Vista - Windows Explorer Freezes with Right Click tasks/search

For the past three days or so, whenever I try to do anything involving a
right click task (copy, paste, rename, move, delete, etc) or use the search
function, Windows Explorer will freeze while it's doing whatever it's
supposed to be doing.

For example, if I delete a file (whether I right click, drag and drop or
"delete" it), the usual "Calculating time remaining" window will pop up, the
animation will begin and then nothing appears to happen. If I hit cancel,
the window will change to "Canceling" but will remain up, no matter what
happens. I can leave my apartment for most of the day and it will remain in
limbo.

Ultimately, I have to open the Task Manager, end the "cancelling" task
whereupon I'm told that Program Manager isn't working, that Windows Explorer
isn't working, the screen refreshes and then I'm back where I started.

Fortunately whatever it is I'm trying to do (moving, deleting etc) is
accomplished, but I have to do this no matter what I'm trying to do and no
matter the size of the file(s). It's getting really annoying.

Thanks,

Chris

Chris,

Follow "Method 2" in this article.

Right-click is slow or weird behavior caused by context menu handlers:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"ChrisB in SEA" <ChrisB in SEA@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:953C8091-B0E6-4E11-BE37-49BA7C93D701@xxxxxx
For the past three days or so, whenever I try to do anything involving a
right click task (copy, paste, rename, move, delete, etc) or use the search
function, Windows Explorer will freeze while it's doing whatever it's
supposed to be doing.

For example, if I delete a file (whether I right click, drag and drop or
"delete" it), the usual "Calculating time remaining" window will pop up, the
animation will begin and then nothing appears to happen. If I hit cancel,
the window will change to "Canceling" but will remain up, no matter what
happens. I can leave my apartment for most of the day and it will remain in
limbo.

Ultimately, I have to open the Task Manager, end the "cancelling" task
whereupon I'm told that Program Manager isn't working, that Windows Explorer
isn't working, the screen refreshes and then I'm back where I started.

Fortunately whatever it is I'm trying to do (moving, deleting etc) is
accomplished, but I have to do this no matter what I'm trying to do and no
matter the size of the file(s). It's getting really annoying.

Thanks,

Chris