Super slow opening my downloads folder

I have an exe file in my download folder that I half downloaded through utorrent (it's not piracy, a legit file from people who use bittorrent to distribute large files). I think I tried to open it while it was still sharing, that is, did not stop the upload. That actually froze my computer. When I restart in utorrent I set the file to be deleted. Unfortunately even though utorrent doesn't see that file anymore, it's still visible in my download folder.

Whenever I try to open my download folder it literally takes 10 minutes or more. It opens, but is empty and the blue progress bar needs a long time to complete.

After completion I can use the download folder normally, but opening and closing things in that folder takes a long time. I see the exe that I tried to download. I tried to delete it. But it was taking so long 30+ minutes that I eventually just hit cancel. That doesn't even work, and it was slowing down the computer. Couldn't figure out how to stop the delete so I just pulled the plug.

Should I just forget about that dl folder and set a new one? Is there something I can do?

Thanks.

Solution 1:

I would delete that folder and create a new one.

If it will not delete, use this trick:

1. Open an elevated Command Prompt and leave it open.

2. Close all open programs.

3. Click Start, Run and enter TASKMGR.EXE.

4. Go to the Processes tab and End Process on Explorer.exe. Leave Task Manager open.

5. Go back to the Command Prompt window and navigate to the the folder (or other undeletable file) is located in. At the Command Prompt type DEL <filename> where <filename> is the file you wish to delete.

6. Go back to Task Manager, click File, New Task and enter EXPLORER.EXE to restart the GUI shell. Close Task Manager.

7. Run a chkdsk when this is done.

Solution 2:

Sometime ago I had the same problem, these steps worked for me:

1. open your download folder
2. right click in a white space and go to properties
3. select the tab "Customize"
4. in the dropdownlist of "Optimize this folder for:" select "General Items"

Solution 3:

1. Open Windows Explorer. On the left, right click on Libraries, select New, Library, name it "Downloads".

2. Right click on the new Downloads library, go to Properties, select Include a folder...

3. Locate and select the original Downloads folder from "My Computer, C:\Users\<your user profile>, find the Downloads folder, select it, click Include folder.

From now on, whenever you click on the Downloads folder, it will open instantly.