Windows Vista suffers from a bug that causes many machines to stall while deleting, copying and moving files, a flaw that has provoked consternation in online forums.“I’ve seen this bug in action, and trust me, it’s as if you’re copying over a 64k link using only 256mb of RAM,” one Reg reader complained. “To add to the problem, you can’t cancel or anything.”
According to a thread on Microsoft’s TechNet site, Microsoft has issued a hotfix for the problem, but it has failed to quell the outrage. For one thing, individual users must get Microsoft’s approval before the fix can be downloaded, according to our tipster. And for another, hotfixes are more of a pain to install than patches.
We’ve contacted a Microsoft spokeswoman, who promised to see if a patch for the problem in the works. Meanwhile, Vista users continue to grumble.
“I simply can not believe that I updated to a new computer and put windows Vista on it to find that it’s not even capable of moving and deleting files in an efficient manner,” one disaffected user posted in the Microsoft forum. “Microsoft must be kidding! The most basic of features that I use all the time is a slow train wreck.” ®
I can attest to this and a few other bugs from experience. >:(
This happened in virtual Vista installations in the past 
I thought they have corrected it but, as far I could see
I wonder how Microsoft managed to mess up such a basic feature as copying. Then they come out with a fix and you have to get approval to use it >:(
Just a sec. while I climb onto my hobby horse…
Windows Explorer/file management and find/search efficiency has not advanced since 95 and actually deteriorated with “browser integration” in 98 and the clumsy interface of XP.
I’m not anti-Microsoft (and I think I even like Bill Gates) but it beggars belief that Vista (WOW!) still has problems with such mundane matters and still (someone correct me here if I’m wrong) can’t cope with a locked file in a multiple-file cut/copy by operating on the ones it can and reporting the ones it couldn’t, rather than aborting the entire operation!
Better get off this horse before it throws me, “Easy, easy now ‘95OSR2’. we’ve been through a lot together haven’t we old girl.”
Ok, you have to be a real nutcase to run Vista on just 256MB of RAM…
Hi RejZoR
I think the article’s author would agree with you. He quotes an unnamed Register reader as saying the effect of the “stall” is “as if you’re copying over a 64k link using only 256mb of RAM”. He doesn’t mention the actual spec of the machine.
cheers
Vlad
have to be a nutcase to have vista at all…looks like i’m one ;D
poor bill-he had a rough time-now he should explain it to everyone why it doesn’t work that good :
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=198700108&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_News
Skeptics took a guess that Microsoft wouldn’t sell many Vista versions, but it looks like that guess has been squashed.
Microsoft sold 20 million boxes of Vista in the first month it was out. Compare that to 17 million copies of XP over the first two months it was available. Its quite a stretch given the few issues that usually pop up with any new operating system, many people usually tend to wait until things smooth over before purchasing.
Microsoft said that it did expect there would be a rush when it first came out, and bet on the fact that it would be their fastest selling operating system ever.
No word yet on how many of the copies sold were from manufacturers like Dell, HP, and Toshiba, versus how many boxed copies were bought off store shelves
i know it has nothing to do with this topic…but its still something to do with vista(wish it would work right all the time) :
I think lots of users grabbed opportunity for OEM version which is like 1/3 of the entire retail price.
At least i know i did. I was building a new system and i said what the heck not, if i gave over 1100 euros for entire new PC, those extra 125 euros for Vista Home Premium isn’t that much. And i’m quiet happy with decision. Vista is kewl. Though i’m running it on 2GB RAM, not 256MB…
i guess eventually vista will get the bugs worked out of it being new and all…its running on 4GB on my system…just wish everything would run on vista…they will in time :o