(SOLVED) File manager suddenly takes too long to start

[rdh61]

Since 2 days, after I start my computer, when I launch my file manager (Thunar) it takes to start up (at least 50 seconds) and load its contents (another 20 seconds at least). This is definitely new behaviour and very annoying. There are two things that have happened recently that might perhaps have provoked this:
1. It began after I plugged in a new external HD for the first time. But it also happens when the HD is not plugged in.
2. I have done a package upgrade (including kernel) in the last few days.
I would really like this not to be happening! What can I do?
Many thanks.

[Petermint]

The equivalent happens in Nemo when thumbnails are switched on. Was there a change to the display?

There can also be a problem in fstab when you add a new disk that has a partition with the same name. You have to make sure fstab is using UUID instead of a partition name or a device id like sdb. You could post your /etc/fstab for review.

[motoryzen]

Petermint is probably well on target here. Regardless. I found this forum post here about a year ago now that might be applicable enough to help

viewtopic.php?t=336884

Also do you deal in multiple desktops..aka " work spaces"? I ask because there is a change that if you have multiple workspaces, with multiple Thunar windows open across them, a crash in one of those windows might cause a delay in any attempt to open another Thunar window in another workspace. And you might not even know one Thunar instance in another workspace could have crashed until you go to that workspace to manually kill The thunar process if that is applicable enough.

Beyond that. I'm out of ideas for now.

[all41]

Temporarily make a new user in Users and Groups for troubleshooting your problem.
Log out an log back in as the new user--new users get a fresh set of config files.
How does thunar operate there?

[rdh61]

Thanks for all the responses. This has resolved after a new upgrade.

[motoryzen]

Thanks for all the responses. This has resolved after a new upgrade.

Pardon me but what new upgrade?

[rdh61]

Thanks for all the responses. This has resolved after a new upgrade.

Pardon me but what new upgrade?

Package upgrade.