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How can any of you use Windows 8.1 Update 1?

3K views 41 replies 12 participants last post by  alfaclvi 
#1 ·
There are many threads across many forums that I read where people complain that the desktop icons freeze when you reboot, then become active after 1 minute. Also in any explorer Window, the icons will appear white/blank for 1 minute as well, then everything starts to work normally..

I have experienced this on multiple install of Windows 8.1 update on different laptops

Please tell me how can you guys tolerate this?

It wasn't the case in Windows 7, 8, or 8.1

just the update 1

Anyone Noticed Desktop Icons Not Responsive on Win 8.1 Update 1
 
#2 ·
Luckily I've not suffered from this, but then again I don't use desktop icons much. I guess I can think of 3 ways around this problem.
1) Pin short cuts to the taskbar rather than using desktop icons.
2) Pin short cuts to Metro UI and launch program from there (Not ideal!)
2) Remove the update. It offers nothing much.
 
#5 ·
I think I have a similar or the same issue and also didn't quite find out what's wrong and how to fix it. What I found is that replacing Windows Defender with Avast will at least make the start up of explorer.exe go fine. Disabling Windows Defender's active protection does not help! It has to be completely replaced.

What's still broken is the first time I open a file browser window. The icons won't show up in the first folder I browse into (it shows some default icon instead). If I wait a minute or so, icons eventually show up. If I close the window early and re-open it, the file explorer will be broken until that minute is over. All of this is only the first time I open a File Explorer after boot and won't happen again afterwards (I think).

I have OneDrive disabled through Group Policy.
 
#6 ·
After a couple of different installs I have yet to encounter any problems with W8.1U1; if anything I'm starting to like W8 thanks to this update. By the sounds of the issues it's probably some combination of drivers and maybe even drive configuration messing with the UI loading. Maybe try out some different video card drivers, or check for chipset and SATA updates.
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by deepor View Post

I think I have a similar or the same issue and also didn't quite find out what's wrong and how to fix it. What I found is that replacing Windows Defender with Avast will at least make the start up of explorer.exe go fine. Disabling Windows Defender's active protection does not help! It has to be completely replaced.

What's still broken is the first time I open a file browser window. The icons won't show up in the first folder I browse into (it shows some default icon instead). If I wait a minute or so, icons eventually show up. If I close the window early and re-open it, the file explorer will be broken until that minute is over. All of this is only the first time I open a File Explorer after boot and won't happen again afterwards (I think).

I have OneDrive disabled through Group Policy.
that'smy exact same issue

if you don't disable OneDrive, you won't have this issue

but I've always disabled OneDrive in the past with no problem

that's mypoint

I might have to just install Windows 8 and forget about 8.1. I can't live with this bug it's so annoying
 
#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by MightEMatt View Post

After a couple of different installs I have yet to encounter any problems with W8.1U1; if anything I'm starting to like W8 thanks to this update. By the sounds of the issues it's probably some combination of drivers and maybe even drive configuration messing with the UI loading. Maybe try out some different video card drivers, or check for chipset and SATA updates.
it happens with or without the drivers installed dawg
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by berryracer View Post

it happens with or without the drivers installed dawg
Keep Windows 8.1, but just remove update 1. It bring nothing to the table.
 
#10 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by BradleyW View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by berryracer View Post

it happens with or without the drivers installed dawg
Keep Windows 8.1, but just remove update 1. It bring nothing to the table.
it's not a choice I figured, it comes through windows updates not like when you can disable it through a registry entry like when we were on windows 8 to prevent it from nagging to update to windows 8.1
 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by berryracer View Post

it's not a choice I figured, it comes through windows updates not like when you can disable it through a registry entry like when we were on windows 8 to prevent it from nagging to update to windows 8.1
Of course it's a choice. Just tell MS update to never download and install updates. I always pick and choose the updates I want without any error or issue.
 
#12 ·
Another strange thing I noticed which might help to find what's causing the issue:

I use a tool called "Dexpot" that can create virtual desktops. It has a plugin where it draws the tiny previews of the contents of those desktops inside the task-bar. What's interesting is that Dexpot starts up instantly if I use "netplwiz" to disable the password prompt at start-up to have auto-logon of my normal account. If the password prompt is there, Dexpot will start up very slow, take a minute before it shows up in the task-bar and stuff. The same can be seen if I log out and log back in without restart.

I think what might happen there is that some service is causing that minute delay. With auto-logon, the PC starts so fast that this service is not yet running when the desktop shows up and Dexpot starts. How do I diagnose which service might be at fault?

I already tried disabling all non-Microsoft services in msconfig as an experiment but not change, so I guess it must be something Microsoft.

EDIT:

I also tried disabling all third-party shell extensions loaded into explorer.exe (with ShellExView) to make sure it's not explorer.exe hanging because of one of those.
 
#13 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by deepor View Post

Another strange thing I noticed which might help to find what's causing the issue:

I use a tool called "Dexpot" that can create virtual desktops. It has a plugin where it draws the tiny previews of the contents of those desktops inside the task-bar. What's interesting is that Dexpot starts up instantly if I use "netplwiz" to disable the password prompt at start-up to have auto-logon of my normal account. If the password prompt is there, Dexpot will start up very slow, take a minute before it shows up in the task-bar and stuff. The same can be seen if I log out and log back in without restart.

I think what might happen there is that some service is causing that minute delay. With auto-logon, the PC starts so fast that this service is not yet running when the desktop shows up and Dexpot starts. How do I diagnose which service might be at fault?

I already tried disabling all non-Microsoft services in msconfig as an experiment but not change, so I guess it must be something Microsoft.

EDIT:

I also tried disabling all third-party shell extensions loaded into explorer.exe (with ShellExView) to make sure it's not explorer.exe hanging because of one of those.
I don't even have a password on my account

Tried with both local and MS account login, same issue

offcourse when using the ms account I do disable the password prompt via netplwiz
 
#15 ·
One thing to be aware of is that in early May Microsoft is dropping update support for 8.1 if you dont have Update 1.

Dont ask me how that makes sense, but its whats happening
 
#17 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by StriickeN View Post

I had many problems like this with regular windows 8.1, so I just re-installed 7 and got rid of that garbage.
LOL

Quote:
Originally Posted by StriickeN View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilWrir View Post

One thing to be aware of is that in early May Microsoft is dropping update support for 8.1 if you dont have Update 1.

Dont ask me how that makes sense, but its whats happening
I wonder what is going on with them lately, I think they're crazy.
Windows 8 has failed so badly compared to 7 that they are going berserk and just don't know what to do anymore.... disable updatees.....integrate OneDrive heavily into the OS forcing people to use it... unresolved bugs such as the one I am experiencing with others above.....I wish I can just fast forward 2 years and install Windows 9
and end this joke
 
#18 ·
I found out what my problem is but don't know how to fix it while staying with a local account and without OneDrive/SkyDrive.

So, my problem is the File Explorer not working quite right at first start and I'm not sure if it's the same problem that OP has. It locks up for a while, can't show contents of "This PC" for example.

While it was doing its thing (green progress bar at the top and stuff), I had Event Viewer open and found out that one error message related to OneDrive is showing up the moment the File Explorer window is starting to work again.

It was this event:

"The server {1B1F472E-3221-4826-97DB-2C2324D389AE} did not register with DCOM within the required timeout." -- (Event ID) 10010, (Source) Distributed COM

So I guess if I could fix those errors in the Event Viewer, the File Explorer behavior would be fixed.

Doing some research, that code is tied to a DCOM thingy named SyncEngineCOMServer and somewhere in the Registry skydrive.exe is being mentioned.

If I switch to a Microsoft Account and re-enable OneDrive in the group policies, there's no error in the Event Viewer and the File Explorer works right at the first start, so it's really that error and it's really OneDrive.
 
#19 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by deepor View Post

I found out what my problem is but don't know how to fix it while staying with a local account and without OneDrive/SkyDrive.

So, my problem is the File Explorer not working quite right at first start and I'm not sure if it's the same problem that OP has. It locks up for a while, can't show contents of "This PC" for example.

While it was doing its thing (green progress bar at the top and stuff), I had Event Viewer open and found out that one error message related to OneDrive is showing up the moment the File Explorer window is starting to work again.

It was this event:

"The server {1B1F472E-3221-4826-97DB-2C2324D389AE} did not register with DCOM within the required timeout." -- (Event ID) 10010, (Source) Distributed COM

So I guess if I could fix those errors in the Event Viewer, the File Explorer behavior would be fixed.

Doing some research, that code is tied to a DCOM thingy named SyncEngineCOMServer and somewhere in the Registry skydrive.exe is being mentioned.

If I switch to a Microsoft Account and re-enable OneDrive in the group policies, there's no error in the Event Viewer and the File Explorer works right at the first start, so it's really that error and it's really OneDrive.
that is my issue exactly!!! seems like we are forced to keep one drive's ugly icon and have it running in the taskbar if we don't want this error!!
 
#21 ·
I fixed the problem but I don't know how.

I did a few things differently this time.

1) Instead of Installing my Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center, I installed my Windows 8.1 Single Language Update 1 ISO. Who knows, maybe that Group Policy Editor in Windows 8.1 Pro is causing delays at startup, I have no idea but this is what worked for me.

2) Instead of signing in with a Microsoft Account, this time I signed in with a local account and kept it that way, OneDrive requires you to be signed in with a Microsoft Account to work.

3) Instead of using Group Policy Editor to disable OneDrive like I usually did and used to see this message in Event Viewer which was probably the cause of the initial 1 minute freeze: "The server {1B1F472E-3221-4826-97DB-2C2324D389AE} did not register with DCOM within the required timeout." -- (Event ID) 10010, (Source) Distributed COMwhich caused the event log to be busy during startup

4) I disabled UAC completely, both from Control Panel and using a registry trick, this in turn, does not allow OneDrive to run since UAC is disable

5) I usually rename "ThisPC" to "Computer", this time I thought what the heck, let me not mess around with the OS so I left it with its default name

6) I used to go into the Star Menu folder located in: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu and delete the Photos and OneDrive shortcut as I never need that crappy Photos App nor OneDrive, but this time when I tried to delete them, I noticed a warning message saying "If you delete this shortcut some programs might stop to work or something like that" so I left them alone

6) I did not install StartIsBack

I don't know what exactly fixed the issue. But I'm glad it's fixed
 
#23 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShortySmalls View Post

Hmm, ive not ran into any problems with the update, my icons work fine and don't take any time to load.
Did you install any Start Menu replacement app?
 
#24 ·
I also had this issue on my gaming desktop and ultrabook, but the only thing i remember doing to solve the problem was disabling hkcmd module and persistence module from startup in task manager. I also disabled other apps too but i can't remember which specific ones.

The start up slow down issue has never occured again after doing that, but i do have one-drive enabled on the both of them (if that makes a difference idk)...
tongue.gif
.
 
#26 ·
wait I've been having issues with my windows 8 install, once I log on it takes more than a minute for the desktop to showup.

Taskmgr works fine. It's almost like explorer was disabled but isn't it's taking a long time to startup. There was no errors in event viewer and I'm using a local account that was once set as microsoft account. Could it be skydrive casuing issues?
 
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