Microsoft KB Archive/905890

= A program may run very slowly if the network connection to your home folder is slow in Windows Server 2003 or in Windows XP =

Article ID: 905890

Article Last Modified on 10/11/2007

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APPLIES TO

 Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86) Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86) Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition for Itanium-Based Systems Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter x64 Edition</li> Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition</li> Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition</li> Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1, when used with: <ul> Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition</li></ul>

<ul> Microsoft Windows XP Professional</li></ul> </li> Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2, when used with: <ul> Microsoft Windows XP Professional</li></ul>

<ul> Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition</li></ul> </li></ul>

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For a Microsoft Windows 2000 version of this article, see 306850.

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SYMPTOMS
When you start a program in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or in Microsoft Windows XP, the program may run very slowly if the following conditions are true:
 * You start a program that does not have a Start in property.
 * The network connection to the mapped network share that contains your home folder is slow.

Additionally, when you log on to the computer, the logon process may be slower than expected if the following conditions are true:
 * The client computer must look for system DLL files in your home folder.
 * The network connection to the mapped network share that contains your home folder is slow.

For more information about a similar issue that has a different cause, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

306850 Programs start slowly or slow logon if the network connection to your home folder is slow

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CAUSE
This problem occurs because the program is slowed by a high-latency connection. A program that does not have a Start in property searches for DLL files in the current working folder first, and then the folders that are specified in the system path. The current working folder is typically your home folder. If your home folder is on a mapped network share and if the network connection to that share is a high-latency connection such as a wide area network (WAN) or a virtual private network (VPN), you may experience slow performance.

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Service pack information
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

889100 How to obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003

Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement
You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Prerequisites
To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) installed on the computer.

Restart requirement
You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Windows XP, x86-based versions with Service Pack 2
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WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, change the Start in property of the program shortcut to a folder on a local drive or to a computer that can be accessed over a low-latency connection.

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STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section. This problem was first corrected in Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2.

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MORE INFORMATION
After this hotfix is applied, you must configure the registry manually to enable the preemptive path search:

When the value of this registry entry is set to &quot;1,&quot; the computer first searches the folders that are specified in the system path, and then searches the current working folder. When the value of this registry entry is set to &quot;0,&quot; the computer first searches the current working folder, and then searches the folders that are specified in the system path. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Technical support for Windows x64 editions
Your hardware manufacturer provides technical support and assistance for Microsoft Windows x64 editions. Your hardware manufacturer provides support because a Windows x64 edition was included with your hardware. Your hardware manufacturer might have customized the Windows x64 edition installation with unique components. Unique components might include specific device drivers or might include optional settings to maximize the performance of the hardware. Microsoft will provide reasonable-effort assistance if you need technical help with your Windows x64 edition. However, you might have to contact your manufacturer directly. Your manufacturer is best qualified to support the software that your manufacturer installed on the hardware.

For product information about Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/default.mspx

For product information about Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 editions, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/64bit/x64/default.mspx

Additional query words: kbShell links kbbillprodsweep search path order SafeDllSearchMode SafeProcessSearchMode Winx64 Windowsx64 64bit 64-bit

Keywords: kbqfe kbexpertiseadvanced kbhotfixserver kbwinserv2003sp2fix KB905890

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