File explorer taking to long to open files on our domain server

Question

We are having problems opening files in the File Explorer from the domain server. Workstations can access local files and folders instantly. But access to server files is now taking five minutes or longer. Doesn't matter which workstation or who ois logged on. EVERYONE is having problems with the server. Had this problem last week and spent two hours on the server rebooting until it finally stopped being so slow. Here's what we have:

HP ProLiant DL320 Gen8

254 Gb RAM

Two 1 Tb hard drives in RAID

Running Windows Server 2019 and is up t date on updates.

What's causing this?

We only have 20 desktop/laptops on the domain. All desktops have their files mapped to the server where they are backed up on one for four external drives swapped weekly. Malware scans on the server show nothing. The File Explorer n the server exhibits the same problem trying to access the drive (partitioned into four logical dives).

It's now denying all access. The network is just fine. I can remote in to another computer and access the internet. Going to the server room and will power everything down (as in shut off all power to the server, the switches, cable modem and firewall similar to a power failure). We'll see if that works.

Answer 1

Update:

I did a "power failure" shutoff of the entire network in the server room. Even shut off the UPS's. Waited 15 seconds and restored power. It took almost five minutes for the server to boot up. After logging on, it took about 2 and a half minutes to get to and finish loading the desktop. I went to the File Explorer and was able to get fast access to files. BUT... the server management software that is supposed to launch on startup didn't. Neither was I able to use the start button or view system messages at the bottom right of the task bar. I could only launch apps on the taskbar or the from the desktop. I managed to right click on the start button and select Power and then Restart. Another 5 minutes later (2 and a half of which is HP BIOS stuff).... I get to the log on screen type in the username and password and wait another 3 minutes to get to the desktop. This time the server management software launched and I was able to use the start button.

Any suggestions to keep this from happening again?

Answer 2

Hello,

For the problem of slow startup of the server, it is recommended to remove the network cable and restart the test. If the startup is still slow without a network, try to start the safe mode to check. If it is normal in the safe mode, try a clean boot to exclude startup items, services, Caused by interference with third-party processes.

After the server is normal, connect to the Internet and test access to the file explorer.

Start your PC in safe mode in Windows - Microsoft Support

How to perform a clean boot in Windows - Microsoft Support

Best Regards,

Wesley Li

Answer 3

Safe mode and clean boot I will have to wait till after hours to play with that. Too many of us needing access NOW, if you know what I mean. It hasn't happened again since. There are only two third party apps installed on the server. Veritas Backup and Trend Micro AV. Neither of which has caused a significant bottleneck to drive access. The 1 Tb drives in the server are now about 5 or 6 years old. Maybe older. I do have new (well... 2 years old and still sealed) 4 TB drives to replace them with. We suffered a ransom ware attack two years ago and had to wipe everything out. Fortunately, only one of the four backup external drives was hit, so we only lost a few days worth of data. I trashed that drive and bought a replacement. I was gonna replace the drives then but the Corporate IT manager said to leave them in. I cringe at the possibility of having to replace them now. It will take HOURS to clone the drives and/or install Windows server 2019 again. Like a lot of people, IT isn't my only job. For now, I'm taking the approach: If it works, don't mess with it. Even though I know that soon enough I will have to...

Answer 4

Understand what you mean, it is recommended that you observe for a period of time to see if there will be similar problems.