XP slow at starting avi playback

[grindlestone]

I have a dual boot system running Win2k and XP. I notice that the time it takes XP to begin playing a large avi file (2gig) in XP is about TWICE that in 2k. Typically it takes XP 5-6 seconds to begin playing the selected files, and about 2-3 seconds under 2k.

Does anyone have an explanation as to why this would be so? Both are new, fully updated intalls (sp4 and sp2 respectively) on sepatate partitions on my primary disc (Seagate 40g). The avi files are held on my secondary disc (Seagate 160g) and on both systems are being played with the latest version of Media Player Classic.

DMA is set up properly in XP and both installs have identical drivers etc. The Cpu is an Athlon 2600.

Is there some setting that i have missed in XP that's causing this slowness?

[Axed]

XP by default shows little thumbnail preview thingies which will slow your system down. Search for a registry fix to turn it off.

[Sharktooth]

regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll

No more previews, no more crashes or "undeletable" avi files and faster system response times...

[grindlestone]

Thanks for the help,

I never use the preview view, but I deleted this registry key anyway:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}

It cured the problem and stopped that 'File already in use" nonsense when trying to move/copy.

Is this the same as the fix you suggested Sharktooth? Should I do that as well?

Coming from Win2K, I find XP pretty crappy - so many issues...

[Axed]

What Sharktooth said wont harm your system in any way, but since the registry key works id say just stick with it. Might want to put the registry fix aside incase you need it again.

On this note, here is a link that might help you.. http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=27911 . Look at the second post, it has a file full of reg tweaks for XP.

[grindlestone]

OK, thanks for your help.