Microsoft KB Archive/932170

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When you copy large files to or from earlier operating systems, the copy operation may be slower than expected on some Windows Vista-based computers

Article ID: 932170

Article Last Modified on 7/9/2007



APPLIES TO

  • Windows Vista Business
  • Windows Vista Enterprise
  • Windows Vista Home Basic
  • Windows Vista Home Premium
  • Windows Vista Ultimate



SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario:

  • On a Windows Vista-based computer, you copy files to or from another computer on a network.
  • This other computer is a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer or a Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based computer.
  • These files are each 100 megabytes (MB) or larger.
  • You use Windows Explorer to copy the files. For example, you use a drag-and-drop operation in Windows Explorer to copy the files.

In this scenario, the file transfer operation may be slightly slower than expected. This problem occurs only in certain hardware configurations. This problem does not occur when you copy files to or from another Windows Vista-based computer.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, you may be able to use one of the following methods to improve the speed of large file transfers:

  • Method 1: Disable the Windows Explorer Navigation Pane

    To disable the Windows Explorer Navigation Pane, follow these steps:
    1. Click Start[GRAPHIC: Start button ], and then click Computer.
    2. Click Organize, point to Layout, and then click Navigation Pane.
  • Method 2: Map a network drive

    Map a network drive to the folder that contains the files that you want to copy. To do this, use one of the following methods:
    • Method A: Use the Windows user interface
      1. Click Start[GRAPHIC: Start button ], right-click Computer, and then click Map Network Drive.
      2. Type the path of the network folder in the Folder box, and then click Finish. For example, type \\computer_name\shared_folder_name, and then click Finish.
    • Method B: Start a command prompt, and then map the drive by using net use command
      1. Click Start[GRAPHIC: Start button ], type cmd in the Start Search box, and then click cmd in the Programs list.
      2. Type Net use x:\\computer_name\shared_folder_name, where x: is the letter of the drive that you want to assign to the shared resource.
      3. Press ENTER.
  • Method 3: Use Robocopy

    Use the Robocopy utility that is included with Windows Vista to copy the files. For example, type the following command at a command prompt, and then press ENTER:

    Robocopy source_path destination_path file_name

    For more information about how to use Robocopy, type Robocopy /? at a command prompt, and then press ENTER.
  • Method 4: Disable the automatic adjustment for the TCP window size on the network

    Use one of the following methods to disable the automatic adjustment for the TCP window size on the network.

    Method A
    1. Click Start[GRAPHIC: Start button ], click All Programs, and then click Accessories.
    2. Right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as Administrator.

      [GRAPHIC: User Account Control permission ] If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type your password, or click Continue.
    3. Type netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.

    For more information, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

    Method B

    Enable the "offload checksum" function of the network adapter. For information about how to do this, contact the manufacturer of the network adapter. For information about how to contact the manufacturer of the network adapter, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    65416 Hardware and software vendor contact information, A-K

    60781 Hardware and software vendor contact information, L-P

    60782 Hardware and software vendor contact information, Q-Z

    Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

    For more information about the meaning of the offload checksum, visit the following Microsoft Web site:


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

Keywords: kbhowto kbtshoot kbbug kbexpertiseinter kbexpertisebeginner KB932170