Why is Windows slow to open subdirectories of directories that I've opened from a shortcut?

Question

I've got a problem with Windows XP that's bugging me. I have several shortcuts from my desktop to the directories I use most often. When I open these directories using these shortcuts everything works fine; but when I then try to navigate to a subdirectory there is a huge (10s) pause. Is there any obvious solution?

Answer 1

Process Monitor from Sysinternals is good for figuring out what is going on.

This can be caused by a number of reasons including

1) if the anti-virus is scanning a large program
2) If there is a shortcut pointing to a location which is slow 
   or unavailable (eg Network drive or removable storage device)
3) If a data file is registered to a program stored on a location which is
   slow or unavailable.
4) If you have a large number of files and your icon cache is corrupt, then 
   you can spend time rebuilding the cache.

The file summary option of process monitor is helpful in determining if other locations are been accessed.