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By the way Criptolocker apparently works, there’s no assurance that it will not encrypt all files kept on line with the infected computer. So, for home users, it would mean that you should not let an external HD stay connected after imaging or backing up files, which would mean that automatic backups couldn’t be done. Also, that backing up files on a network isn’t safe either.

Hi Woodworm. I think the clue is in the 45 seconds, it is a network access timeout, clearly to a resource you don’t need. If I’m right, I’m not 100% at diagnosing the exact problem but I have fixed it in many cases.

What is probably happening is that Windows (bless its little heart) is trying to be super helpful and find all your files for you even if they’re not there any more!

A prime candidate used to to be the Web Client service – that would try for 45 seconds to locate a missing folder on t’internet. Disabling the service cured the problem. In Win7 I see it is a manual startup by default so maybe won’t be the problem unless you see it is started on your PC (click start and search for “services”)

A common trigger is receiving a WORD document from an external source that used a template held on a network drive accessed by a UNC path – Windows tries to find the template on the web, when it fails it doesn’t worry you about it but the process takes 45 sec. Similarly once open it tries to access the template again on closing. I’ve had to tell people to copy the content to a new file in some cases.

I’ve also, specifically in Win7, seen issues with Windows indexing large folders (typically network shares). Local folders stay indexed unless on removeable drives, network ones don’t and they can be huge. If you get a green progress bar in the path box in My Computer when you open a folder that is the search indexer working away. The file/open box is basically a stripped down Explorer window and maybe it waits for the search to complete instead of letting you in straightaway. Searching of course may take any amount of time so I’m not pressing that idea.

Finally, if you are on a complicated network there may be redundant paths, one of which is preferred but dead. I once found that on a corporate network and tried in vain to persuade their IT gurus that was the problem – they just thought it was a long way to that office so it would be slow wouldn’t it! Eventually they agreed to bring in a network expert who spotted the problem in seconds. Again, probably not an issue with you

Overall, there must be a way of finding paths Windows searches by default that are not present. I don’t know how to do it, but if you can find one and kill the dead paths you should cure the problem.

Ian

The bit about Windows trying to find the Word template on the Web – you can cure that (at least in Word 2010) by having Word inspect the document and then remove the document properties and metadata, and saving the document. It’s easier than copying the content to a new file.

I have used Comodo Firewall since it was first offered, and am presently using it on three Windows XP SP3 computers. I never had any problems with it interfering with any software. I don’t use their antivirus, owing to some unfavourable reviews, and use Avast instead in the same three machines.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the firewall.