Windows Explorer slow performance

So-called registry cleaners are unproven and can actually make your
problems worse. You would be well advised to get rid of your registry
cleaner.

You post is short on details. What were you doing on the computer before
the problem started? Any changes to hardware or software? Which folder
is "a folder"? Any error messages? Details from Event Viewer? What
process occupies most of the CPU's resources while you are waiting for
"a file" to open?
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Oz wrote:
> Hi
>
> I have been having a problem with windows Explorer every time I try to
> access a folder it takes absolutely ages for it to open also it takes an age
> to access a menu when I right mouse on anything. I have run unible registry
> cleaner and it fixes all errors found barring one which is this.
> File Extensions .mht
>
> Missing or Invalid Path
>
> The Key OpenWithList Under
> HKEY_CURENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.wcl contains a bad path for the value
>
> My computer is an HP pavilion laptop running windows xp
>
> Please can anyone advise me on how to correct this problem?
>
> Thankyou
>
> Mark
>

Ken Blake,
What do you suggest for fixing the MS Windows XP Explorer slow issue?
For example, I click on My computer and after a few seconds of blank window,
the flashligh icon displays for a couple minutes before displaying my C:
drive.

Also, when I want to Attach a file to an email and select Browse, there is
at least a minute or two delay until the directory structure displays.

Or when I want to save a file Save As...
It takes a minute or two to display the directory structure.

Cheers,
Paul in Los Angeles

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

> On Tue, 12 May 2009 12:59:01 -0700, Oz <Oz.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi
> >
> > I have been having a problem with windows Explorer every time I try to
> > access a folder it takes absolutely ages for it to open also it takes an age
> > to access a menu when I right mouse on anything. I have run unible registry
> > cleaner and it fixes all errors found barring one which is this.
>
>
> If you've run a registry cleaner and it hasn't *created* any problems
> for you, consider yourself lucky.
>
> Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the
> registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and
> don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and
> what vendors of registry cleaning software try to convince you of,
> having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt you.
>
> The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
> removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
> it may have.
>
> Read http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html
>
> Cleaning the registry is not a solution to your performance problem.
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>

On Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:24:01 -0700, PaulsPay
<PaulsPay.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> Ken Blake,
> What do you suggest for fixing the MS Windows XP Explorer slow issue?


I have no solution based on the information you've provided, but the
first step in almost all kinds of poor performance troubleshooting
these days should be to make sure you are completely free of any kind
of malware--viruses, spyware, trojans, etc.

What anti-virus and anti-spyware programs do you run, and are they
kept up to date?




> For example, I click on My computer and after a few seconds of blank window,
> the flashligh icon displays for a couple minutes before displaying my C:
> drive.
>
> Also, when I want to Attach a file to an email and select Browse, there is
> at least a minute or two delay until the directory structure displays.
>
> Or when I want to save a file Save As...
> It takes a minute or two to display the directory structure.
>
> Cheers,
> Paul in Los Angeles
>
> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>
> > On Tue, 12 May 2009 12:59:01 -0700, Oz <Oz.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Hi
> > >
> > > I have been having a problem with windows Explorer every time I try to
> > > access a folder it takes absolutely ages for it to open also it takes an age
> > > to access a menu when I right mouse on anything. I have run unible registry
> > > cleaner and it fixes all errors found barring one which is this.
> >
> >
> > If you've run a registry cleaner and it hasn't *created* any problems
> > for you, consider yourself lucky.
> >
> > Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the
> > registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and
> > don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and
> > what vendors of registry cleaning software try to convince you of,
> > having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt you.
> >
> > The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
> > removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
> > it may have.
> >
> > Read http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html
> >
> > Cleaning the registry is not a solution to your performance problem.
> >
> > --
> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
> >

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

I use the latest versions of
Sophos AV and Webroot Spysweeper

I also use CCleaner.

Do you suggest any other way, short of reformatting the hard drive?


"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

> On Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:24:01 -0700, PaulsPay
> <PaulsPay RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> > Ken Blake,
> > What do you suggest for fixing the MS Windows XP Explorer slow issue?
>
>
> I have no solution based on the information you've provided, but the
> first step in almost all kinds of poor performance troubleshooting
> these days should be to make sure you are completely free of any kind
> of malware--viruses, spyware, trojans, etc.
>
> What anti-virus and anti-spyware programs do you run, and are they
> kept up to date?
>
>
>
>
> > For example, I click on My computer and after a few seconds of blank window,
> > the flashligh icon displays for a couple minutes before displaying my C:
> > drive.
> >
> > Also, when I want to Attach a file to an email and select Browse, there is
> > at least a minute or two delay until the directory structure displays.
> >
> > Or when I want to save a file Save As...
> > It takes a minute or two to display the directory structure.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Paul in Los Angeles
> >
> > "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
> >
> > > On Tue, 12 May 2009 12:59:01 -0700, Oz <Oz RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi
> > > >
> > > > I have been having a problem with windows Explorer every time I try to
> > > > access a folder it takes absolutely ages for it to open also it takes an age
> > > > to access a menu when I right mouse on anything. I have run unible registry
> > > > cleaner and it fixes all errors found barring one which is this.
> > >
> > >
> > > If you've run a registry cleaner and it hasn't *created* any problems
> > > for you, consider yourself lucky.
> > >
> > > Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the
> > > registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and
> > > don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and
> > > what vendors of registry cleaning software try to convince you of,
> > > having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt you.
> > >
> > > The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
> > > removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
> > > it may have.
> > >
> > > Read http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html
> > >
> > > Cleaning the registry is not a solution to your performance problem.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> > > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
> > >
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>

Ken,
Do think I should try other products instead of Sophos AV and Webroot
Spysweeper? If so, which ones?

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

> On Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:24:01 -0700, PaulsPay
> <PaulsPay.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> > Ken Blake,
> > What do you suggest for fixing the MS Windows XP Explorer slow issue?
>
>
> I have no solution based on the information you've provided, but the
> first step in almost all kinds of poor performance troubleshooting
> these days should be to make sure you are completely free of any kind
> of malware--viruses, spyware, trojans, etc.
>
> What anti-virus and anti-spyware programs do you run, and are they
> kept up to date?
>
>
>
>
> > For example, I click on My computer and after a few seconds of blank window,
> > the flashligh icon displays for a couple minutes before displaying my C:
> > drive.
> >
> > Also, when I want to Attach a file to an email and select Browse, there is
> > at least a minute or two delay until the directory structure displays.
> >
> > Or when I want to save a file Save As...
> > It takes a minute or two to display the directory structure.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Paul in Los Angeles
> >
> > "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
> >
> > > On Tue, 12 May 2009 12:59:01 -0700, Oz <Oz.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi
> > > >
> > > > I have been having a problem with windows Explorer every time I try to
> > > > access a folder it takes absolutely ages for it to open also it takes an age
> > > > to access a menu when I right mouse on anything. I have run unible registry
> > > > cleaner and it fixes all errors found barring one which is this.
> > >
> > >
> > > If you've run a registry cleaner and it hasn't *created* any problems
> > > for you, consider yourself lucky.
> > >
> > > Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the
> > > registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and
> > > don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and
> > > what vendors of registry cleaning software try to convince you of,
> > > having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt you.
> > >
> > > The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
> > > removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
> > > it may have.
> > >
> > > Read http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html
> > >
> > > Cleaning the registry is not a solution to your performance problem.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> > > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
> > >
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>

On Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:25:01 -0700, PaulsPay
<PaulsPay RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I use the latest versions of
> Sophos AV and Webroot Spysweeper


Neither of these, in my view, are among the best.


> I also use CCleaner.


CCleaner is fine, as long as you don't use its registry cleaning
feature. If you've used it, I don't know that it caused your problem,
but it's a possibility. Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake
oil. Cleaning of the registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the
registry alone and don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many
people think, and what vendors of registry cleaning software try to
convince you of, having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt
you.

The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
it may have.

Read http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html




> Do you suggest any other way, short of reformatting the hard drive?


Download and run the free Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.

For an anti-virus program, I recommend NOD32, if you are willing to
pay its low price, or Avast, if you want a free one.




> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>
> > On Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:24:01 -0700, PaulsPay
> > <PaulsPay RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Ken Blake,
> > > What do you suggest for fixing the MS Windows XP Explorer slow issue?
> >
> >
> > I have no solution based on the information you've provided, but the
> > first step in almost all kinds of poor performance troubleshooting
> > these days should be to make sure you are completely free of any kind
> > of malware--viruses, spyware, trojans, etc.
> >
> > What anti-virus and anti-spyware programs do you run, and are they
> > kept up to date?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > For example, I click on My computer and after a few seconds of blank window,
> > > the flashligh icon displays for a couple minutes before displaying my C:
> > > drive.
> > >
> > > Also, when I want to Attach a file to an email and select Browse, there is
> > > at least a minute or two delay until the directory structure displays.
> > >
> > > Or when I want to save a file Save As...
> > > It takes a minute or two to display the directory structure.
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > > Paul in Los Angeles
> > >
> > > "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
> > >
> > > > On Tue, 12 May 2009 12:59:01 -0700, Oz <Oz RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com>
> > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Hi
> > > > >
> > > > > I have been having a problem with windows Explorer every time I try to
> > > > > access a folder it takes absolutely ages for it to open also it takes an age
> > > > > to access a menu when I right mouse on anything. I have run unible registry
> > > > > cleaner and it fixes all errors found barring one which is this.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > If you've run a registry cleaner and it hasn't *created* any problems
> > > > for you, consider yourself lucky.
> > > >
> > > > Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the
> > > > registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and
> > > > don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and
> > > > what vendors of registry cleaning software try to convince you of,
> > > > having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt you.
> > > >
> > > > The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
> > > > removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
> > > > it may have.
> > > >
> > > > Read http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html
> > > >
> > > > Cleaning the registry is not a solution to your performance problem.
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> > > > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
> > > >
> >
> > --
> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
> >

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> On Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:25:01 -0700, PaulsPay
> <PaulsPay DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
>> I use the latest versions of
>> Sophos AV and Webroot Spysweeper
>
>
> Neither of these, in my view, are among the best.
>
>
>> I also use CCleaner.
>
>
> CCleaner is fine, as long as you don't use its registry cleaning
> feature. If you've used it, I don't know that it caused your problem,
> but it's a possibility. Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake
> oil. Cleaning of the registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the
> registry alone and don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many
> people think, and what vendors of registry cleaning software try to
> convince you of, having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt
> you.
>
> The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
> removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
> it may have.
>
> Read http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html

Despite what this closed minded moron thinks and a reference to a biased
archive written by the same biased misinformationists, it is unlikely
in the extreme that ccleaner did anything to your computer. IF it
removes a needed entry, which seldom if ever happens, the program can
also put it right back, thereby returning the system to its previous
state. All you need is RTFM and pay attention to what the screen says.
Let it back up the changes just in case you do err in something that's
not obvious to you. It's unlikely that will happen though.
I have to wonder what he thinks the vendor of ANY product says about
their product should be? Plus he assumes unused registry entries are
all that cleaners do, which is patently myopic. The small group of
people here who keep maligning and lieblling every registry cleaner ever
made are nothing but pompous egoes. Ccleaner is a decent product and to
its credit as a freebie doesn't do any deep scanning of registries, and
is highly respected by many, many users with logical and open minds.
Ask them to back up their claims; they can't.
Common sense will prevail; it's like the saw about backing up; do it
right and you'll never lose anything again.

Twayne


>
>
>
>
>> Do you suggest any other way, short of reformatting the hard drive?
>
>
> Download and run the free Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.
>
> For an anti-virus program, I recommend NOD32, if you are willing to
> pay its low price, or Avast, if you want a free one.
>
>
>
>
>> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>>
>>> On Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:24:01 -0700, PaulsPay
>>> <PaulsPay DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Ken Blake,
>>>> What do you suggest for fixing the MS Windows XP Explorer slow
>>>> issue?
>>>
>>>
>>> I have no solution based on the information you've provided, but the
>>> first step in almost all kinds of poor performance troubleshooting
>>> these days should be to make sure you are completely free of any
>>> kind of malware--viruses, spyware, trojans, etc.
>>>
>>> What anti-virus and anti-spyware programs do you run, and are they
>>> kept up to date?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> For example, I click on My computer and after a few seconds of
>>>> blank window, the flashligh icon displays for a couple minutes
>>>> before displaying my C: drive.
>>>>
>>>> Also, when I want to Attach a file to an email and select Browse,
>>>> there is at least a minute or two delay until the directory
>>>> structure displays.
>>>>
>>>> Or when I want to save a file Save As...
>>>> It takes a minute or two to display the directory structure.
>>>>
>>>> Cheers,
>>>> Paul in Los Angeles
>>>>
>>>> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, 12 May 2009 12:59:01 -0700, Oz
>>>>> <Oz DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have been having a problem with windows Explorer every time I
>>>>>> try to access a folder it takes absolutely ages for it to open
>>>>>> also it takes an age to access a menu when I right mouse on
>>>>>> anything. I have run unible registry cleaner and it fixes all
>>>>>> errors found barring one which is this.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> If you've run a registry cleaner and it hasn't *created* any
>>>>> problems for you, consider yourself lucky.
>>>>>
>>>>> Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the
>>>>> registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone
>>>>> and don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people
>>>>> think, and what vendors of registry cleaning software try to
>>>>> convince you of, having unused registry entries doesn't really
>>>>> hurt you.
>>>>>
>>>>> The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner
>>>>> erroneously removing an entry you need is far greater than any
>>>>> potential benefit it may have.
>>>>>
>>>>> Read http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html
>>>>>
>>>>> Cleaning the registry is not a solution to your performance
>>>>> problem.
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
>>>>> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
>>> Please Reply to the Newsgroup