Win 7 is parsing video files during file management!

I have discovered that Win 7 x64 tries to parse video files in some way while working with them (file management) - I don't know if it's trying to build a video thumbnail, or what. But as a result, in certain circumstances, such as working with them on a network share, file operations take forever.

For example, let's say I have a Win 7 x64 machine working on a network share from a machine running XP. And let's say that I have a number of video files on that remote XP machine.

If I try to move those video files from one remote directory to another, it can take 10 seconds for the move to occur. On the other hand, if I change their extensions to ".zip", moves are instantaneous.

The same thing happens when I am trying to rename them. If they have a video extension (i.e. mkv, mov, etc...), it's like the process freezes for 10-60 seconds. But if they are renamed as ".zip" files (which will also take forever), subsequent renames (while keeping the ".zip" extension) occur immediately.


If I access this remote share from an XP machine, this problem does not exist, so clearly it's Win 7.


So, what exactly is Windows 7 doing, and how can I shut the damned "feature" off?

Maybe your virus scanner is scanning the files as you work with them, just a thought. Also there might be media services "working" on the file, like you say trying to create a thumbnail.

hybridfan said:

Maybe your virus scanner is scanning the files as you work with them, just a thought. Also there might be media services "working" on the file, like you say trying to create a thumbnail.

It's not the AV. I don't use real-time scanning of any sort. As for media services, what does Win 7 use in this regard that XP doesn't?

Does it help if you always use details view in Explorer?
That way, it only has to show you small icons.

You could try in Control Panel > Folder Options > View > check "always show icons, never thumbnails".
Maybe also uncheck "display file size information in folder tips" (which might cause delays too).