Can opening "My Computer" be made faster?

When I open "My Computer" - for example with Windows-E, but I notice it
most when downloading something and my browser has "remembered"
somewhere on the wrong drive, so I have to climb the tree up and then
down again or use the My Computer button in the save window* - it takes
a long time, with the torch waving, before it shows me the list of
drives and a couple of things like "my documents". (If done from Win+E,
also shows the webcam.)

(*Yes, I know browsers can be set to always save in the same place. I
don't want that - I want it to ask me where. That would be sidestepping
the problem anyway.)

I presume it is trying to check for network drives or something, and/or
devices like the webcam. Is there no way it can be told not to (or
whatever solves this)?

For the moment, I have a desktop shortcut to the root of my D: drive,
which opens quickly, but may be covered by a window, and it doesn't help
in the "save" situation above.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

So, Heresy be damned (well, it would be, wouldn't it?).
Radio Times 24-30 July 2010 (page 24)

On Sat, 8 Feb 2014 08:46:02 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)" wrote:

When I open "My Computer" - for example with Windows-E, but I notice it
most when downloading something and my browser has "remembered"
somewhere on the wrong drive, so I have to climb the tree up and then
down again or use the My Computer button in the save window* - it takes
a long time, with the torch waving, before it shows me the list of
drives and a couple of things like "my documents". (If done from Win+E,
also shows the webcam.)

(*Yes, I know browsers can be set to always save in the same place. I
don't want that - I want it to ask me where. That would be sidestepping
the problem anyway.)

I presume it is trying to check for network drives or something, and/or
devices like the webcam. Is there no way it can be told not to (or
whatever solves this)?

For the moment, I have a desktop shortcut to the root of my D: drive,
which opens quickly, but may be covered by a window, and it doesn't help
in the "save" situation above.

It could be caused by spin-down of drives when they are not in use.
Check your power-saving settings (Turn of hard disks).

In message , gargoyle60
writes:
On Sat, 8 Feb 2014 08:46:02 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
wrote:

When I open "My Computer" - for example with Windows-E, but I notice it
most when downloading something and my browser has "remembered"
somewhere on the wrong drive, so I have to climb the tree up and then
down again or use the My Computer button in the save window* - it takes
a long time, with the torch waving, before it shows me the list of
drives and a couple of things like "my documents". (If done from Win+E,
also shows the webcam.)

(*Yes, I know browsers can be set to always save in the same place. I
don't want that - I want it to ask me where. That would be sidestepping
the problem anyway.)

I presume it is trying to check for network drives or something, and/or
devices like the webcam. Is there no way it can be told not to (or
whatever solves this)?

For the moment, I have a desktop shortcut to the root of my D: drive,
which opens quickly, but may be covered by a window, and it doesn't help
in the "save" situation above.

It could be caused by spin-down of drives when they are not in use.
Check your power-saving settings (Turn of hard disks).

Thanks, but I don't think it's that: I only have one real drive on this
netbook, though it is partitioned.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

What is the point of a really good degree, if you're just like Harold Wilson?
That really cut me down to size. - Sister Wendy Becket, on DIDs 2012-12-16
(She, like he, got one of the best degrees at Oxford in her year.)

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
When I open "My Computer" - for example with Windows-E, but I notice it
most when downloading something and my browser has "remembered"
somewhere on the wrong drive, so I have to climb the tree up and then
down again or use the My Computer button in the save window* - it takes
a long time, with the torch waving, before it shows me the list of
drives and a couple of things like "my documents". (If done from Win+E,
also shows the webcam.)

(*Yes, I know browsers can be set to always save in the same place. I
don't want that - I want it to ask me where. That would be sidestepping
the problem anyway.)

I presume it is trying to check for network drives or something, and/or
devices like the webcam. Is there no way it can be told not to (or
whatever solves this)?

For the moment, I have a desktop shortcut to the root of my D: drive,
which opens quickly, but may be covered by a window, and it doesn't help
in the "save" situation above.

This is as close as I could get. GPEDIT usually has a registry
component correponding to the desired behavior, which means
the registry likely contains the kind of entry needed. But
if you do it that way, then *all* Explorer windows could
end up that way. Which isn't very flexible.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...9-4892ddc2bd14

“Hide these specified drives in My Computer”

I was looking for some command line magic, and the closest I got was

explorer /root,,

which opens My Computer.

This article shows some command line examples of using GUID to
do the same thing. However, I don't know if it would be possible
to construct a GUID in a flexible way. It wouldn't do you
much good, if you needed to manually include or exclude things.
Like, plug in an extre hard drive, or map a new network share,
then have to "go and fix it" again.

(Open My Computer)

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../cc938892.aspx

%systemroot%\explorer.exe /e,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

The drives themselves, if you do properties, either show
"Local Disk" or "Network Drive". But I don't see a way to
ask explorer, on a one-off request, to open just a certain
class of drive. I created a mapped drive on purpose, using
a VM as a source of a share to use, and I couldn't prevent
it from appearing.

Paul

"Paul" wrote in message
...
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
When I open "My Computer" - for example with Windows-E, but I notice
it most when downloading something and my browser has "remembered"
somewhere on the wrong drive, so I have to climb the tree up and then
down again or use the My Computer button in the save window* - it
takes a long time, with the torch waving, before it shows me the list
of drives and a couple of things like "my documents". (If done from
Win+E, also shows the webcam.)

(*Yes, I know browsers can be set to always save in the same place. I
don't want that - I want it to ask me where. That would be
sidestepping the problem anyway.)

I presume it is trying to check for network drives or something,
and/or devices like the webcam. Is there no way it can be told not to
(or whatever solves this)?

For the moment, I have a desktop shortcut to the root of my D: drive,
which opens quickly, but may be covered by a window, and it doesn't
help in the "save" situation above.

This is as close as I could get. GPEDIT usually has a registry
component correponding to the desired behavior, which means
the registry likely contains the kind of entry needed. But
if you do it that way, then *all* Explorer windows could
end up that way. Which isn't very flexible.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...9-4892ddc2bd14

"Hide these specified drives in My Computer"

I was looking for some command line magic, and the closest I got was

explorer /root,,

which opens My Computer.

This article shows some command line examples of using GUID to
do the same thing. However, I don't know if it would be possible
to construct a GUID in a flexible way. It wouldn't do you
much good, if you needed to manually include or exclude things.
Like, plug in an extre hard drive, or map a new network share,
then have to "go and fix it" again.

(Open My Computer)

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../cc938892.aspx

%systemroot%\explorer.exe
/e,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

The drives themselves, if you do properties, either show
"Local Disk" or "Network Drive". But I don't see a way to
ask explorer, on a one-off request, to open just a certain
class of drive. I created a mapped drive on purpose, using
a VM as a source of a share to use, and I couldn't prevent
it from appearing.

Does unassigning the drive letter in disk management solve the problem?
If so, that gives me some ideas.

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Windows Live Mail 2009 v14
Centrino Core2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz - 4GB - Windows 8 Pro w/Media Center

In message , BillW50
writes:

"Paul" wrote in message
...
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
When I open "My Computer" - for example with Windows-E, but I notice
it most when downloading something and my browser has "remembered"
somewhere on the wrong drive, so I have to climb the tree up and then
down again or use the My Computer button in the save window* - it
takes a long time, with the torch waving, before it shows me the list
of drives and a couple of things like "my documents". (If done from
Win+E, also shows the webcam.)

I should have said, it _usually_ takes some time. _Sometimes_, it opens
reasonably quickly. And, of course, I haven't determined what makes the
difference.
[]
I presume it is trying to check for network drives or something,
and/or devices like the webcam. Is there no way it can be told not to
(or whatever solves this)?
[]
This is as close as I could get. GPEDIT usually has a registry

(If that's group policy editor, ISTR something about it not being there
in XP Home, only Pro.)
[]
I was looking for some command line magic, and the closest I got was

explorer /root,,

which opens My Computer.

(Though with the noddy "System Tasks/Other Places/Details" interface in
the left pane, rather than the proper tree.)

Unfortunately, my system is behaving OK at the moment - both the above
command from Run, and ordinary Windows-E, opened in about four seconds.

This article shows some command line examples of using GUID to
do the same thing. However, I don't know if it would be possible
to construct a GUID in a flexible way. It wouldn't do you
much good, if you needed to manually include or exclude things.
Like, plug in an extre hard drive, or map a new network share,
then have to "go and fix it" again.

(Open My Computer)

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../cc938892.aspx

%systemroot%\explorer.exe
/e,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

I'm wondering if you misunderstand me? That, from the article, seems to
be "To open Windows Explorer with My Computer selected"; I have no
problem doing that, as Windows-E - or, the My Computer button in the
save window when doing a save (from e. g. Firefox) - do that. It's just
that having _done_ it, there's often a delay before the list of drives
appear.

The drives themselves, if you do properties, either show
"Local Disk" or "Network Drive". But I don't see a way to
ask explorer, on a one-off request, to open just a certain
class of drive. I created a mapped drive on purpose, using
a VM as a source of a share to use, and I couldn't prevent
it from appearing.

Does unassigning the drive letter in disk management solve the problem?
If so, that gives me some ideas.

"the" drive letter? Normally, I'm just using this machine - an XP
netbook, with one physical drive partitioned as C and D (plus maybe a
hidden) - in normal mode, with no USB drives/cards, or network (apart
from the wifi - and there are no other computers on that) plugged in.
It's just that when I hit Win+E, an explorer window opens, but sometimes
there's an appreciable delay - with the torch (flashlight) swinging -
before it settles down. Not a great problem, I can live with it - I just
wondered if there was a known solution! (My suggestion that it might be
looking for network drives was purely a _guess_.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"Bother," said the Borg, "we assimilated a Pooh."

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , BillW50 writes:

"Paul" wrote in message
...
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
When I open "My Computer" - for example with Windows-E, but I notice
it most when downloading something and my browser has "remembered"
somewhere on the wrong drive, so I have to climb the tree up and then
down again or use the My Computer button in the save window* - it
takes a long time, with the torch waving, before it shows me the list
of drives and a couple of things like "my documents". (If done from
Win+E, also shows the webcam.)

I should have said, it _usually_ takes some time. _Sometimes_, it opens
reasonably quickly. And, of course, I haven't determined what makes the
difference.
[]
I presume it is trying to check for network drives or something,
and/or devices like the webcam. Is there no way it can be told not to
(or whatever solves this)?
[]
This is as close as I could get. GPEDIT usually has a registry

(If that's group policy editor, ISTR something about it not being there
in XP Home, only Pro.)
[]
I was looking for some command line magic, and the closest I got was

explorer /root,,

which opens My Computer.

(Though with the noddy "System Tasks/Other Places/Details" interface in
the left pane, rather than the proper tree.)

Unfortunately, my system is behaving OK at the moment - both the above
command from Run, and ordinary Windows-E, opened in about four seconds.

This article shows some command line examples of using GUID to
do the same thing. However, I don't know if it would be possible
to construct a GUID in a flexible way. It wouldn't do you
much good, if you needed to manually include or exclude things.
Like, plug in an extre hard drive, or map a new network share,
then have to "go and fix it" again.

(Open My Computer)

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../cc938892.aspx

%systemroot%\explorer.exe
/e,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

I'm wondering if you misunderstand me? That, from the article, seems to
be "To open Windows Explorer with My Computer selected"; I have no
problem doing that, as Windows-E - or, the My Computer button in the
save window when doing a save (from e. g. Firefox) - do that. It's just
that having _done_ it, there's often a delay before the list of drives
appear.

The drives themselves, if you do properties, either show
"Local Disk" or "Network Drive". But I don't see a way to
ask explorer, on a one-off request, to open just a certain
class of drive. I created a mapped drive on purpose, using
a VM as a source of a share to use, and I couldn't prevent
it from appearing.

Does unassigning the drive letter in disk management solve the problem?
If so, that gives me some ideas.

"the" drive letter? Normally, I'm just using this machine - an XP
netbook, with one physical drive partitioned as C and D (plus maybe a
hidden) - in normal mode, with no USB drives/cards, or network (apart
from the wifi - and there are no other computers on that) plugged in.
It's just that when I hit Win+E, an explorer window opens, but sometimes
there's an appreciable delay - with the torch (flashlight) swinging -
before it settles down. Not a great problem, I can live with it - I just
wondered if there was a known solution! (My suggestion that it might be
looking for network drives was purely a _guess_.)

It's possible I did mis-interpreted the question,
and concentrate too much on Explorer itself (on the
title of the post).

The File Save Dialog, might have some weird
behaviors of its own. Someone at the bottom of
this thread, noticed removing a network bridge
fixed it. So just a modification to networking
itself, can break it.

http://forums.techarena.in/ms-office-support/752499.htm

Maybe there is some difference, between the things
an application remembers, and the main Explorer window ?

Paul

In message , Paul
writes:
[]
It's possible I did mis-interpreted the question,
and concentrate too much on Explorer itself (on the
title of the post).

The File Save Dialog, might have some weird
behaviors of its own. Someone at the bottom of
this thread, noticed removing a network bridge
fixed it. So just a modification to networking
itself, can break it.

http://forums.techarena.in/ms-office-support/752499.htm

Maybe there is some difference, between the things
an application remembers, and the main Explorer window ?
[]
Thanks. No, the file save dialog usually opens quickly enough; it's just
that if it opens pointing at a directory on C:, and I want to save on
one on D: (without changing the _name_ of the file I'm saving), I have
to press the Up button to climb up from wherever it is on C:, until I
get to the top level where I can see the drives - or, I press the My
Computer button on the left of the Save window. When I get to this point
(by either method), a delay sometimes happens, with the swinging torch,
before the list of drives appears in the right pane.

The same delay ensues if I open Explorer with Win+E, which opens at the
same top level. If I open explorer with the shortcut I have to

%windir%\explorer.exe /e, D:\

(i. e. the root of D, it opens fast enough.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder...

"J. P. Gilliver (John)" wrote in message ...
For the moment, I have a desktop shortcut to the root of my D: drive, which opens quickly, but may be covered by a window, and it
doesn't help in the "save" situation above.

Me too
And on E:, F: dirves folder too

Just to Opens Quickly
I have to say that

adding shortcut to the root of drives,

Make a folder on root name it "A1"
for your Shortcuts

Add list of needed Shortcuts
desktop
My Computer

and any Shortcuts
you need in a Two
chicks a way

and A-1 will always be on top

In message , Hot-Text
writes:
[]
Make a folder on root name it "A1"
for your Shortcuts

Add list of needed Shortcuts
desktop
My Computer

and any Shortcuts
you need in a Two
chicks a way

and A-1 will always be on top


No, "!" will always be on top (-:
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

If you are afraid of being lonely, don't try to be right. - Jules Renard,
writer (1864-1910)

"J. P. Gilliver (John)" wrote in message ...
In message , Hot-Text writes:
Make a folder on root name it "A1"
for your Shortcuts
Add list of needed Shortcuts
desktop
My Computer
and any Shortcuts
you need in a Two
chicks a way
and A-1 will always be on top
No, "!" will always be on top (-:
JP-Shortcuts

J. P. here at MPWG
As for given out good info
You are one of are Top 4

I just hope one of these days
I'll be able to kiss
The bottom of your Feet

So the Folder name will be
Look up

In message , Hot-Text
writes:
"J. P. Gilliver (John)" wrote in message
...
In message , Hot-Text
writes:
Make a folder on root name it "A1"
for your Shortcuts
Add list of needed Shortcuts
desktop
My Computer
and any Shortcuts
you need in a Two
chicks a way
and A-1 will always be on top
No, "!" will always be on top (-:
JP-Shortcuts

J. P. here at MPWG
As for given out good info
You are one of are Top 4
(-:

I just hope one of these days
I'll be able to kiss
The bottom of your Feet

I think you've perhaps consumed too much of whatever alcohol is common
in the part of the world is represented by "MPWG"!

So the Folder name will be
Look up



Well, if I want a folder (or file) to always come to the top of the
default sort order (which is by name), I start it with !, such as
!read-me.txt, or just ! or !! for folders.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder...

"J. P. Gilliver (John)" wrote in message ...
In message , Hot-Text writes:
"J. P. Gilliver (John)" wrote in message ...
In message , Hot-Text writes:
Make a folder on root name it "A1"
for your Shortcuts
Add list of needed Shortcuts
desktop
My Computer
and any Shortcuts
you need in a Two
chicks a way
and A-1 will always be on top
No, "!" will always be on top (-:
JP-Shortcuts
J. P. here at MPWG
As for given out good info
You are one of are Top 4
(-:
I just hope one of these days
I'll be able to kiss
The bottom of your Feet

I think you've perhaps consumed too much of whatever alcohol is common in the part of the world is represented by "MPWG"!

No alcohol
Perhaps I consumed too much in the Pass

So the Folder name will be
Look up
Well, if I want a folder (or file) to always come to the top of the default sort order (which is by name), I start it with !, such
as !read-me.txt, or just ! or !! for folders.
O'you one of them that Delete the New in Folder

JP-Shortcuts we all need them at times

Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder...

If that is true
I haven't seen Beauty
For about 6 Years
Well that is what Cam4 is for
To view Beauty with a Beer in the nude Hmm

"J. P. Gilliver (John)" wrote in message ...
When I open "My Computer" - for example with Windows-E, but I notice it
most when downloading something and my browser has "remembered"
somewhere on the wrong drive, so I have to climb the tree up and then
down again or use the My Computer button in the save window* - it takes
a long time, with the torch waving, before it shows me the list of
drives and a couple of things like "my documents". (If done from Win+E,
also shows the webcam.)
(*Yes, I know browsers can be set to always save in the same place. I
don't want that - I want it to ask me where. That would be sidestepping
the problem anyway.)
I presume it is trying to check for network drives or something, and/or
devices like the webcam. Is there no way it can be told not to (or
whatever solves this)?
For the moment, I have a desktop shortcut to the root of my D: drive,
which opens quickly, but may be covered by a window, and it doesn't help
in the "save" situation above.
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

To remove unwanted network drives, right-click and select "Disconnect". Also, as
mentioned by other posters, check your hard drive settings under "Control Panel",
"Power Options" and, if necessary, increase the time to power down.

Ben

In message , Ben Myers
writes:
"J. P. Gilliver (John)" wrote in message
...
When I open "My Computer" - for example with Windows-E, but I notice it
[]
I presume it is trying to check for network drives or something, and/or
devices like the webcam. Is there no way it can be told not to (or
whatever solves this)?

That was just my _guess_ at the reason.

For the moment, I have a desktop shortcut to the root of my D: drive,
which opens quickly, but may be covered by a window, and it doesn't help
in the "save" situation above.
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

To remove unwanted network drives, right-click and select "Disconnect".

I don't have any such drives (I don't think I ever have: I've only ever
had the two partitions of the hard drive, and the odd USB and card, with
neither of the latter showing up at the moment).
Also, as
mentioned by other posters, check your hard drive settings under
"Control Panel",
"Power Options" and, if necessary, increase the time to power down.

Already set to Never when plugged in, and 30 minutes when on battery, so
I don't think that'd help.

Ben

Thanks for trying anyway!
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

If you are afraid of being lonely, don't try to be right. - Jules Renard,
writer (1864-1910)