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XP desktop icons load a minute later

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by oldtimer, 2008/04/10.

  1. 2008/04/10
    oldtimer

    oldtimer Inactive Thread Starter

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    At startup the wallpaper comes up normally, but the icons take 30 seconds to a minute longer. Followed by the 3Com network hookup confirmation. This started recently - has always been quick to load in the past. This in my wife's PC with XP Pro and all the service packs. Was mine, keep it up to date and it's still a fast capable machine.

    Any ideas?
     
    oldtimer,
    #1
  2. 2008/04/10
    Patonb

    Patonb Inactive

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    Have you scanned for spyware lately? Or recently installed new software?
     
    Patonb,
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  4. 2008/04/11
    oldtimer

    oldtimer Inactive Thread Starter

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    Ran Norton 360 full scan yesterday with no results - do it weekly.
    I read something about icon cache being too small and causing a delay. Heard anything about that?
     
    oldtimer,
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  5. 2008/04/11
    Patonb

    Patonb Inactive

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    How long have you had Norton?

    Most Nortons are resource heavy, And can really slow you down.

    I've never heard of the icon cache.. Sorry, no help there.
     
    Patonb,
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  6. 2008/04/11
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    You are right there, although the icons generally appear as default icons rather than the 'right' ones pretty well instantaneously and then slowly change to the correct ones.

    Download and run this reg file .....

    http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/IconCache.reg

    This reg file adds several icon cache size options to Tools > Folder Options > View - scroll down to the end of the view list. Try the 4096 setting first, then go higher if necessary. I have mine set at 8192.
     
    PeteC,
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  7. 2008/04/12
    oldtimer

    oldtimer Inactive Thread Starter

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    Norton created 360 as an alternative to their resource heavy programs which I have always used. 360 is light, fast and impressive. It's rated highly. I'm running it in XP and Vista with good performance.

    Regarding the Icon Cache download - thanks PeteC! Will do that later today, duty calls! Will get back to you with the result.
     
    oldtimer,
    #6
  8. 2008/04/12
    oldtimer

    oldtimer Inactive Thread Starter

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    Petec - have installed the Icon Cache file to the registry, but don't know where to make the change. You said it adds several icon cache size options to TOOLS, FOLDER OPTIONS, & VIEW- but don't know where that is.

    Is it....... HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer. In the right window are two items;
    (name) default (type) REG_SZ (data) value not set.
    (name) IconUnderLine (type) REG_NONE (data) 03 00 00 00
     
    oldtimer,
    #7
  9. 2008/04/12
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    In Windows Explorer ....

    Tools > Folder Options > View
     
    PeteC,
    #8
  10. 2008/04/12
    oldtimer

    oldtimer Inactive Thread Starter

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    Gotcha! Teaching old guys new tricks ain't always easy the first time! Thanks!
    Went to 4000 and now 8000 with full reboots, - the problem persists.
    Here's the drill again
    I fire up the PC and it posts, boots to Windows normally. Password entry and the desktop wallpaper only (with no icons or taskbars) comes up quickly. 30 to 45 seconds later the icons and taskbars arrive, followed by 3COM's verbal and visual announcment that the NIC has connected.

    Never did that until recently, no program changes recently - just the usual Windoes updates. Icons used to show up the same time as the wallpaper.
     
    oldtimer,
    #9
  11. 2008/04/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Very difficult to be specific as to the source of this delay - several hits around on Google, but no definitive answers.

    Several suggestions .....

    Go to display Properties and set the colour depth from 32 bit to 16 bit - or vice versa depending on your current settings and OK out. Then go back into Display Properties and revert back. This action rebuilds the Iconcache.

    Another - time consuming .....

    Start > Run > msconfig > OK

    In msconfig go to the Startup tab and disable all Startup items - reboot. If the icons then appear 'immediately' there is an item in Startup which is causing the delay. Check each one in turn with a reboot each time until the delay reappears - the last checked item is the culprit.

    If turning off all the startup items has no effect re-enable the lot and reboot.
     
    PeteC,
    #10
  12. 2008/04/13
    oldtimer

    oldtimer Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks Pete, tried changing the Display Color Depth back to 16bit (reboot) and back again (reboot). Could see the icons being rebuilt when they came up - but no change.

    Went to the Starup Menu in MSCONFIG, disabled everything, rebooted - no change. Rebooted again for good measure - no change. Reset the menu to normal settings.

    Appreciate your effort!
     
    oldtimer,
    #11

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