Vista Bug Affair Vista News Discuss Vista Bug Affair in the Windows Vista forums; Vista Bug Turns File Copying into Drawn-out Affair Vista Bug Turns File Copying into Drawn-out Affair A fix is now available for the bug that frustrates some users ...

[Snuffy]

Vista Bug Turns File Copying into Drawn-out Affair

Vista Bug Turns File Copying into Drawn-out Affair
A fix is now available for the bug that frustrates some users with extra-long wait times to move, copy or delete files.
Gregg Keizer, Computerworld
Tuesday, March 27, 2007 03:00 PM GMT-08:00


A Vista bug is frustrating some users with extra-long wait times to move, copy or delete files. Microsoft has acknowledged the flaw and produced a hot fix for it, but users must call the company's support line to obtain the patch.

A thread on a Vista support forum has been active since late January, with users regularly complaining of ultraslow file operations on the new OS. The volume of messages spiked today.

"I downloaded a 1.8GB file over the Internet to my D drive," a user identified as BadBlock said today. "Moving the tmp file from C to D took three times longer than downloading the file on a 6Mb connection! I'm thinking of going back to XP."

Another user was equally scathing. "I simply cannot believe that I updated to a new computer and put Windows Vista on it to find that it's not even capable of moving and deleting files in an efficient manner. The most basic of features that I use all the time is a slow train wreck. Who do they have designing these programs -- monkeys?"

According to a document on the Microsoft support database, the company has produced and tested a hot fix that solves the problem. But because the fix has not been posted for public downloading, users must contact Microsoft to obtain the patch. A US$59 support charge may apply, although Microsoft's general policy is to cancel such charges if the support representative decides the hot fix is necessary.

Microsoft typically rolls such hot fixes into the next Service Pack for the OS in question. A first pack for Vista, however, has not yet been scheduled.

[Znod]

Thank Snuffy. Intreresting. I sometimes have slow copying, but not often enough to give MS $59 for something the Company should put on Windows updates.

[Snuffy]

Yes, I agree on the $59.00 cost...

A US$59 support charge may apply, although Microsoft's general policy is to cancel such charges if the support representative decides the hot fix is necessary.

is ridiculous

[Snuffy]

Applies to="Windows 6.0"
Build Date="2007/01/24"
Company="Microsoft Corporation"
File Version="1"
Installation Type="FULL"
Installer Engine="Component Based Servicing - WUSA.exe"
Installer Version="6.0.0.0"
KB Article Number="931770"
Language="ALL"
Package Type="Hotfix"
Processor Architecture="x86"
Product Name="Windows 6.0"
Support Link="http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=931770"

[Snuffy]

After much testing and searching and asking amoung many sources.

a temp fix for what SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED A LONG TIME AGO..(IMHO)

Several sites recommend you set your virtual memory use to 0 = zero.

Control Panel -> System -> Advanced system settings -> Advanced (tab) ->Performance (section) -> Settings... -> Advanced (tab) ->
Virtual memory (section) -> Change... =>
Uncheck "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives" ->
Then select "No paging file" YOU MUST CLICK "SET" this is a must! ->
"I have set mine to 1024MB" both min and max
Then Click OK ->
Click OK ->
Click OK ->
and then Reboot

This on system with 2G or less memory causes lots of 'OUT OF MEMORY'
I have found that the setting of 1024 with 2G of memory... works GOOD for me not perfect but GOOD.
Using MOVE is another story... if you want to use MOVE then you have to DISABLE "Shadow Copy" I do not recommend this....
What I do recommend is change virtual memory to 1G... the copy to then delete the old... 4.86 GB copy/paste and then delete the old was just under 10m.
PS: the original patch/fix from MS no longer works... it actually created other problems... leave it installed and TEST my settings...I do hope you find this work around enjoyable...

[ProCookie]

I think i have an issue similar to this, when i download something from the net it gets to 100% then it says copying file to my downloads folder and this takes some but the real problem is it gets right to the end and it doesn't finish, it just says is 100% for ages. After clicking cancel it crashes and stops responding. Most of the time the file i have downloaded is still readable but never the less its still very annoying.

Would this fix help me out or is it just for local files?

[JoshW02@hotmail.co.uk]

Some times my moving progress goes down and back up again or red and green again.

[felix8406]

There's a possibility that the issue with downloading files is caused by the anti virus software making sure the file is clean.

[JoshW02@hotmail.co.uk]

Not in my case I didn't have any on at the time.

[Snuffy]

Felix says:There's a possibility that the issue with downloading files is caused by the anti virus software making sure the file is clean.

Most AV's work in the background and you never see them scan the incoming files...which adds a delay - recommended to not DISABLE.

Josh says: Some times my moving progress goes down and back up again or red and green again

{ I have found the colors RED and GREEN are usually used to indicate up/out and down/in on the internet}
Josh sorry I'm note sure this is what you mean...
the term moving is not the same as copy. When you move a file, Vista makes a "shadowcopy" (very time consuming).

Windows Vista: Features Explained: Shadow CopyShadow Copy creates point-in-time copies of files as you work, so you can quickly and retrieve versions of a document you may have accidentally deleted.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...hadowcopy.mspx - 92k - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from www.microsoft.com ]

IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO DISABLE SHADOW COPY:

Vista Previous Versions (Shadow Copy) vs Recycle Bin » My Digital Lifeallocated to Volume Shadow Copy will be released, so not only System Restore is disabled, but the useful Previous Versions will also not […] ...
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/0...s-recycle-bin/ - 60k - Jul 8, 2007 - Cached - Similar pages

it then copies the 2n file to where you want it placed, it then verifies it wrote it correctly, (this is like doing the copy 4 times..) once it verifies the copy is correct it then deletes the original copy.
All times here are on my system - different config will surely be different on times... some faster some slower..
step by step
you want to move a 4.7GB file from d: to e:
1. copies 4.7GB file into shadow file then verifies the file = 2 x copy.
2. copies file to e: then verifies = 2x copy again or actually you have copied 4x.
3. copies the file from d: to trashcan c:
this is 6 times it has copied... so if it takes 10 min to copy then it will take avg of 60 min to move..plus you must add the time it takes to compress the file so the actual move is faster... and you do this 3 times. avg time is 10 min for ea compress.... so
A> If you copy the file 4.7GB and paste it where you want... avg time is 10 min.
B> delete the original by holding down ctrl + delete key.. it takes about 10 sec. total time 10m10s...
C> to move the same file it will take an average of 90 plus minutes... to then verify the file is 100% correct it might take another 90 plus minutes. As you can see we have went from AVG of 10 mins (copy/paste/delete a 4.7GB file ) to just over 3 hrs. to move the same.

Therefore by shorting the virtual file.. to only 1M = min & max. it removes the ability of Vista to expand and shrink the VM file which SAVES time
check it out... Vista makes the VM file approximately 3X the amount of installed memory...which it can use ...
This should help on DL and move to also... since many 3d party download managers actually copy to a temp file, then uncompress them add them together and verify the file is complete... them it moves them to where you ask them to be placed... then leaves the extra garbage some where in the registry... (hence you need a reg cleaner to remove these tracks...then you need a reg defrag to compress the extra spaces left over so as to shrink the registry file...) but first you should remove all the TEMP & temp~ files.. so that when you "reg clean" and "reg defrag" you can save the space. and make things faster on reboot or cold start.

I also then usually use Auslogic Defrag to Very FASTY defrag the necessary disk, to align all the Files correctly... which saves time on finding them..
the main reason I also like Auslogic Defrag is 1. I can see the files being moved, and if for some reason it HANGS... I can see exactly what and where the file is.... Vista Defrag does not show me... also Auslogic Defrag is (IMHO) about 10 to 15 times faster...I also have "auto DEFRAG shutoff".
D:\ is where I DL and store almost all my (programs) after a clean of junk and then manual defrag with Auslogic (avg time to defrag) 38.5 GB HDD is 30s.
Even if I use a 3d party DL manager (I really do not) unless testing torrents.
I manually set the where to: in the exact same folder where I want it to be...
To many who do not know: I BETA TEST for many different programs.. one of them is Microsoft. I will not try to list all the different programs, nor why I do not prefer them... The old saying goes - If it works do not fix it, If you like it use it, If you can Brag about it without lying - Then so Brag. Ea man/women has a there opinion - Are we not glad that not every body loves the same woman, same color, same car, I surely am Glad I'm different.

By Snuffy: I love all women, and like most men...