"My Computer"/"Computer" slow load problem

Sometimes when I try to open the Computer window (either by clicking the start button and then Computer or hitting Windows key + E) it will take a long time to open (upwards of 90 seconds). It doesn't happen all of the time, but starts happening seemingly at random. I can open other folders, but as soon as I click Computer, it freezes for a bit before working properly.

I can get it to stop by rebooting, but it seems to always eventually happen again. I know it's not a hardware problem, as this is happening on both my desktop and laptop.

There's a number of ways we can retrieve info on this, so let's start with the easiest.

First, grab Process Explorer and open it up. Sort by the CPU or CSwitch Delta columns (highest at top). Now, attempt to open Computer, and see which process started spiking. Most likely I would venture to guess it's the explorer.exe process. Either way, double-click it to open and see its current running threads. If Computer is still loading, you should see the highest-load thread at the top which should be relevant. Dbl-click it and it'll give you the callstack for it. Copy and paste to here for evaluation. If Computer window pops up prior to doing all this you can keep attempting to open it and perform the instructions while it's hung.

In addition to this, you may also wish to create a dump file of the process while it's loading the Computer window. Right click the process that's spiking and create either a minidump or a full dump. Minidumps are very small and should attach no problem to your post, but are very limited in details. Full dumps will have to be uploaded to a 3rd-party filesharing site.

Note that if it does the same for both desktop and laptop, go ahead and provide us the details following these instructions for both laptop and desktop. Specify which is which. The dump files from each would also be beneficial.

Thanks for the tip. Now I just need to wait for it to start doing it again.

As a tip, if you press spacebar in the main window of Process Explorer, it will halt the refresh of everything so that you can read and navigate at your leisure, or even take a snapshot to send to us. Note that while this also applies to any extra windows (like when you dbl-click a process), the activity readings on those windows (like Cycles Delta column in the Threads tab/window) won't retain any data. You can avoid this issue by preemptively opening whatever windows that are needed (like the previously said window you get by dbl-clicking a process) and then when it comes time freeze the main window with spacebar and the rest should do the same.

I just read a post from 2 years ago about this issue. Sadly there was no resolution to the problem and I am still looking for an answer.

My problem is much the same but is occurring after I burn a CD and the loading process doesn't finish. My desktop icons vanish and the toolbar at bottom of screen doesn't come up.

The only way I've found out of this is to force shutdown.

I'm not sure how that is related to this. The only issue with the OP is that his My Computer/Computer window takes a long time to load.

Your best option right now is to create a new thread explaining your problem so it'll gain more exposure from the support team (and will help isolate specific cases for future reference).

The callstack is in the threads tab of the properties in process explorer?

When you dbl-click a process, it'll pop up with a window providing many details on the process, and by default the tab it'll show up in the window is the Threads tab. In that you will see a list of threads currently existing for that process. If you dbl click any of those threads (preferably the one(s) most active) it'll bring up a separate window showing the callstack for that thread. You will have an option to copy the entire stack (or a single frame, preferably the whole stack though) that you can paste.

try simply open up task manager, delete explorer.exe in the task tab, then restarting explorer.exe