP drivers for the hardware on Gateway's site for your
specific model machine first.

XP has extremely good hardware recognition. The problems you are
experiencing are because you upgraded an older, proprietary machine with
possibly non-standard components and definitely pre-installed Gateway
software that was not designed for the XP operating system. You probably
have old cruft still installed that may be causing problems and you may
very well have older hardware and/or drivers installed that work
marginally with XP and/or cause problems.

Without actually seeing the machine, I can't diagnose the cause of your
problems precisely, but if you are not able to solve your issues, you
can either 1) do a clean install; or 2) take the machine to a computer
professional (not your local equivalent of BigStoreUSA). Please be aware
that if you do a clean install you will 1) need to have qualifying media
if you have an upgrade version of XP and the Gateway restore cd will not
work for this; 2) you will lose all your data and need to reinstall
programs from the installation media.

Malke

 

[Guest]

hitmeister wrote:

How much memory do you have? What are the computer's hardware specs,
particularly the video card? And please clarify whether or not this was
an upgrade or clean install.

I have 256MB of memory. My video card is a NVIDIA GeForce MX440 with AGP8X.
My installation was an upgrade from Windows 98SE.

 

[Guest]

I will do all the things you mentioned tonight, but I still have a question.
I can understand that there might be "junk" connected to my right click but
how would a video card issue prevent me from using the File command in
Windows Explorer?

 

[kentarver]

Fix Located !!!

Hello GUys !

I had a Customers computer with the same symptoms . It was upgraded from Win98SE to Win2000 Pro .

I followed someone here's link to this site "http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm "

and ended up editing the registry to remove entries put there by who knows what 3rd. party software .

The registry key is "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers"

And I removed everything but the original sub-key that is put there by the installed operating system "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\New" .

The "NEW" sub-key is what should be left there when you are finished editing the ContextMenuHandlers Key . I actually had four different Sub-Keys that I didn't recognize and I deleted everything but the original NEW sub-key .

This is what fixed it for me !

I hope you are able to achieve the same excellent results as I have .

Here is the MVP warning !!! Please do not attempt this at home, if you are not completely comfortable making Registry Changes.

If you are not familiar with registry edits , Please have a Professional do it for you !

At the very least , make a Backup of your present Registry , BEFORE you make any changes . A single line of information deleted from the wrong ( right?) place Can & Will render your Operating System UNUSABLE .

If you have a backup ( preferrably copied to an external storage location) you will be able to recover from any Registry Editing Mis-steps .

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !!!!!!

Please report BACK here if this works for you or you can e-mail me !!!


Ken Tarver ( an 8 bit Tech in a 128 bit World )