Slow file/folder delete

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Guest

On first use of file or folder delete from Explorer, it takes 20 to 25
seconds. The next deletes are lightening fast. If I enter an application and
then attempt a file delete, it's back to the slow 20 to 25 Seconds.

New Dell Dimension 9100 but had the problem on my old system too. I started
somewhere during the installation of my old applications on the new system,
but at a point that I couldn't trace the offending app. I managae my startups
pretty aggressively (Process Explorer, WinPatrol Plus, and The Ultimate
Troubleshooter) and about a year ago I did remove all but Microsoft-necessary
services and startups but that didn't correct the problem.

Anyone have any ideas on where to start?
Dual-core Intel, 1G mem, WinXP.
 
On first use of file or folder delete from Explorer, it takes 20 to 25
seconds. The next deletes are lightening fast. If I enter an application and
then attempt a file delete, it's back to the slow 20 to 25 Seconds.

New Dell Dimension 9100 but had the problem on my old system too. I started
somewhere during the installation of my old applications on the new system,
but at a point that I couldn't trace the offending app. I managae my startups
pretty aggressively (Process Explorer, WinPatrol Plus, and The Ultimate
Troubleshooter) and about a year ago I did remove all but Microsoft-necessary
services and startups but that didn't correct the problem.

Anyone have any ideas on where to start?
Dual-core Intel, 1G mem, WinXP.
Click to expand...

Is System Restore enabled? You mention deleting programs. SR will monitor
the deletion of EXE files from certain locations. The wait you're
experiencing may be System Restore making a copy of the file before Windows
deletes it.
 
Yes System Restore is enabled and you make a valid point I think. But why
would it be slow on just the first delete? If I am using one program and then
do a file delete with Explorer or xplorer2, whether single or multiple file
or folders, it takes the 20-25 secs. After that, all subsequent deletes go in
a flash. I go to another application and then go back to the delete and it
starts all over again with the slow action.
Thanks for the response.
 
Yes System Restore is enabled and you make a valid point I think. But why
would it be slow on just the first delete? If I am using one program and then
do a file delete with Explorer or xplorer2, whether single or multiple file
or folders, it takes the 20-25 secs. After that, all subsequent deletes go in
a flash. I go to another application and then go back to the delete and it
starts all over again with the slow action.
Thanks for the response.
Click to expand...

No idea why. Non-technical explanation: Explorer goes a little brain-dead
at times -all versions of Windows. To be fair, there may more going on
behind the scenes at the time than one realizes: auto-defrag (occurs about
every 3 days), shadow volume service (creates a virtual area to "stash"
files before copying them), background antivirus scans, various update
checks....
 
Thanks again for the reply. I manage my services and startups pretty
rigorously, but I do have quite a few running (AV, several anti-spyware, an
object docker, etc). Still, my problem is too predictable to be attributed to
any scans or defrags that have to run periodically, but not continuously. Of
those apps that run continuously in the background, the problem pre-dates
most of them or I have disabled them in trying to find my slow delete problem.

I had a brilliant idea last night that my Recycle bin might be too full. I
didn't really check to see if it was full but I did a repeated comparison of
a flie delete to the Recycle Bin and deletes which bypass the Recycle bin. My
problem was there when the Recycle Bin was used, but consistently absent when
I bypass the Bin. I'll run the test again while I'm doing other work, but I
really think the Recycle Bin has something to do with the problem.
Bob
 
Thanks again for the reply. I manage my services and startups pretty
rigorously, but I do have quite a few running (AV, several anti-spyware, an
object docker, etc). Still, my problem is too predictable to be attributed to
any scans or defrags that have to run periodically, but not continuously. Of
those apps that run continuously in the background, the problem pre-dates
most of them or I have disabled them in trying to find my slow delete problem.

I had a brilliant idea last night that my Recycle bin might be too full. I
didn't really check to see if it was full but I did a repeated comparison of
a flie delete to the Recycle Bin and deletes which bypass the Recycle bin. My
problem was there when the Recycle Bin was used, but consistently absent when
I bypass the Bin. I'll run the test again while I'm doing other work, but I
really think the Recycle Bin has something to do with the problem.
Click to expand...

Could be the Recycle Bin. Note: If you've ever used System Restore to
revert back to a previous restore point, you may find that some files of
the type that are monitored have returned.
 
I have the exact same problem as the original poster, and I've read
several other USENET articles citing similar problems -- though no
definitive solutions. If anyone finds out anything, please post. I
do have system restore on, and a fairly large recycle bin. I'm going
to do some troubleshooting with these elements.

-Chess
 
I know that when you're using McAfee Vscan and On-access scan is enabled, it
takes very long to delete files to the recycle bin. I now wait for an answer
from Network Associates and I hope that they can help me. If they got an
answer I'll post it here.


"tincan" schreef:
 
McAfee is definitely a possibility. I do know that Norton AV and iHateSpam do
not like each other when they collide in MS Outlook. As a result, I stopped
using Outlook a long time ago - never liked it anyway.

I did experiment on the slow file delete and Recycle Bin. I ran a test on
one of my older machines (2.4MHz HP) and noted that the slow delete was still
happening on that machine. In moving it to my wife's use, I merely removed
some apps that she would not use, but kept some of my apps and data on its
second hard drive as backup to my new machine. First, I emptied out the
Recycle Bin on my new machine. Problem solved - no more slow deletes. Second,
I did the same thing to the old machine and the slow file delete problem was
corrected there too.

So the Recycle Bin must be involved but maybe only indirectly. Note that my
old machine has Norton Av and the new one has McAfee Security Suite (with
their brain damaged SpamKiller disabled). My Recycle Bins on both machine are
set at the default size (10% of total drive?). However, if an AV/Spyware app
is at fault, why doesn't the problem appear when the Recycle Bin is empty?

If I run into the problem again, I think I will try reducing the size of the
Bin. Still, wouldn't it be nice to know what is causing the problem?
Bob
 
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