I like using hotkeys on my Windows shortcuts.
Unfortunately, Windows 10 soon started delaying shortcut launch by 3 seconds when I was using hotkey to start.
Mouse double-click on shortcut was still fast.
Root of the problem is described here:
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http://superuser.com/questions/426947/slow-windows-desktop-keyboard-shortcutsbefore launching a program via its shortcut key, Windows first polls all currently running programs and asks "Is this your shortcut key?" If so it switches focus to that window rather than spinning up a new copy of the program.
The problem happens when a window somewhere refuses to answer the question. This can be a program that's generally non-responsive for some reason, though it can also happen for other reasons (see below). Windows waits 3 seconds before muttering "jerk" under its breath and moving on to the next window to ask it the same shortcut question.
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For me the "non-responsive" program turned out to be MP3 Skype Recorder (and possibly something else).
But what do I do if I still want to run MP3 Skype Recorder?
The final fix is 15 years old (2001):
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https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3068501. Start Registry Editor.
2. Locate and then click the following registry key:
3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager
4. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
5. Type SafeDllSearchMode in the Value name box, and then press ENTER.
6. Double-click the new value that you created in step 4, set this value to 1, and then click OK.
Quit Registry Editor.
7. Restart Windows for the change to take effect.
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Problem solved: no need to close my irresponsible MP3 Skype Recorder service and my Google Chrome starts immediately when I press Ctrl-Alt-G
Update: I'm getting 3-seconds delays again.
:-(
WTF.