I have the XP Pro with SP1 loaded. I can access c:\ normally with explorer to view and read files yet when I try to access the other partition D:\ through Explorer, it takes a couple of minutes before the drive can be accessed and files can be read, and the same thing happens if I open a new session of Windows Explorer.

Bizarre is the fact that I can access the D:\ Drive immediately using any other method such as through the \START\MY COMPUTER\D:\ , or through any application's file menu, or the Disk Management "Explore" option.

I've tried reformatting the partition and have researched everywhere to no avail...

- i have turned off\on indexing
- i have changed the sharing properties (ie on and off)
- i have adjusted security on the drive (ie giving "everyone" "Full Control")
- i have defraged, Scanned, Error checked
- i have used Partition Magic to review partition and all looks ok

As the files can be reviewed quickly with the "My Computer\d:\" method i would have to assume that this is a registry problem, and for the life of me i've tried everything except reformating the entire drive...but don't really want to do that until i have a new drive ready to go in...

If you can help it would be greatly appreciated...

Update: I purchased a new 80 gig and used a drive imaging program and copied the primary partition over to it from the older 40 gig one. The new drive now has two partitions one (with the OS on it) that is 25 gigs and the balance at 50 or so gigs.

The same characteristics (slow access to 2nd partition) are occuring with the new partition using the standard explorer browser. Again access via Start\My Computer\ 2nd partition works fine and access' very fast as expected.

Does anyone know what registry entries will effect the access / seek times to hard drives??

try to remove Windows XP ZIP services to speed up explorer by doing:

regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll

from "run" command, good luck.

That seemed to work... thanks.