Empty Folders Take Long Time to Delete...

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  1. Posts : 50
    Windows 10
       #1

    Empty Folders Take Long Time to Delete...


    ...but, deleting a few GBs uses the expected amount of time and proceeds normally.

    When Windows (10) boots up, sometimes I'll create a new folder. A few mins after start-up, creating new folders takes several moments. But, after a while, I guess the machine's warmed up and everything's loaded in, so creating folders takes less than a second.

    However, if I want to delete that folder, the folder will disappear, but the delete progress bar hangs at 99% for well more than a few seconds. I will usually just close this progress window out, and I will see the empty folder in the recycle bin.

    What's going on?

    I've optimized by hard drives, ran system tests from the command line, but nothing's gotten better. I do NOT want to reinstall Windows.

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 45,607
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Hi, do you see the same thing
    - in Safe Mode?
    - if you create a new user account for test purposes and log in as that user?

    Please post a screenshot of your task manager about 4 mins after logging in and without launching other programs to show quiescent resource usage.

    If you use CTRL SHIFT n to create the new folder, is there any change?

    On this 8-year-old t440s laptop, with an installation dating back several years, creating a new folder (on the desktop) is almost instant. No problem deleting it.

    History: (almost never given by posters):
    - when did this problem start?
    - what changed before that?

    Specs: the forums prompted you thus:
    Empty Folders Take Long Time to Delete...-win-10-version.png
    (so we don't have to keep asking).

    You quote your AV as 'M' - which is...? Thanks.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 50
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    dalchina said:
    Hi, do you see the same thing
    - in Safe Mode?
    - if you create a new user account for test purposes and log in as that user?

    Please post a screenshot of your task manager about 4 mins after logging in and without launching other programs to show quiescent resource usage.

    If you use CTRL SHIFT n to create the new folder, is there any change?

    On this 8-year-old t440s laptop, with an installation dating back several years, creating a new folder (on the desktop) is almost instant. No problem deleting it.

    History: (almost never given by posters):
    - when did this problem start?
    - what changed before that?

    Specs: the forums prompted you thus:
    Empty Folders Take Long Time to Delete...-win-10-version.png
    (so we don't have to keep asking).

    You quote your AV as 'M' - which is...? Thanks.
    I'm not sure what you're referring to about that last line in your post, but I will consider your suggestion when I'm off work tonight. Thanks for taking the time to provide all that info.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 45,607
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #4

    Thanks. In your specs:
    Empty Folders Take Long Time to Delete...-1.jpg
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 50
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    dalchina said:
    Thanks. In your specs:
    Empty Folders Take Long Time to Delete...-1.jpg
    "M"???? That's supposed to be "Malwarebytes". Ugh.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Khan N Singh said:
    I'm not sure what you're referring to about that last line in your post, but I will consider your suggestion when I'm off work tonight. Thanks for taking the time to provide all that info.
    Hi...

    In answer to your questions...

    * I have Windows Home, so I decided not to try creating a new user account tonight as it is late for me, and the process is supposed to be a bit complicated.

    * I do not know how to get into "safe mode".

    * I pressed shift-control-n, a folder was instantly created, and it seemed to delete fairly quickly. But, the green progress bar hung about 17 seconds at 99% complete -- even though the empty folder was already in the recycle bin.

    * This seems to have started within the past few weeks.

    Do these statements answer your questions?

    Thank you
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 45,607
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #6

    * I do not know how to get into "safe mode".
    - you could just use Google:
    Empty Folders Take Long Time to Delete...-1.jpg

    and there's a tutorial in the huge searchable Tutorials section - do have a look:
    Empty Folders Take Long Time to Delete...-untitled.png

    the process is supposed to be a bit complicated.
    This is easy- there's a tutorial .... and most people I ask to do this as a standard diagnostic approach have no problems doing it.

    Add Local Account or Microsoft Account in Windows 10

    Please post a screenshot of your task manager about 4 mins after logging in and without launching other programs to show quiescent resource usage.
    - like this:
    Empty Folders Take Long Time to Delete...-untitled.png

    windows build no?

    * This seems to have started within the past few weeks.
    - What changed before that started?
    Look at which programs you've installed since then. You can see the date thus:
    Empty Folders Take Long Time to Delete...-1.jpg
    What tweaks or changes have you made?

    Unlikely to be update-related as this is not being reported generally.

    Try watching/capturing the task manager view when the delay in handling a new folder is occurring.
    There is a much more technical tool for doing that (procmon) but that captures EVERYTHING from registry accesses upwards.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 50
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    dalchina said:
    - you could just use Google:
    Empty Folders Take Long Time to Delete...-1.jpg

    and there's a tutorial in the huge searchable Tutorials section - do have a look:
    Empty Folders Take Long Time to Delete...-untitled.png


    This is easy- there's a tutorial .... and most people I ask to do this as a standard diagnostic approach have no problems doing it.

    Add Local Account or Microsoft Account in Windows 10


    - like this:
    Empty Folders Take Long Time to Delete...-untitled.png

    windows build no?


    - What changed before that started?
    Look at which programs you've installed since then. You can see the date thus:
    Empty Folders Take Long Time to Delete...-1.jpg
    What tweaks or changes have you made?

    Unlikely to be update-related as this is not being reported generally.

    Try watching/capturing the task manager view when the delay in handling a new folder is occurring.
    There is a much more technical tool for doing that (procmon) but that captures EVERYTHING from registry accesses upwards.
    I said it was a bit complicated because that's what a troubleshooting website I visited said about the process of setting up a new account. I did look it up.

    I've made no tweaks to the system other than allowing updates to take place. I also did one other thing in an attempt to fix this, but I forget precisely what it was I did. Something to do with the menus on the top of an explorer window. Sorry I don't have more specific info at the ready, but this was also after the fact, so it is not a cause.

    It is Windows 10, but I'm not sure of the latest update number. My machine is down for the night, and I'm going down for the night soon as well. I will see if I cannot find this out tomorrow, but I do have the latest Win 10 updates installed.

    Thanks.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Khan N Singh said:
    I said it was a bit complicated because that's what a troubleshooting website I visited said about the process of setting up a new account. I did look it up.

    I've made no tweaks to the system other than allowing updates to take place. I also did one other thing in an attempt to fix this, but I forget precisely what it was I did. Something to do with the menus on the top of an explorer window. Sorry I don't have more specific info at the ready, but this was also after the fact, so it is not a cause.

    It is Windows 10, but I'm not sure of the latest update number. My machine is down for the night, and I'm going down for the night soon as well. I will see if I cannot find this out tomorrow, but I do have the latest Win 10 updates installed.

    Thanks.
    Unfortunately I can only do a little at a time, so if I don't respond for a few days, understand that I am probably quite occupied.

    But... I did want to try at least one of these tonight, so I'm doing the safe mode thing first.

    After I explore this option, I'll move on to the others presented here.

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 45,607
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #8

    Try clearing File Explore History (in Folder Options).

    (This helped people where move/rename caused delays with a specific user account, maybe it will help here).
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 2,797
    Windows 10
       #9

    The Recycle Bin tasks seem to be of a low priority. It is not unusual to see those sorts of delays in Windows 10. Not seen it thus far with Windows 11.

    This sort of thing is for the MS FeedBack Hub.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 50
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #10

    dalchina said:
    Try clearing File Explore History (in Folder Options).

    (This helped people where move/rename caused delays with a specific user account, maybe it will help here).
    Hey Dal, this seemed to do it! I love ya! Thanks!

    No progress bar, just instantaneous deletion of the empty folder.

    Thanks!

    And, thanks to everyone else who took the time to offer suggestions.
      My Computer


 

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