Windows Explorer Stops Responding

After copying or deleting a large number of files, my Windows 98 Explorer stops responding. After about 1 or 2 minutes of being frozen, it comes back. But it freezes again with the next operation I try in Explorer, such as copying, moving, deleting even a single file or opening a new folder.

If I reboot all is fine until after I copy or delete a large number of files again.

Any suggestions?

P.S. - I have a P3 750MHz w tons of memory and hard disk space.

 

How much ram? More than 512 mg?
http://www.aumha.org/win4/a/memmgmt.htm

Is your win98 updated? Are you allowing windows to manage the swap file or have you customized this in some way? Have you emptied your *\windows\temp lately? Emptied the trash bin particularly if it's a "Protected Bin" such as a viral program like Norton can do? Used Scandisk/Defrag lately? Any history of errors or problems other than a bog or slowdown? What you running in the background or have allowed to loadup at startup and do you watch the amount of your free resources?

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Hi ErnieC,
The above suggestions are general and as I recall win98 has or had a history of doing exactly what you describe while working with a "large number of files at one time ". This is quite a memory intensive job for any system to do under the best of circumstances and setups. Finding work arounds or alternative ways of doing what you are doing may be the only relief you'll find that will work. Some suggestions could be
1]doing this in safemode.
2]Using the shift key while deleting (this by passes the recycle bin and files are permanently gone, use caution and be sure you want them gone for good).
3]Bust the job up; work with a smaller number files.
4]Temporarily disable virus scanner if you have it monitoring every file on access and you are sure that these files are clean or have been previously scanned.

I can't remember, off the top of my head, if there was ever a more definite update or combination of updates that fixed this problem or if tweaking, updating, becoming familiar with your "brand of computer" and "version of windows" limits, expectations and bugs are combined with doing a good general house cleaning helped to take the bog out of this particular job. You may wish to search the help-nets archives of past posts and check out a few things about "system bog or slowdown" and find the helpful suggestions that worked for other board members.

The more I think about this and those past posts the more I realize how vast this topic is, assuming this is even a problem versus a normal "to be expected" nuisance. Let me think on this and dig around for you (as time permits). I will add or append to my post any specific "copy/paste/delete large number of files" information as I run across it. I'm sure other board members will come along and offer their help also. In the mean time answering the previous questions asked will help to get the ball rolling.....

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Google may know. There looks like a lot of good links on this particular subject:
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=w...number of files"&num=50&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=wg

Clicking through some of the above should give you some idea of why I said "This problem is so vast ". The solutions will vary as many are user software/hardware/ specific.

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Please remember to update your post with any progress you may make, either good or bad. If you find something that you would like to try but are unsure of or do not understand the "why's or How-to's" just ask. I or another will be more then happy to explain or walk you through anything you find.