Explorer Slow to sort folders/files.

M

MasterEvilAce

New member
Why is there a huge delay on the sorting of files/folders in windows explorer?

If I enter a folder that has many subfolders and extra files, it seems to load everything at once in alphabetical order, then there's a delay while it sorts the folders and the individual files separately, also in alphabetical order. This delay can be something like 5 seconds with just a few hundred items, and it just grows from there.

What's the deal? Am I the only one experiencing this? How do I change this behavior to be more like XP... snappy and instant.
 

My Computer

OS
Win
MasterEvilAce said:
Why is there a huge delay on the sorting of files/folders in windows explorer?

If I enter a folder that has many subfolders and extra files, it seems to load everything at once in alphabetical order, then there's a delay while it sorts the folders and the individual files separately, also in alphabetical order. This delay can be something like 5 seconds with just a few hundred items, and it just grows from there.

What's the deal? Am I the only one experiencing this? How do I change this behavior to be more like XP... snappy and instant.
Click to expand...

Hi MasterEvilAce.

Explorer is just like XP for me, snappy AND instant.
Is it just Explorer that lags like this for you? Is the OS otherwise snappy?
 

My Computer

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HP Touchsmart IQ771.uk
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Yes, as far as performance goes, explorer sorting is the only thing that is slow. Windows Media Player is rubbish on my system as well.. general instability and such. Everything else is fine.

I use list mode, but it happens in any mode.. thumbnails load quick and snappy

Sorting by name and opening a folder for the first time bogs like I mentioned. I can go into a folder, and out again and it's fine.

But if I sort by DATE, it bogs while sorting... I go into a folder, and out again and it bogs as it sorts again.

The folder in particular that I test this on has 90ish folders and 200 individual files.
XP never had this issue with the same amount of files... The drive is also entirely defragged. If this isn't a widespread problem, then I am stumped.
 

My Computer

OS
Win
Some information about your system would be good. How much RAM? What CPU? How much free disk space? Did it ever work as expected?
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
BrightWorks Systems B4
OS
Windows 7 Profession 64-bit
CPU
Intel Core i7-860 Quad
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Gigabyte P55-UD4P
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Mushkin 4x2Gb PC12800
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Gigabyte GTX260 896Mb
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Integrated 7.1 HD Dolby
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2 Samsung 2220wm-HAS 22"
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WD HE 1Tb
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Corsair TX-750W
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Ultra M998
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OEM
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MS Wireless Comfort 5000
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MS Wireless 5000
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Cable and pretty darn fast
system specs are up to date in my profile. drives have ~50% or more free space on them.

On XP the folders were snappy. I've never used vista, so I can't comment on how specific the problem is to windows. The windows 7 beta, RC1, and RTM have all performed the same. the beta and RTM were both fresh installs.
 

My Computer

OS
Win
system specs are up to date in my profile
Click to expand...
Great - since we never know if posters have more than one computer, or if they are helping a friend or relative with their computer, it is necessary to verify.

Drill down to the folder then right-click on it and click the Customize tab and make sure the default setting of "General Items" is set. If already set to General, try one of the other settings.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
BrightWorks Systems B4
OS
Windows 7 Profession 64-bit
CPU
Intel Core i7-860 Quad
Motherboard
Gigabyte P55-UD4P
Memory
Mushkin 4x2Gb PC12800
Graphics Card(s)
Gigabyte GTX260 896Mb
Sound Card
Integrated 7.1 HD Dolby
Monitor(s) Displays
2 Samsung 2220wm-HAS 22"
Screen Resolution
1680 x 1050 | 1680 x 1050
Hard Drives
WD HE 1Tb
PSU
Corsair TX-750W
Case
Ultra M998
Cooling
OEM
Keyboard
MS Wireless Comfort 5000
Mouse
MS Wireless 5000
Internet Speed
Cable and pretty darn fast
This also solved my problem, setting it to "General Items".
Sorting was so slow I could take a nap and when I wake up it still
wouldn't be done sorting by date. LOL

Thanks!
 

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Custom Build
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Athlon X2 6000+
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Asus M2N32 WiFi
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eVga 8800GT
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SB Audigy Platinum
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Asus 24" LCD
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6X SATA 500GB
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Corsair 750TX
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Thermaltake Zenon II
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7 case fans, Zalman 9800 cpu cooler
Been looking for a solution to the same problem and this solved it. I had my video library set to optimize for video and it took forever to sort by date. Changed to general items and its pretty much instant. Thanks.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
Tried the folder customization, doesn't help.

Hi there, i've also got win7 64bit and i've got the same problem with folders taking forever to sort by "Date", it says while it's doing so "searching for items". It doesn't have to be a big folder for it to take a while before it loads the folder. Sometimes it even searches the folder again if i visit another subfolder and come right back.

I've tried to custom the folder for different things, general items, pictures, videos etc. doesn't help.
 

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OS
Windows 7 - 64bit
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Intel core i5 750
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Asus P7P55D-E
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4 x 2GB, DDR3 1333MHz (PC3-10660) CL7
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Ati Radeon HD 4870
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Creative X-trememusic X-fi
Digerati said:
Drill down to the folder then right-click on it and click the Customize tab and make sure the default setting of "General Items" is set.
Click to expand...
Worked for me and thanks! What a waste of time and resources - what was Msoft thinking?!
Click to expand...
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
MSI
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win 7
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Intel core 2
Motherboard
MSI
Memory
4GB
Hard Drives
320GB
Case
portable
Thank you SO much, I had the very same problem, some folders took up to 15 seconds until the were sorted, plus another 5 seconds every time I go into a subfolder and back. It was already set to General items, so I tried Videos, which was a little better but still bad. Then I tried Documents and it's sorted fracking instantly. AWESOME!:D
 

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Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
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Intel Q9550 E0 @4GHz
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Asus P5Q Pro
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4x 2GB 1066 MHz
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Point of View GTX-570 BEAST
PSU
be quiet! Dark Power 650W
Case
Xigmatek Elysium
Cooling
extensive air cooling
drill down?

What are you talking about "drill down"? Could not find where you are referring to. Please be more specific in explaining why windows 7 is so dumb when it comes to sorting a simple folder?
 

My Computer

OS
64 bit window 7 home premium
i just signed up for this site for one purpose : Thank you. This helped a lot
 

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PC/Desktop
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custom
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winders 7
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i7 3770
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asus something
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8gigs
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7770
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yes
changing to "General Items" helped to speed it up.
but i have a folder with a bunch of image files and a couple of folders, i have them sorted by date(descending, new on top), but the subfolders inside are now way below. i want them up top also while sorted by descending date(this is possible if u have not selected "general items" but it'll go back to being slow). can anybody help me? thanks
 

My Computer

OS
Win7
I logged in just to say thanks

so THANKS
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
dell t3400
OS
w7 pro 64bit
Memory
8G
Screen Resolution
1920 1080
and actually, does anybody know what the advantages of the Picture option are meant to be.
What does the picture template give me that General_Items doesn't?
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
dell t3400
OS
w7 pro 64bit
Memory
8G
Screen Resolution
1920 1080
Digerati said:
system specs are up to date in my profile
Click to expand...
Great - since we never know if posters have more than one computer, or if they are helping a friend or relative with their computer, it is necessary to verify.

Drill down to the folder then right-click on it and click the Customize tab and make sure the default setting of "General Items" is set. If already set to General, try one of the other settings.
Click to expand...
logged in just to thank you man! it worked and now it is so fast!
THANK YOU!!1!!1!111
 

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Laptop
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Sony
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Windows 7 Home Basic 64 bit
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4 GB
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Intel HD 3000
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