Large File System Operations May Slow Keystroke Command Performance (267020)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

This article was previously published under Q267020

SYMPTOMS

After performing a large file system operation under Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, you may discover that the system does not respond to some keystroke commands. After several minutes, however, you are able to use the same keystroke commands without problem.

For instance, after you copy a 900-megabyte (MB) file from a local hard disk to a network share, if you immediately then press CTRL+ESC to make the Start menu appear, or if you press the R key with the Start menu already open to invoke the Run dialog box, neither command works. The Start menu item is highlighted, but the Run dialog box does not appear. Several minutes after you copy the file, however, these keystroke operations work without any problem.

This behavior does not occur when you use the mouse to perform these same actions.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because Windows Millennium Edition is using almost all of its system resources to flush the file system cache. Large file operations such as this slow down the process.

The severity of the keystroke command slowdown depends on the free resources available to the system, meaning that the system may not behave the same way every time this situation occurs.

WORKAROUND

As a workaround, after concluding a large file operation, either wait a few minutes before you try to use any keystroke commands, or use the mouse to perform the operations.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/28/2004
Keywords:kbprb KB267020