Windows Explorer erratically slow to open files

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

07/17/2008 09:35:47 AM · #1

Has anybody else run into this recently?

I usually open files of many different types by double-clicking in Windows Explorer. The program and file have always gone to work loading instantly. It's the way it's been for years and years and years.

Now, with no changes to my system(s) other than allowing Windows Update and AVG antivirus updates to run, I get these random slowdowns while opening the same files. Sometimes a file will open instantly, sometimes it will seem as if Windows Explorer is hanging, and the hour glass will come up for a good thirty seconds or so. This is all independant of file, file-size, file-type, and hard drive (is it occurs randomly while opening files from my hd and from the network). It's pretty random and seems to happen anywhere from 5% of the time to 50% of the time depending on the day. I open & close A LOT of files throughout the day and this is quite annoying.

I've Googled the symptoms and can't find my issue. :-(

My PC is not the only one having the issue.

I run Windows XP, fully updated,
Pentium D CPU 3.4GHz
1GB RAM

I'm pretty sure I'm virus and spyware free, and I'll stake my IT background on that.
I've watched Processes CPU%, and Performance during these slowdowns, and see nothing unusual.

Any help?

Message edited by author 2008-07-17 09:39:55.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

07/17/2008 09:45:16 AM · #2

When this happens, do a ctrl-alt delete, select "task manager" and then look at the tabs for "system processes" and "performance". In particular, you are looking for a process or application that is consuming your system resources and slowing it down. In the processes list look at what is using the most CPU time and memory. That may helpyou locate a system hog.

It's also possible that you may be starting to have some hard drive trouble and the files are being difficult to read. If this is the case, I have have heard a lot of good about Spinrite, though I have not had need to use it myself yet. It's not a free progema, however, and no free demo either.

Ok, re-reading your post, it's clearly not a hard drive issue. I'd say locating the resource hog is the first thing to do.

Added: I updated my home PC to AVG 8 the other night and no issues with it so far. (5 year old Athlon 2000, XP Pro, 1.25 Gb ram)

Message edited by author 2008-07-17 09:49:24.

Prism

Pentax K-30

Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR

07/17/2008 09:45:47 AM · #3

I have noticed that my computer has slowed down considerably since installing AVG 8. It seems to require a lot of overhead now that it didn't in the previous versions. I am seriously thinking of uninstalling it and finding a different antivirus software to see if that makes a difference.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

07/17/2008 09:47:36 AM · #4

Also, it may be the squirrels, in which case you are just SOL.

ahmadbaara

Nikon D90

Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR

07/17/2008 09:52:04 AM · #5

GO FIREFOX 3.0 woooot!!

one2one

Olympus E-5

Olympus 7-14mm f/4.0 Zuiko Digital Zoom

07/17/2008 10:10:31 AM · #6

Originally posted by ahmadbaara:

GO FIREFOX 3.0 woooot!!

lol He's talking about Windows Explorer, not Microsoft Internet Explorer.

07/17/2008 10:11:59 AM · #7

Originally posted by yospiff:

When this happens, do a ctrl-alt delete, select "task manager" and then look at the tabs for "system processes" and "performance". ....

Done that, as edited in my OP. :-(

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

07/17/2008 10:12:59 AM · #8

Originally posted by Prism:

This started happening while I was still using AVG7. I've since upgraded to AVG8 with no change. :-(

Ann

Olympus OM-D E-M1

07/17/2008 10:13:59 AM · #9

How full is your hard drive? Have you defragmented it lately?

Louis

Nikon D800

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

07/17/2008 10:14:31 AM · #10

Get a Mac! (Somebody will say it eventually.) Have you disabled AV and tried to make it happen? You seem to suggest that one change is that you're allowing antivirus updating software to run. Revert whatever changes you've made recently one by one, and see if you can pinpoint a change that's made this start.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

07/17/2008 10:18:05 AM · #11

I'm out of brilliant ideas. Except for the squirrel thing.

bobonacus

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

07/17/2008 10:18:47 AM · #12

I've had this on a few machines at work.

Running XP Pro and NOT AVG. Some have NOD32 and some have BitDeffender

I ran all the windows updates including all the non essential ones like the .NET updated and that seemed to cure most.

My machine had the same issue and was not fixed by running all the updates, when I looked I noticed that some .NET updates had failed. I followed MS's instructions and removed all of .NET and then reinstalled and downloaded and manually ran all the updates, about 15 of the bloody things and it's fine now. It *could* be .NET but it could also just be a coincidence!!

I've had now problems since I did that about 3 weeks ago

Prof_Fate

07/17/2008 10:39:09 AM · #13

How much free space have you got on your drives? If its under 20% free then you will have issues, odd ones at times. Windows and most programs need space to operate in ...sounds weird, but canon's DPP kept slowing and slowing and finally started crashing over the last 2 months. My C drive was about 90% full. I removed/moved a few things and got it to about 60% and the entire computer runs faster now.
Just a thought.

07/17/2008 10:41:15 AM · #14

Originally posted by Ann:

How full is your hard drive? Have you defragmented it lately?

50GB free, and yes.

07/17/2008 10:42:04 AM · #15

Originally posted by Louis:

I haven't tried with AV disabled, I'll do that and see if it helps, thx.

07/17/2008 10:42:27 AM · #16

Originally posted by yospiff:

I'm out of brilliant ideas. Except for the squirrel thing.

Damn those mutant squirrels!

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/17/2008 10:43:44 AM · #17

Originally posted by bobonacus:

Hmmm, could be...

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

07/17/2008 11:04:28 AM · #18

Every time my system slows down it's because the AV software is doing a scan... I will often disable the AV software completely while I do mass import and processing of new images just to make sure that my system is as responsive as it can be. Then when I'm done I'll turn the AV software back on.

totaldis

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

07/17/2008 11:07:09 AM · #19

how old is the HD?

glad2badad

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic

07/17/2008 11:22:16 AM · #20

Originally posted by dwterry:

Same here (ZoneAlarm). I also ran a defrag on my hard drive (hadn't done one is a while), and it's perked up substantially!