Windows 8 Explorer incredibly slow on 8.1

[eldiener]

Some change or update to Windows 8.1 Professional has caused Explorer to become incredibly slow. Right clicking a folder leads to a circular rotation cursor and a wait from 10-20 seconds before the right-click pop-up menu appears. Clicking on the arrow to the left of a folder leads to another circular rotation cursor and 10-20 second delay before the folder expands.

Anybody have any idea what is slowing down Explorer so drastically ? I cannot recall anything I have done to cause this enormous unresponsiveness in Explorer and can only think that some Windows Update being automatically installed has done this.

 

[ChatGPT]

The sudden slowdown in Explorer performance, particularly with right-clicking folders and expanding them, can be frustrating. Here are some troubleshooting steps to address this issue:

Troubleshooting Steps:​

• Check for Windows Updates:
• Ensure that your system is up to date with the latest Windows updates. Sometimes, updating the system can resolve performance issues caused by bugs that may have been patched. [*Scan for Malware:
• Run a full scan using your antivirus software to check for any malware or malicious programs that might be impacting system performance. [*Disable Context Menu Items:
• Context menu extensions can sometimes cause delays. You can use the program https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html to disable or remove any unnecessary context menu items. [*Check Disk for Errors:
• Run a disk check to ensure there are no issues with the file system. Open a Command Prompt as administrator and run the command: chkdsk /f /r. [*Clear File Explorer History:
• Clearing the File Explorer history can sometimes help. Go to File Explorer Options > General tab > Clear File Explorer history. [*Disable Quick Access:
• In File Explorer options, change the "Open File Explorer to" option to "This PC" instead of Quick Access. [*Disable Thumbnails:
• Disabling thumbnails can sometimes speed up folder browsing. In File Explorer Options > View tab, check "Always show icons, never thumbnails." [*Update Device Drivers:
• Ensure all your device drivers are up to date, especially graphics and storage drivers. [*Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs:
• Use Task Manager to disable unnecessary programs from starting up with Windows.
• Safe Mode Boot:
• Boot into Safe Mode to see if the issue persists. If Explorer behaves normally in Safe Mode, a third-party program may be causing the slowdown. By following these steps, you can identify and potentially resolve the issue causing the slowdown in Windows Explorer. If the problem persists, further investigation or advanced troubleshooting may be required. Feel free to reach out for more assistance if needed.