Windows explorer lag driving me insane

[gunjin]

I have looked and found a few references to problems similar to mine on these forums but no solutions. Apologies if i have missed any.

I have a clean install of the retail version of W7 HP 32bit on a W7 formatted HD (300gb velociraptor). I have a pretty fast system with 4gb ram, E8500 CPU and 1Gb 4890 GPU. I believe i have a pretty lean start-up with a few audio, mouse and video essentials (all with latest drivers) and Kaspersky IS 2010. I have up to date MB bios and drivers for all major m/b components.

However, i cannot get windows explorer to operate at anywhere near the speed that it ran under Vista and XP and runs in safe mode on the current rig. There is a 1-2 second lag when i open any and every new folder. Right clicking files can take up to 5 seconds to bring up the menu and will occasionally crash explorer. Possibly unrelated but copying and pasting between excel worksheets and spreadsheets can take up to 10 seconds, often causing Excel to indicate it is "not responding" temporarily.

This is not a hardware problem as booting into safe mode returns windows explorer browsing to normal (instantaneous) speed. It is also not Kaspersky as closing it has no impact on the problem. Can someone please help me troubleshoot this as it is driving me mad...?

Thanks very much in advance.

G

 

[whs]

If it works well in safe mode, it could be one of the startup programs interfering. For a test, disable all startups and see whether that cures the problem. If yes - you'll have to inspect them one by one.

 

[gunjin]

OK, have disabled every start up app and rebooted and i still get the Explorer lag and (Excel problems). I have tried setting the performance parameters to optimse for performance (ie switching off aero etc) and the problem remains.
Could it be Windows 7's search/indexing (W7 was installed on the day of release and has been in use for 8 hrs a day since then so should have finished its indexing)? Any other suggestions?

 

[gunjin]

ok, I have solved the problem in the most expedient way: by nuking my W7 installation from orbit. Have done a complete reinstallation and everything is back to normal speed. Drastic solution but it worked.

 

[Twelc]

Hi

I have exactly the same problem, and I agree, it's extremely irritating!
I noticed that we both have Kaspersky for the security (in my case, only KAV 2010) - possible source?

Since your re-installation of Windows 7, have you already re-installed all the programs you had before? (just to see if any of them could have been the source of the problem)

Also, did you notice a lag when typing in Word?

Thanks

 

[gunjin]

pre-reinstallation I tried turning off KIS2010 and it had no impact and i have reinstalled KIS10 post reinstallation and it is not that as everything is fine now. I did not have a lag in word that i can remember only copy/pasting in excel and explorer lag (opening/right clicking). The problem i have is that i dont remember when my old installation went from working fine to lagging so i cannot pinpoint what had caused this.

 

[Twelc]

Thanks for the info. I installed most of the programs I use one after the other so like you, I don't know what caused the problem. I'll probably switch back to vista and play again with 7 when I have more time..

pre-reinstallation I tried turning off KIS2010

same, but you never know if there's some integration into the system which might cause the problem, even if you turn disable the app. Doesn't seem to be the source of the problem anyway

 

[fp1]

Just a shot in the dark. I had installed some of the windows live essentials, and it slowed down my puter enough that I re-formatted, and re-installed Windows 7. Now its quick again.

 

[gunjin]

Just a shot in the dark. I had installed some of the windows live essentials, and it slowed down my puter enough that I re-formatted, and re-installed Windows 7. Now its quick again.

i have not used any windows live essentials and tend to switch off those features if presented the option during installation (e.g. on IE8 first use).

Almost everything is still running smoothly for me but now Word is lagging. Unlike the other problems, this appears to be a resource issue as it is using around 50% of my CPU (e8500 dual core) whenever it runs now.

I guess these are the problems with being an early adopter

 

[Twelc]

Same, haven't installed any Windows Live software

Almost everything is still running smoothly for me but now Word is lagging. Unlike the other problems, this appears to be a resource issue as it is using around 50% of my CPU (e8500 dual core) whenever it runs now.

I don't always have the lag in Word - next time I do, I'll check the ressources used.

I guess these are the problems with being an early adopter

indeed - I think someone once told me to always wait for the SP1 to be released, safer that way. But I'm too curious!

 

[gunjin]

i would be interested to hear your Word CPU usage experiences, Twelc. Mine ranges from 46% to 50% and causes letters to appear up to a second after i type them. Now THIS is driving me insane... It is a clean install too!

 

[gunjin]

Oddly, i have accessed the same doc on my netbook and it runs absolutely fine with no lag.

Does anyone know would might cause this? Could a printer driver be at fault or an altered normal.dot (the only changes i have made to/affecting Word that i can think of)?

 

[Twelc]

Just had the lag problem in word - whilst typing, CPU usage seemed to be around 50%.

If I have the time tomorrow, I'm definitely putting Vista back - I can't take this anymore, it's too irritating!

 

[gunjin]

I dont believe it. A week or so after reinstalling W7 and getting Windows Explorer back to its smooth running and it is once again reverted to laggy responses. Gone is the instant folder opening and i am back to 1 sec waits for every folder to open. I have not changed or installed anything so why on earth would W7 performance get worse over the course of a week?
This is so frustrating and never happened with Vista, its supposedly more buggy predecessor. What a waste of money...

 

[logicearth]

Too lazy to retype but I replied in another thread...
http://www.sevenforums.com/384358-post12.html

 

[Twelc]

I was going to re-installed vista last weekend, but my vista DVD does not work anymore (I blame my laptop's DVD drive which is very temperamental) so I went for a re-installation of Win 7.

No problem at the moment with explorer (haven't used Word much yet), and I check every time after I install a new software or change any setting. Will see if the problem comes back..

What a waste of money...

yep - I miss the days where I got it free through MSDNAA!

 

[mrsdoyle]

What a waste of money?

GUNJIN you say " by nuking my Windows 7 installation from orbit " . By Orbit do you mean this is a pirated version? if it is its possibly something to do with the patching of that install so i think its a bit much to be moaning "What a waste of money" LOL.

Maybe you meant something else

 

[MacGyvr]

GUNJIN you say " by nuking my Windows 7 installation from orbit " . By Orbit do you mean this is a pirated version? if it is its possibly something to do with the patching of that install so i think its a bit much to be moaning "What a waste of money" LOL.

Maybe you meant something else

He means like a tactical nuclear strike...blowing away the hard drive and everything on it.

 

[mrsdoyle]

Need more info.

It would help to see a screenshot of the task Manager Processes Tab to see just what is running after startup.

 

[gunjin]

GUNJIN you say " by nuking my Windows 7 installation from orbit " . By Orbit do you mean this is a pirated version? if it is its possibly something to do with the patching of that install so i think its a bit much to be moaning "What a waste of money" LOL.

Maybe you meant something else

its a quote from the James Cameron film Aliens!