Strange problem with Windows Explorer freezing

chrisg27 · 05-09-2008, 09:06 PM

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some help regarding a Windows Explorer problem that I'm having.

My windows explorer keeps freezing with regular occurrence. Every few minutes or so it will hang and the window (no matter what application) will say 'Not Responding' for about 5 seconds and then come back to life.

During the time that the window has frozen the small disk (indicating the computer is working) will spin and I am unable to use the computer.

I've had this problem now for about 3 months and I can't put up with it anymore. So far the problem hasn't actually crashed my computer (in fact I don't think the computer has ever crashed). The computer always manages to recover from the 'hanging' of the window and I am able to continue what I am doing.

As far as I am aware, one day this problem just started back in February or March and didn't coincide with any update or software install.

So far I have tried the common 'fixes' such as disabling the SSDP Recovery service and it hasn't worked. I've also looked into the cftmon.exe, but when I look in the Task Manager - cftmon.exe doesn't even feature on the list, nevermind featuring and using a lot of system resources.

I've also looked into the Event Viewer in the System Log and I cannot see anything that is causing this problem. All of the events are normal with no error messages.

Any help or suggestions would be welcome.

Before anyone thinks about responding to this posting please do not suggest that I buy an Apple computer, downgrade to XP, or install linux, or reformat the computer. I'm happy to be running Vista SP1 and have not had a days bother with Vista. I have better things to spend my money on than over-priced Apple computers with half the functionality. I don't mean to go on an Apple-hating rant, but I've posted on other forums and I often get useless suggestions to buy a new computer etc. These do nothing to help me and don't improve the stock of problem-solving knowledge for other users!

HP Pavilion DV6000T
Windows Vista SP1
2GB RAM
1.66GHZ Turion 64X2 Processor

**warlordfmike** · 05-09-2008, 09:40 PM

Welcome to TSF TechSupportForum.com ( Vista Support )

try this
start\Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization\folder options\
( check this ) launch folder windows in a separate process

regards

warlordfmike

p.s... pray for my mom

chrisg27 · 05-09-2008, 10:16 PM

Thanks, I just applied the change and I'll report back shortly to see if it worked.

chrisg27 · 05-09-2008, 11:21 PM

Well well well look at that! It worked!

Windows Explorer is no longer freezing! I just worked normally over the last hour and the performance is perfect. I'm even seeing a performance increase in other areas, such as Outlook, and service lists and folder icons are populating faster than they have been for the last few months.

Can anyone explain to me why this particular setting change has fixed the problem? What actually happened when I made each folder launch in it's own process?

Thanks Warlord, your no-nonsense suggestion has fixed my problem!

Keep up the good work!

**warlordfmike** · 05-09-2008, 11:35 PM

good to hear

thanks alot

regards

warlordfmike

mark as solved thread tools

p.s... pray for my mom

**warlordfmike** · 05-09-2008, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warlordfmike

good to hear

thanks alot

regards

warlordfmike

mark as solved thread tools

p.s... pray for my mom

im not real sure why this setting speeds up windows and other
parts of a computer but it just does but at least it works

regards

warlordfmike

p.s... pray for my mom

05-09-2008, 09:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
chrisg27 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Windows Vista SP1	Strange problem with Windows Explorer freezing Hi everyone, I'm looking for some help regarding a Windows Explorer problem that I'm having. My windows explorer keeps freezing with regular occurrence. Every few minutes or so it will hang and the window (no matter what application) will say 'Not Responding' for about 5 seconds and then come back to life. During the time that the window has frozen the small disk (indicating the computer is working) will spin and I am unable to use the computer. I've had this problem now for about 3 months and I can't put up with it anymore. So far the problem hasn't actually crashed my computer (in fact I don't think the computer has ever crashed). The computer always manages to recover from the 'hanging' of the window and I am able to continue what I am doing. As far as I am aware, one day this problem just started back in February or March and didn't coincide with any update or software install. So far I have tried the common 'fixes' such as disabling the SSDP Recovery service and it hasn't worked. I've also looked into the cftmon.exe, but when I look in the Task Manager - cftmon.exe doesn't even feature on the list, nevermind featuring and using a lot of system resources. I've also looked into the Event Viewer in the System Log and I cannot see anything that is causing this problem. All of the events are normal with no error messages. Any help or suggestions would be welcome. Before anyone thinks about responding to this posting please do not suggest that I buy an Apple computer, downgrade to XP, or install linux, or reformat the computer. I'm happy to be running Vista SP1 and have not had a days bother with Vista. I have better things to spend my money on than over-priced Apple computers with half the functionality. I don't mean to go on an Apple-hating rant, but I've posted on other forums and I often get useless suggestions to buy a new computer etc. These do nothing to help me and don't improve the stock of problem-solving knowledge for other users! HP Pavilion DV6000T Windows Vista SP1 2GB RAM 1.66GHZ Turion 64X2 Processor

05-09-2008, 09:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
warlordfmike TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: huntington tx east texas Posts: 634 OS: microsoft® Vista home Basic™ Sp1 My System	Re: Strange problem with Windows Explorer freezing Welcome to TSF TechSupportForum.com ( Vista Support ) try this start\Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization\folder options\ ( check this ) launch folder windows in a separate process regards warlordfmike p.s... pray for my mom __________________ "im a dude that lives in the middle of nowhere. i live on a road that the address has fm in it. the fm means FROM somewhere to the MIDDLE of nowhere lolololol" Warlordfmike of TSF SensorsView . WinRaR . Belarc . Windows Performance Tool . Belarc Advisor . DriverMax . Advanced Task Manager . Driver Detective

05-09-2008, 10:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
chrisg27 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Windows Vista SP1	Re: Strange problem with Windows Explorer freezing Thanks, I just applied the change and I'll report back shortly to see if it worked.

05-09-2008, 11:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
chrisg27 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Windows Vista SP1	Re: Strange problem with Windows Explorer freezing Well well well look at that! It worked! Windows Explorer is no longer freezing! I just worked normally over the last hour and the performance is perfect. I'm even seeing a performance increase in other areas, such as Outlook, and service lists and folder icons are populating faster than they have been for the last few months. Can anyone explain to me why this particular setting change has fixed the problem? What actually happened when I made each folder launch in it's own process? Thanks Warlord, your no-nonsense suggestion has fixed my problem! Keep up the good work!

05-09-2008, 11:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
warlordfmike TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: huntington tx east texas Posts: 634 OS: microsoft® Vista home Basic™ Sp1 My System	Re: Strange problem with Windows Explorer freezing good to hear thanks alot regards warlordfmike mark as solved thread tools p.s... pray for my mom __________________ "im a dude that lives in the middle of nowhere. i live on a road that the address has fm in it. the fm means FROM somewhere to the MIDDLE of nowhere lolololol" Warlordfmike of TSF SensorsView . WinRaR . Belarc . Windows Performance Tool . Belarc Advisor . DriverMax . Advanced Task Manager . Driver Detective Last edited by warlordfmike : 05-09-2008 at 11:36 PM.