windows explorer takes a long time to get a pull down menu

I have a HP notebook pc. When I right click on a file in windows explorer, it takes a long time to get a pull down menu. Have called HP a few times and disabled most startup items. But I still have the problem. They suggested that I reinstall windowsxp, I don't feel like to do it. I have another pc connected to this one through a network bridge. It seems that if the other pc is on, I would get a faster pull down menu, but it is not always the case. Have disabled Automatic updates, Background Intelligent, Indexing, and Messenger services. It's not getting any better.

Can anyone please help?

Thanks,

Howie

 

This post from google was an interesting read:

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/WinXP/Q_20806132.html

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Aside from the virus-scan/veri-sign_certificate snafu ^mentioned above......

When you rightclick on the desktop are you missing the "New" entry?

When you do a right click on a file or folder, do you notice any actions offered by some software that you have uninstalled? This would be a flag that you have left over/behind/uncleaned registry drudge.

Added any of your own "do-it-yourself" tweaking to the shelled actions that can be performed on a rightclick? On the flip side, removed any of the options yourself via a registry edit?

Added any software that specializes in adding context menu actions? (examples: "send to x ", powertoys sendto extra, utility that adds "copy to ", "move to "?

Got a sound assigned to the opening and/or scrolling of the context menu? Remove it.

Got some "Display" effect applied that may need to be turned off, such as animated whatever, menu slides open etc...Turn them off also.


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Check out all your rightclick options/actions and see if they perform as expected. It may help to pin the problem down if one or more of these guys confess by a fuss.

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Now that I've written all of the above, it dawns on me that you mention both, "a right click" and "a pull down ". I'm not to sure what you mean by "pull down ". I hope this isn't a miscommunication and you are referring to the options that drop-down from the top toolbar when you click on the buttons named File, Edit, View etc...

 

Ann,

Thanks for your reply and the link, I have the exact problem of the orginal post by dmilla, except my delay is much longer, sometimes more than one minute. Tried just about everything they talked about.

1. Since I don't have Norton, so certificate should not be a problem, but I delete the old certificate and added the new one any way. I don't really know what I'm doing, now I have one Class 1, expires on 5/12/2008; one Class 2, 1/6/2004, one Class 3, 10/24/2004.

Don't know if I should delete the Class 2, and if I do, what to add. Also added the line, 0.0.0.0 crl.verisign.com, to the host file.

Anyway, this is not helping. And I have Mcafee, disable it not hleping either.

2. Disable DHCP greatly impoved the delay from 1+ minute to a few seconds, but I don't know what to put in the DNS entry, so my internet is not working. I use a internet sharing pc (also windowsxp, with phone line network) to access internet, there is a third XP pc(a Compaq) that is connected to the internet through this HP pc, which is the newest pc, and supposed to be the fastest. I connect HP pc to the Compaq with a D-link hob and a WindowsXp software bridge. Turn on the Compaq, the delay seems would go away after the first time. If I don't use windwows explorer for a while, then go back to use it again, first time right click on an associated file will have delay again.

Other PCs on the network do not have the same delay problem. I tried to remove the bridge and connect both HP and Copmaq to the internet sharing PC throgh phone line network, but some how I was not able to make a connection, and the delay desn't go away. So I did a system restore, back to the hob and bridge thing. Everthing is fast on the HP, except this right click on file.

3. When I right click on the desktop, I do not miss the "New" entry.

4. When I right click on a file or folder, I do not notice any actions offered by other software that I have uninstalled. I have foldershare software installed, but unstall it doesn't solve my problem. Just like dmilla discribled, there is no delay if I launch the application, then open the document. The problem only seems to happen on files associated with applications. It does not happen on Windows icons like "My Computer" or any folders.

5. I didn't have any software that specializes in adding context actions. Only power toy I have is MS tweak UI, and it can't run on right click.

6. No sound assigned to the open and/or scrolling of the context menu.

7. No Display effect is used.

8. All right clicks are normal except with I try to double click open an associated file, or right click to get context menu.


Thanks again for your time,

Howie

 

howie

- enable DHCP/autoconfiguration for the NIC
- start~run~cmd
- ipconfig /all > c:\ipconfig.txt (note the spaces before / and before/after > )

You will now have a text file c:\ipconfig.txt that contains all the proper IP settings including DNS addresses, default gateway, and all the other items you'll need to set up static addressing for the PC.

 

Newt,

Thanks for your post! Now my network is working with static IP.

The delay is improved, but not gone, especially after left windows explorer for a few seconds, then go back in, and try to right click on a file, I still get 30 seconds or so delay. After the first file, the delay willl then redudeced to 1 to a few seconds. Some times click on a new file type for the first time, I will get a pretty long delay too.

Howie