HELP::: slow network browsing?

[Blake]

I live on my thinkpad and its my main computer , and i have a tower that acts as a fileserver/ backup.

My problem is that why im looking through my network drives, its very slow. I have no idea why, i would expect it to be faster.

The setup is as follows:

x31 with .b wireless
tower with .g wireless & 3 drives (1 os and apps , 2 storage{these are the ones i access})
linked wireless thru a buffalo .g router

any suggestions on how to speed up network browsing? the drives are mapped


thanks!

[slagmi]

Need to know some things to give you relevant advice-
What OS on each computer?
Mapped drives are not persistent in modern Windows OS's- why are drives being mapped? Is there specific software you are using that reqiuires mapped drives?

[Blake]

im running xp pro on each system

i used windows to map the drives, where it give you the option to map network drive, so i have them set up as shortcuts

[thisrob]

My problem is that why im looking through my network drives, its very slow. I have no idea why, i would expect it to be faster.

i have always solved the problem with this following registry fix:
http://lijktmeduidelijk.nl/grab/?Xp.Spe ... Shares.reg

in case you don't trust the regfile, just open it with notepad to see whats in it.
anyway does the trick for me

cheers!

[Blake]

what do i do with the file?????

[dsvochak]

Double clicking on the .reg file deletes the registry keys mentioned in these two articles:

http://www.tweakxp.com/article37072.aspx

http://www.tweakxp.com/article37137.aspx

This fix increased the speed of network browsing on my network. You may have to reboot in order to make this work.

Also, mapping forces the machine to connect to the network drive every time you log on. If you "add a network place" you can only connect to the network share as needed.

[Blake]

thanks alot ill try that when i get home

[thisrob]

Double clicking on the .reg file deletes the registry keys mentioned in these two articles: ...

This fix increased the speed of network browsing on my network. You may have to reboot in order to make this work...

Thats right, you will NEED to reboot in order to make it go into effect (only after doubleclicking the reg the first time obviously).

[jdhurst]

Let's be a bit careful here. I see too many posts (for my taste) here and elsewhere to use Registry Editing for things that can be done from applications. In this case, those keys are for the options in Explorer to search for network files and printers. If you go to Windows Explorer -> Tools -> Folder Options -> View and uncheck "Automatically search for network folders and printers" (as I always do unless permanently domain-connected), then those two keys referenced will be empty (as mine are) and deleting them will have no impact. ... JD Hurst

[Blake]

should i unmap the drives, i use them alot, and just make network places???

[thisrob]

Let's be a bit careful here. I see too many posts (for my taste) here and elsewhere to use Registry Editing for things that can be done from applications. In this case, those keys are for the options in Explorer to search for network files and printers. If you go to Windows Explorer -> Tools -> Folder Options -> View and uncheck "Automatically search for network folders and printers" (as I always do unless permanently domain-connected), then those two keys referenced will be empty (as mine are) and deleting them will have no impact. ... JD Hurst

I'm sorry to say this but your wrong.
The option you are talking about is not the same; The registry fix I mention "removes checks for any Scheduled tasks on the computer you are trying to network-browse".

[dsvochak]

Blake--

"thisrob" and I may be giving you a solution to a problem you don't have. My experience is applying the registry tweak speeds up logging into a network share. If I correctly understand your OP, your problem is slow browsing of shares you're already mapped or logged onto, which is somewhat different. Please clear up which problem you're having.

I use network places vs mapping for two reasons. First, my notebooks travel a lot and when no drives are mapped they don't look for something that isn't there. Second is security paranoia. If you're not mapped/logged in nothing "bad" from some other machine can get you. (We always log off after doing what we needed to do on the network share).

While I agree with jdhurst's comment regarding be careful about registry editing, his suggestion hasn't worked for me in the past. That is, the keys were not empty after the "Automatically search for network folders..." was unchecked.

[jdhurst]

It appears that I have connected two different thoughts here -sorry. But those keys in my computer *are* empty, so using the registry fix to delete them won't do anything. Could you not use the windows tools to stop the scheduling? You should be able to, as the keys appear not to be set by default. ... JD Hurst

[Blake]

ok lets try this again....

im going to unmap my x31 from my tower and just make network places.

the main problem is when im going thru my drive (on tower) its slow to read the data, and load whats in the folder, or if i have thumbnail set for images, it takes for ever!

hope this makes it clearer

[dsvochak]

Blake--

Thanks for the clarification. I don't think these solutions will solve your slow reading/data loading problem.

I don't use wireless networking so I can't say, but could the issue be related to either mixing b & g wireless or some setting(s) in the wireless setup? Anyone who understands wireless networking, please chime in now.

[slagmi]

make sure it's name ends in .reg and right click on it and choose merge

using the 'add network place' wizard may yield a shortcut that works faster for you

If still trouble open a command prompt on one of the systems type IPCONFIG then press enter and paste the results here

[Bob Collins]

If you often use those mapped drives, do not un map them. This will not really speed things too much. If you use those drieves here and there, then unmap and set up as netwrok places.

I have seen on many occasions where wireless will have some latency if a link has been left idle for a few minutes. You might look into the power control of the wireless network adapter. There is a settings to allow power adjustments based on activity. you may want to change that.

Do you have the screensaver set to run on the tower? If so, when t kicks in that may slow the network response by being slow to access the drive due to the screensaver. Remember, at this point the tower is a server, and as such should be set up like a server, no extra services not neccessary to proper function, no screensaver other than blank. Do you have an auto defrag or virus scanner? These may be set to run when the system isidle. then you call for network activity and the machine has to slow down the scans and go into server mode.

There really are quite a few variables here to check. Good luck.

CAUTION..CAUTION..CAUTION..
As for registry editing, be careful and use regedt32 to make backups of what you plan to change, prior to the change!!! Otherwise, beat the living daylights out of your registry and ultimately you'll get that thing to NOT boot.