nnoying slowdown/freezing problem - any ideas?

[Whiggles]

Hey all,

I'm having an annoying problem with my system that, try as I might, I can't seem to solve. I have Windows XP Pro SP2, a Core 2 Duo E6600 CPU, 2GB of RAM and two SATA hard drives (can provide more details if necessary).

The problem relates to trying to open files. Basically, nine times out of ten, if I go into Windows Explorer or My Computer and double click on a file, Explorer then hangs for about 5-10 seconds. Nothing happens: the hard drive light doesn't flash, the CPU doesn't spike in the Task Manager. All that happens is that my cursor turns into an egg timer and then sits there for a while before eventually opening the file in question.

The issue is with the files themselves rather than the programs. If, for example, I open MS Word or Notepad, the program starts instantly. However, if I go to Windows Explorer and double-click on a Word .doc or a Notepad .txt file, it hangs. Same story if I try to right-click a file - 5-10 second lag, then the context menu finally appears.

Even more interestingly, if I open the file in question from INSIDE the program (e.g. File > Open in MS Word), it doesn't hang. So it looks to me like the program is Explorer itself.

I've tried everything I can think of: ran my virus scanner, disabled my virus scanner, defragged my hard drives, deleted and re-created my page file... nothing. I haven't installed any new software within the last 24 hours, which is when these problems started.

Any ideas?

[opus512]

I'm thinking something to do with your hard drives, but that's a total guess. Does it do it with all types of files or only certain types? If it's all, then it's probably an access problem, again your HDD's. Maybe update your SATA drivers or check related mobo/support forums and see if anyone else is having a similar problem.

Other thoughts, did it do it all the time or did it just start recently? Did it work fine for a while then suddenly start having problems?

[Lollan]

Sounds like antivirus scanning for macro viruses to me, can you make sure it's not running in process manager?

[Whiggles]

Opus:

It affects all files as far as I can tell. Generally, if I open or right-click one file, then all files of that type are good for a while.

Lollan:

Don't see anything untoward in the process manager, and I even tried completely uninstalling my virus scanner (AVG).

[BqS]

might be a mix up in registry, cuz as you said, when you open the file from within a program it doesnt hang... wild guess but x-check your registry, clean it, double check all file associations and also run an extensive chkdsk, could also be some bad checksums on the partition table ect.

[Whiggles]

I just noticed that, whenever the system hangs, I get a small amount of activity on my network, with about 10-15 packets being sent, which immediately stops once it stops hanging.

After a bit of browsing in the registry, and using the "netstat -a" command in the Command Prompt, I realised what the problem was: for some reason, a program that had been installed on the system ages ago was attempting to access another system - my laptop, which has with a wireless connection. Pulling all references to the program (which has long since been uninstalled) out of the registry seems to have fixed the problem completely... touch wood.

[opus512]

Cool!

[Mole]

Could even be an overheating problem, open up your PC's case and check for excessive dust build-up.

[Whiggles]

Could even be an overheating problem, open up your PC's case and check for excessive dust build-up.
Looks like it was definitely the network problem. 48 hours now and the problem has yet to resurface. Thanks for all the advice, guys. :)

[Mole]

Well, that's good that you fixed your problem.

My system kept freezing and crashing, and one day I looked at CoreTemp and saw that the CPU was overheating past its norm, so I opened up my case and found that I had neglected to airdust it out for a while, and did it. Temps went from (Celsius, idle/load) 55/65 to 48/51.