Windows 7 - Grrrr

stevenrw · Jan 30, 2012, 16:24:08

I hate it. Wish I'd stayed with XP.
Grump.
Here's the latest little gem.
I've noticed thet my weekly scan with ESET has been taking longer and longer. Several hours in fact. It was taking forever to scan Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\ArtCache\LocalIMLS.
There seemed to be zillions of jpg,s in there.
So I did a bit of digging and came up with this

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_programs/windows-7-keeps-on-writing-thousands-of-jpg-files/5c263f66-472d-4c1c-99d9-be8fc18ebea8

Of course, to get access to these files to delete them W7 has to change permissions on every file (bless it) and I'm up to 1 1/2 hrs so far, trying to get into the Network Service level so I can drill down and delete these cached files.
So if you are wondering where all your harddrive space went - this may be the answer.
I can't believe Windows really needs to store all this garbage or that nobody at Microsoft has not had one of those "slap the forehead" moments yet.

A huge improvement on Vista (which was never going to be difficult) but why can't they make another os that was as user friendly as XP?

Grrrr

Simon · Jan 30, 2012, 16:58:35

I knew there was a reason not to upgrade from XP.

psp83 · Jan 30, 2012, 17:12:22

Have you tried the takeown command?

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753024(WS.10).aspx

Use at your own risk though.

psp83 · Jan 30, 2012, 17:24:18

Or another way (if you know linux commands).

Install cygwin on your pc and this will give you linux commands.

Run Cygwin Terminal, Navigate to the folder then remove.

Code Select

cd c:
cd c:"Windows/ServiceProfiles/NetworkService/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Media Player/Art Cache/LocalMLS"
rm *.jpg

stevenrw · Jan 30, 2012, 17:54:32

thanks a lot for your suggestions psp, but both those routines are a bit out of my comfort zone. I'm still waiting for the permissions. I may have to let it run overnight at this rate..

esh · Jan 30, 2012, 18:37:54

Just to clarify, this appears to be an issue with Media Player rather than Windows 7. I suggest just finding something that is not Media Player

Technical Ben · Jan 30, 2012, 18:54:58

I know this is not the solution, but ever thought about using windows maleware scanner/virus scanner? Works a treat in Windows 7.

[edit]
My folder is empty. It contains a total of zero .jpgs.

Mind you, the FIRST thing I did after installing Windows 7 is set it up like XP.

.Griff. · Jan 30, 2012, 19:04:21

I use Windows Media Player and all the library content has the correct artwork etc but my localMLS folder is empty. Clearly not a specific Windows 7 and/or WMP issue. Probably some rogue piece of software causing the issue.

Glenn · Jan 30, 2012, 19:20:03

I'm not seeing the problem on my Win 7 machine.

stevenrw · Jan 30, 2012, 19:22:10

Mmmm - thats interesting. I don't use WMP, I use Winamp. I wonder if that is doing it?

.Griff. · Jan 30, 2012, 19:26:26

Quote from: stevenrw on Jan 30, 2012, 19:22:10
Mmmm - thats interesting. I don't use WMP, I use Winamp. I wonder if that is doing it?

Could be but looking through Google I've seen iTunes users have the same issue.

I've used WMP and Windows 7 for over two years on a number of machines and on every one that folder is empty so I don't think WMP is to blame.

psp83 · Jan 30, 2012, 19:43:41

Quote from: Technical Ben on Jan 30, 2012, 18:54:58
My folder is empty. It contains a total of zero .jpgs.

If you go to the folder the normal way, mine is empty as well..

But if I use cygwin and do " ls -l " the folder contain hidden images ( I have show hidden files on as well )

.Griff. · Jan 30, 2012, 19:55:00

So it's not empty but 0.3 MB isn't anything to concern myself with and manually checking each image they correspond to the number of albums in my WMP library.

Baz · Jan 30, 2012, 19:56:55

this is interesting as my son says his laptop has been really slow lately,Win7 and he has a good size music collection but doesnt use mediaplayer so would it still have this effect even if its installed on the machine

Glenn · Jan 30, 2012, 19:59:09

Get him to have a look.

Baz · Jan 30, 2012, 20:00:38

yeah will do its annoying when things like this happen for no 'apparent' reason.

hes out at the minute will let you know though

Baz · Jan 30, 2012, 20:03:42

at the link from stevenrw in the first reply it mentions deleting the folder and making a new one,is it possible to do that

.Griff. · Jan 30, 2012, 20:08:45

It appears that the problem is caused by Media Player network sharing service which can, but not always, go haywire and cache the artwork over and over again thousands of times even if you don't use WMP.

Here's how to resolve it - http://www.mydigitallife.info/how-to-disable-windows-7-media-player-network-sharing-service-wmpnetwk/

You'll note from some of the comments people had the same issue as you stevenrw and this resolved it.

stevenrw · Jan 30, 2012, 20:58:16

Yep, I've taken the recommended steps to disable the Network Sharing service, but I've obviously got a massive volume of files in there since W7 has been setting the permissions for about 4 hours now and he green status bar is still going. Once that is completed I can get to the folder and clear it out. Some people were saying (in the original post) that their scan was taking in the order of 20 hours and they discovered jpgs in the order of hundreds of thousands! I'm resigned to the prospect of leaving it chundering away overnight setting permissions. At least once it is done I'll be able to keep it clear. I may fire off something to the Winamp developer forum to see if that is the villain here. I'll get back to you with any developments, but I may be some time......

stevenrw · Jan 30, 2012, 21:00:59

at the link from stevenrw in the first reply it mentions deleting the folder and making a new one,is it possible to do that

I guess once you have permission you can delete, but I'm just gonna delete the files within it - if I ever get access

Ray · Jan 31, 2012, 09:17:32

Quote from: stevenrw on Jan 30, 2012, 19:22:10
Mmmm - thats interesting. I don't use WMP, I use Winamp. I wonder if that is doing it?

I can confirm that it is Winamp creating these files, I've just removed it from one of my Win 7 machines that had over 1400 of these jpg files, after removing Winamp they are all gone.

stevenrw · Jan 31, 2012, 13:33:10

Update: Yep, I can confirm that we have a problem Houston. 676653 jpegs in the folder! To make matters worse, I (stupidly) have a 5400rpm ECO drive for the system disk, so I expect to be here for some time deleting this lot.
Just as an aside, the filenames are in brackets like registry keys, so if you do not turn on "show system files" you won't see the buggers. Hidden files will not show them.
I might just select the lot in one go, hit delete and go away for a few days....

psp83 · Jan 31, 2012, 13:58:56

Thats why cygwin & rm *.jpg is alot easier

You don't have to worry about permissions and cli is faster

stevenrw · Jan 31, 2012, 14:38:54

Had a response to a post I put on the Winamp Tech Support forum.
"Not me guv" is the general gisst, but this comes from one of the Moderators there so I can only assume he knows the product.

Quote"that's not from Winamp. that folder is the cache used by the 'Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service' which is matched by quite a few search results like from http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...php?p=43166538 on what is going on and how to disable it - as it looks like it's down to handling sharing of details of media in other Windows Media Player (WMP) libraries on the network - definitely not something Winamp does."

Baz · Jan 31, 2012, 18:04:20

well we checked my sons laptop and the folder didnt have any files in it.could they be hidden.we had to show all files before actually seeing the folder so is this the same for files and if so how do you show them

thanks