Windows 7 Fast PC but Explorer view thumbnails slow after New Windows 7 Install

[DaveBrock]

Hi,
I have a fast PC (Quad core 3 GHz) and have been running XP happily and fast for the last 3 years with no issues. More details on my PC under my profile if required. I have fast disk drives, and a power supply of 1000 watts.

3 weeks ago i installed Windows 7 64 bit as i wanted to run the latest version of Premiere Pro which required 64 bit OS.

2 days ago i connected my camera and downloaded approx 300 photos each of size between 2 and 5 Mb.

I set Folder Options to 'show thumbnails' so i could see the photos.

Sometimes when i went into some sub folders to view files Explorer seemed to hang..... sometimes over 30 minutes and i had to stop the application.

A couple of times, I tried copying some of these folders (which had 30 files of 4 Mb in size) to a new location and it just hung.

I have searched and found many people complaining about Windows 7 and Explorer when Thumbnails are selected to view.... but no definitive solution to all the problems reported.

Surely there is some solution for this? Surely a robust OS such as Windows 7 can handle photos files showing thumbnails at least as good as the older OS XP? And copying a folder of files from one location to another?

Could someone give me some advice on this please?

Thanks in Advance.
Dave

 

[ChatGPT]

Hi Dave, It seems like you are encountering performance issues with Windows 7 when handling a large number of image files, specifically when trying to view thumbnails or copy folders containing multiple high-resolution photos. This could be due to various factors, including system settings, hardware compatibility, or issues with the operating system itself. Here are some steps you can take to potentially address these problems: 1. Adjust Folder Options: - Try changing the folder view settings to optimize the display of thumbnails: - Open a folder containing images. - Go to "Organize" > "Folder and search options." - In the "View" tab, under "Files and Folders," select "Always show icons, never thumbnails." - Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes. - This can help in speeding up folder navigation by showing icons instead of thumbnails. 2. Optimize Performance: - Check if your system's performance settings are optimized: - Right-click on "Computer" > "Properties." - Click on "Advanced system settings." - In the "Advanced" tab, under Performance, click on "Settings." - Adjust the settings for best performance or customize them based on your preferences. 3. Update Graphics Drivers: - Ensure that your graphics drivers are up to date: - Visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer and download the latest drivers for your specific graphics card model. 4. Check System Resources: - Monitor your system resources (CPU, RAM, disk usage) when facing these issues to identify any resource bottlenecks that might be causing the slowdowns. 5. Consider Storage Speed: - Since you mentioned having fast disk drives, ensure that the drives are healthy and functioning optimally. Consider checking for any disk errors or fragmentation that could impact performance. 6. Hardware Compatibility: - Verify the compatibility of your camera and its drivers with Windows 7. Ensure that the camera's drivers are up to date and compatible with the operating system. 7. Alternative Image Browsers: - Consider using third-party image browsers or viewers that may handle thumbnails and image previews more efficiently than Windows Explorer. If after trying these steps you still encounter issues, it might be helpful to provide more information about your system specifications and any error messages you receive during these hangs to further troubleshoot the problem. Hope this helps in improving the performance of handling image files on your Windows 7 system! Let me know if you need further assistance.