Windows Explorer very slow when opening Local Disc (C)

Question

I have a brand new Dimension 8400 with Windows XP, Intel Pentium 4 Processor 630 (3GHz)w/HT Technology and 2MB cache and 512 MB SDRAM. I store almost all of my files on the local harddrive (C), instead of My Documents. When I use Windows Explorer to locate files, opening the Local Hard Drive takes a pretty long time. I've already scanned with AdAware, Spybot and Norton Antivirus, and the same thing keeps happening. Any thoughts?

R

Brainonska511 · Answer

Have you tried defragmenting the drive?

Boilerman87 · Answer

I have a fairly new Dimension 8300 with Windows XP,  Intel Pentium 4 Processor 630 (3GHz)w/HT Technology and 2MB cache and 1024 MB SDRAM.  I get the same result when I use Windows Explorer to locate files, or when locating files to open through applications, Explorer just bogs right down and takes several minutes to display the available folders & files. I've also scanned with AdAware, Spybot and McAfee VirusScan. Anybody have a solution ?

Brainonska511 · Answer

If the antivirus is the problem, I would also suggest Trend Micro's PC-Cillin (I don't use it, I wish I did). It uses very little system resources and I hear it is very good from what I have read.

farbdogg · Answer

Well, I had numerous performance problems with Norton products and I have head many others from McAfee.  Anyways, Try temporarily uninstalling your antivirus/firewall software (disconnect from the internet first) and see if that fixes the problem.  If so then maybe consider changing new firewall/antivirus software.  I currently use BitDefender Professional (antivirus + firewall), which works great and isn't a resource hog like the other 2.  Hope this helps, Farbdogg

Boilerman87 · Answer

I tried disabling McAfee with no apparent difference in speed.  I then tried removing McAfee entirely, again with no difference.  Yes, I have tried the defrag and no, it made no difference either.  I administer a network with approx. 300 machines, 50% are Dells running Windows XP and McAfee Enterprise Version 7.  This is the only machine that displays this problem.   Incidentally, if I create a Windows Explorer shortcut on the desktop and use the e,C:\ switch, then it opens to the C: drive and I can browse it with no delay at all.  But as soon as click on My Computer, it bogs right down again.

denzil12345 · Answer

try this

set the below system key = 1, if it does not exist just add it and then reboot.

User Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
Value Name: NoRecentDocsHistory
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Data: (0 = disable restriction, 1 = enable restriction)

it sorted out lots of my opening woes (there must be a bug somewhere), even speeding up my bootup time.

Windows General

Windows Explorer very slow when opening Local Disc (C)

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