This PC takes forever to Populate (Display) Folders and Drives


  1. Posts : 180
    Windows 10 Pro, 64 bit. Version 20H2
       #1

    This PC takes forever to Populate (Display) Folders and Drives


    Windows 10 20H2, (OS Build 19042.1110)
    When I open "This PC" no folders or drives display until the progress bar has reached the end or close to it. This can take several minutes.
    Is there something I need to fix or adjust to stop this happening?
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails This PC takes forever to Populate (Display) Folders and Drives-pc.jpg  
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 4,752
    Windows 11 Pro 64 Bit 22H2
       #2

    Do you have more then on drive attached to your computer? Unplug any USB Mass Storage devices attached to the computer. (ie) USB HDD, Flash Drive, SD Card reader etc. If that improves then one of those drives has an issue.
    You can also download DiskGenius in my signature. Select your drive and then go to the Toolbar to Disk/View SMART Information. This will give you a snapshot of your drives Health. If there is a yellow caution button, then you can choose View or Repair Bad Sectors/Verify Now. This will take a long time but will show you if you have any Bad Sectors, If you do, the SSD needs to be replaced ASAP.
    Here are other troubleshooting suggestions How to test SurfacePro using Microsoft Surface diagnostic toolkit? - Technoresult
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 180
    Windows 10 Pro, 64 bit. Version 20H2
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hi Spunk,
    I do have external HDDs connected via USB. I've turned them off and will try opening This PC a few more times to see if there is any difference.
    This phenomenon started yesterday on a new (a few days old) Laptop. It never did it on my old Windows 10 laptop.
    I will run some drive tests and report back. I assume DiskGenius will test SSDs and HDDs. The laptop has one 1TB SSD with two partitions and I normally have 4 x4TB HDDs in service via USB. The HDDs were not problematic on my previous laptop.
    Thanks for the tips.
    Peter B
    Last edited by mb300e; 16 Jul 2021 at 15:40.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 4,453
    Win 11 Pro 22000.708
       #4

    This may have nothing to do with your issue, but go into "properties" for the drive, "customize" tab. If "optimize this folder" is set to pictures, it'll populate slowly. Setting it to "general items" may speed things up quite a bit.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 180
    Windows 10 Pro, 64 bit. Version 20H2
    Thread Starter
       #5

    bobkn said:
    This may have nothing to do with your issue, but go into "properties" for the drive, "customize" tab. If "optimize this folder" is set to pictures, it'll populate slowly. Setting it to "general items" may speed things up quite a bit.
    It is not a regular File Explorer Folder, it is "This PC" on the desktop. When opened it displays a list of Folders, Devices and Drives, and Network Locations. When right clicked, it opens Settings\About, that is all, there's no properties selection.
    A good try, thanks.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 13,896
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #6

    My take on "This PC" and Properties opening the About page means it's just that, the computer. It's not a folder on the boot/system drive. None of my computers with Default installations have that icon on the desktop but my aged brain is trying to recall the process that can put it there. One thing I've noticed over time that changing the default locations of folders and files can add to slowness of things happening.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 180
    Windows 10 Pro, 64 bit. Version 20H2
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Berton said:
    My take on "This PC" and Properties opening the About page means it's just that, the computer. It's not a folder on the boot/system drive. None of my computers with Default installations have that icon on the desktop but my aged brain is trying to recall the process that can put it there. One thing I've noticed over time that changing the default locations of folders and files can add to slowness of things happening.
    It took me a while to remember how, here you go:
    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...e-29aa32588b20

    Scroll down, it is under Related Settings

    - - - Updated - - -

    Here is an update of my Drive Testing.

    The SSD drive 0 tested OK, no defects.

    The first of 4 x4TB HDDs externals took 24 hours to test and was OK with no defects.

    Because the testing kept the Laptop busy for about 20 hours, I moved the USB connection to my Dell 7010 desktop PC. Now it can 'chortle' away merrily without tying up my new laptop. :)
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 180
    Windows 10 Pro, 64 bit. Version 20H2
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Here's an update on the Drive testing.
    None of the 4 x 4TB drives had faults that could be causing this.

    - - - Updated - - -

    I decided that trying to solve this Explorer window error was not going to happen any time soon, so I did a system reset. Explorer is fine now and I shall add my programs back one at a time taking note of any issues. I'll also create a "restore point" before each one is added.

    Thanks for the help.
      My Computers


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 21:23.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums