Whenever I right click on any item, to bring up contextual menu, the blue circle spins for 24 seconds, then appears. This happens with Windows Explorer. If I try to touch the window in the meantime it says (Not Responding).
How can I troubleshoot what can be the cause of this?
Windows 10 21H1 OS Build 19043.1165
Hi, the usual cause is an added problematic shell extension (context menu entry).
Many such tenforums threads: the first tool to try (tutorial available) is Nirsoft's Shellexview (free).
Disable non-MS extensions and if the delay disappears. identify the problem one(s).
No need to log off or restart.
I've disabled all of them except Microsoft, but still keep appearing in contextual menu. What's wrong?
Thank you for your reply.
Let me guess. When you launch Shellexview, do you get a UAC prompt?
I have UAC disabled, and I launch it as administrator. I choose Options / Hide All Microsoft Extensions. Then Edit / Select All / Disable all / confirm. All of them say Disabled: Yes
Then did the same with option 32-bit shell extensions.
Good. I was right. Thank you. You will have guessed my reply.
Enable UAC and set as default. Certain things simply don't work with UAC disabled.
UAC is unrelated to the issue. Had to close and reopen all Windows Explorer instances and apps like Total Commander, which kept in memory the previous menu. Then contextual menu takes half a second.
Thank you for your reply.
Yoiu have not stated if you have been successfully able to disable shell extensions. Until you can, no further progress can be made. I leave you with your opinion and wish you good luck.
Yes, or course I was able to disable all extensions, hence it takes only half a second now. But for it to take effect you have to close and reopen all Windows Explorer windows and software using them to notice the effect.
I didn't troubleshoot yet which extension is be the one causing the slowdown, but I have too many that will just leave it like that, I don't need them.
And thank you very much indeed for your reply.
The fact that you have to restart explorer to have them disabled shows there's something else wrong- different to most PCs where this is used.
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