Hello,
Perhaps some other users have experience with this. I just did a search through the forums and couldn't find this documented, so I thought I'd start a thread on keeping DOpus running blazing fast. I have noticed that sometimes when moving things between drives or folders using the copy (CTRL+C), cut (CTRL+X) and paste (CTRL+V) functions it will bring up a dialogue box that shows the progress of the file move and seems to run slowly. It can happen even when moving TINY (5KB-10KB) files. I don't know if it always has done this, but my gut is that the performance has degraded. For something so small, I would think that the move would be instantaneous. I'm wondering why it stalls / runs slowly and if there is anything I can do to speed it up.
How many tiny files? Just one or two, or thousands?
What type(s) of files? Which kind(s) of drives?
Could it be your antivirus scanner?
Or that the drive(s) you are copying from/to have spun down and gone to sleep, taking time to spin up again when accessed for the first time in a while?
Is it always slow for the same set of files and folders and drives, or only sometimes? Is it only certain combinations files/folders/drivers, or all of them?
What happens when doing the same with Windows Explorer?
Q: How many tiny files? Just one or two, or thousands?
A: Could be just one file.
Q: What type(s) of files?
A: Generally document or image files. PDF, XLSX, DOCX, JPG
Q: Which kind(s) of drives?
A: Internal hard drive, desktop computer, Western Digital, 1TB, 3.5" hard disk.
A: Also from external USB media flash drives
Q: Could it be your antivirus scanner?
A: Possible. Next time I am experiencing slowness I will disable. I use AVG.
Q: Or that the drive(s) you are copying from/to have spun down and gone to sleep, taking time to spin up again when accessed for the first time in a while?
A: Nope this is when I am actively using computer - disks should be spinning.
Q: Is it always slow for the same set of files and folders and drives, or only sometimes? Is it only certain combinations files/folders/drivers, or all of them?
A: I will start writing down specifics and report back.
Q: What happens when doing the same with Windows Explorer?
A: I have used DOpus to replace Explorer - I forgot it even still existed. I can try with it and report back.
Just a quick update: This behavior is persisting and unpredictable.
I have tried using the Windows Explorer that comes with my OS and it is having the same sluggishness, so it may not have anything to do with DOpus. However, I suspect with all of the power users here that there may be some great knowledge and tips on how to speed up file operations and other operations related to DOpus.
I notice the issue in particular:
1.) When I copy / paste files
2.) When I access the right click context menu (which I have pared down as much as possible using CCleaner).
3.) When I load DOpus for the first time
I have done some searching / troubleshooting online and found a number of references to trying to trim down Shell Extensions. Any bright ideas out there on how to keep file operations lean and mean?
If the slowdown is affecting both Explorer and Opus then it could be shell extensions, but it could be a lot of other things as well.
There aren't really any magic bullets here; you'll need to try the different guides/suggestions to see what works (e.g. disabling shell extensions).
Until the cause is known, it's hard to suggest what to do to avoid it recurring. If it is a shell extension then it's usually just a case of keeping it disabled or uninstalling and avoiding the problematic software. But it could be something else (e.g. antivirus, background tasks using up too much CPU/disk, etc.)
Using tools like Resource Monitor and Process Monitor may point you in the direction of a particular component or operation that is worth investigating before the others, if you're familiar with those tools.