Screen Freezing

stulish

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 6, 2013
Messages
61
Programming Experience
3-5
Hi i have created a program to collect data from many sensors (video capture, audio capture and sensor data like GPS, Speed etc), the data is saved to a temoporary directory depending on the minute if the minute is odd then it would be saved to something like 'D:\Temp\Odd' and if the current minute is even then the data is saved to the 'D:\Temp\Even'. then at 15 seconds past the minute the data in the directory not currently being saved to is compressed and backed up, then the files deleted. so if i am currently saving data to the 'D:\Temp\Even' directory then the data in the 'D:\Temp\Odd' directory will be backed up and the temp files deleted from the 'Odd' directory. so essentually in the backup locations you have lots of minute zip files saved in directories depending on date and hour.

This all works great and the operator can monitor the recorded data on screen, my problem is that every minute the data in the directory that is not currently being written too is compressed and backed up to 1, 2 or 3 locations, this all works fine, but during the compress and store the GUI freezes for upto 15 seconds.

Below is the FileSave class i use to do the compression and backing up of the data (this is the whole class just cut and pasted below), i compiled it into a DLL and then send the relevant data to the DLL before calling the 'Startcompress' function, the DLL then just continues doing its thing, i thought DLLs when called ran in a different thread so i didn't think this would happen, does anyone have any ideas how to stop the GUI freeze.

VB.NET:
[COLOR=blue][COLOR=blue]Imports[/COLOR] System.IO
[COLOR=blue]Imports[/COLOR] System.IO.Compression
[COLOR=blue]Imports[/COLOR] System.Windows.Forms
[COLOR=blue]Imports[/COLOR] System
[COLOR=blue]Imports[/COLOR] System.Diagnostics
[COLOR=blue]Imports[/COLOR] System.Reflection
<[COLOR=#2b91af]Serializable[/COLOR]()> [COLOR=blue]Structure[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]fileSettings[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Public[/COLOR] Temporary [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Public[/COLOR] Local [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Public[/COLOR] Fixed [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Public[/COLOR] Float [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR]
[COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Structure[/COLOR]
[COLOR=blue]Public[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Class[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]FileSave[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] fileLocations [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]fileSettings[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] SERIALnumber [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] attribSet [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Boolean[/COLOR] = [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] TempSizeRemain [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Int32[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] LocalSizeRemain [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Int32[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] FloatSizeRemain [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Int32[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] FixedSizeRemain [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Int32[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]WithEvents[/COLOR] TimeCheck [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]New[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Timer[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] lastComp [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Date[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] startcomp [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Date[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Public[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR] UpdateSettings([COLOR=blue]ByVal[/COLOR] SERnum [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR], [COLOR=blue]ByVal[/COLOR] LocalLocation [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR], [COLOR=blue]ByVal[/COLOR] FloatLocation [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR], [COLOR=blue]ByVal[/COLOR] FixedLocation [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR], [COLOR=blue]ByVal[/COLOR] TempLocation [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR], [COLOR=blue]ByVal[/COLOR] TempSize [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Int32[/COLOR], [COLOR=blue]ByVal[/COLOR] LocSize [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Int32[/COLOR], [COLOR=blue]ByVal[/COLOR] FloatSize [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Int32[/COLOR], [COLOR=blue]ByVal[/COLOR] FixedSize [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Int32[/COLOR]) [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Boolean[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
            SERIALnumber = SERnum
            fileLocations.Local = LocalLocation
            fileLocations.Fixed = FixedLocation
            fileLocations.Float = FloatLocation
            fileLocations.Temporary = TempLocation
            TempSizeRemain = TempSize
            LocalSizeRemain = LocSize
            FloatSizeRemain = FloatSize
            FixedSizeRemain = FixedSize
            lastComp = [COLOR=#2b91af]DateTime[/COLOR].Now
            attribSet = [COLOR=blue]True[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Catch[/COLOR] ex [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Exception[/COLOR]
            attribSet = [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Return[/COLOR] attribSet
    [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Public[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR] SetLastCompress([COLOR=blue]ByVal[/COLOR] LstComp [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Date[/COLOR]) [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Boolean[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] ret [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Boolean[/COLOR] = [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
            lastComp = LstComp
            ret = [COLOR=blue]True[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Catch[/COLOR] ex [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Exception[/COLOR]
            ret = [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Return[/COLOR] ret
    [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Public[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR] CompressFiles(TempFolderString [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR]) [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Boolean[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] RETVals [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Boolean[/COLOR] = [COLOR=blue]True[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] D, F, LocalFname, FloatFname, FixedFname [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR]
            D = Generate_Directory()
            F = Generate_FileName([COLOR=#a31515]",Archive,"[/COLOR], [COLOR=#a31515]".zip"[/COLOR], 1)
            [COLOR=green]'check if folder exists[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=green]'add to archive list [/COLOR]
            startcomp = [COLOR=#2b91af]DateTime[/COLOR].Now
            [COLOR=green]'generate filename and locations[/COLOR]
            LocalFname = fileLocations.Local & [COLOR=#a31515]"\Archive\"[/COLOR] & D & [COLOR=#a31515]"\"[/COLOR] & F
            FloatFname = fileLocations.Float & [COLOR=#a31515]"\Archive\"[/COLOR] & D & [COLOR=#a31515]"\"[/COLOR] & F
            FixedFname = fileLocations.Fixed & [COLOR=#a31515]"\Archive\"[/COLOR] & D & [COLOR=#a31515]"\"[/COLOR] & F
 
            [COLOR=green]'check if directory exists if not then create it[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]My[/COLOR].Computer.FileSystem.DirectoryExists(fileLocations.Local & [COLOR=#a31515]"\Archive\"[/COLOR] & D) = [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Then[/COLOR]
                [COLOR=blue]My[/COLOR].Computer.FileSystem.CreateDirectory(fileLocations.Local & [COLOR=#a31515]"\Archive\"[/COLOR] & D)
            [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]File[/COLOR].Exists(LocalFname) [COLOR=blue]Then[/COLOR]
                F = Generate_FileName([COLOR=#a31515]",Archive,"[/COLOR], [COLOR=#a31515]".zip"[/COLOR], 0)
                LocalFname = fileLocations.Local & [COLOR=#a31515]"\Archive\"[/COLOR] & D & [COLOR=#a31515]"\"[/COLOR] & F
                FloatFname = fileLocations.Float & [COLOR=#a31515]"\Archive\"[/COLOR] & D & [COLOR=#a31515]"\"[/COLOR] & F
                FixedFname = fileLocations.Fixed & [COLOR=#a31515]"\Archive\"[/COLOR] & D & [COLOR=#a31515]"\"[/COLOR] & F
                [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]File[/COLOR].Exists(LocalFname) [COLOR=blue]Then[/COLOR]
                    F = Generate_FileName([COLOR=#a31515]",Archive,"[/COLOR], [COLOR=#a31515]".zip"[/COLOR], 0 - 1)
                    LocalFname = fileLocations.Local & [COLOR=#a31515]"\Archive\"[/COLOR] & D & [COLOR=#a31515]"\"[/COLOR] & F
                    FloatFname = fileLocations.Float & [COLOR=#a31515]"\Archive\"[/COLOR] & D & [COLOR=#a31515]"\"[/COLOR] & F
                    FixedFname = fileLocations.Fixed & [COLOR=#a31515]"\Archive\"[/COLOR] & D & [COLOR=#a31515]"\"[/COLOR] & F
                [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=green]'compress the temporary files[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR] Compress_Files(TempFolderString, LocalFname) = [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Then[/COLOR]
                Housekeeping(fileLocations.Local)
                Housekeeping(fileLocations.Fixed)
                Housekeeping(fileLocations.Float)
                [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR] Compress_Files(TempFolderString, LocalFname) = [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Then[/COLOR] RETVals = [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR] RETVals = [COLOR=blue]True[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Then[/COLOR]
                [COLOR=green]'copy the file[/COLOR]
                [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR] Copy_Files(LocalFname, FloatFname) = [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Then[/COLOR]
                    Housekeeping(fileLocations.Local)
                    Housekeeping(fileLocations.Fixed)
                    Housekeeping(fileLocations.Float)
                    Copy_Files(LocalFname, FloatFname)
                [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR]
                [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR] Copy_Files(LocalFname, FixedFname) = [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Then[/COLOR]
                    Housekeeping(fileLocations.Local)
                    Housekeeping(fileLocations.Fixed)
                    Housekeeping(fileLocations.Float)
                    Copy_Files(LocalFname, FixedFname)
                [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR]
                [COLOR=green]'delete the temporary files[/COLOR]
                [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] DirFiles [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR]() = System.IO.[COLOR=#2b91af]Directory[/COLOR].GetFiles(fileLocations.Temporary & TempFolderString)
                [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] A [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Int16[/COLOR]
                [COLOR=blue]For[/COLOR] A = 0 [COLOR=blue]To[/COLOR] DirFiles.GetUpperBound(0)
                    System.IO.[COLOR=#2b91af]File[/COLOR].Delete(DirFiles(A))
                [COLOR=blue]Next[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] retval [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Boolean[/COLOR]
            retval = Housekeeping(fileLocations.Local)
            retval = Housekeeping(fileLocations.Fixed)
            retval = Housekeeping(fileLocations.Float)
            [COLOR=blue]Return[/COLOR] RETVals
        [COLOR=blue]Catch[/COLOR] ex [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Exception[/COLOR]
            startcomp = [COLOR=#2b91af]DateTime[/COLOR].Now.AddMinutes(-2)
            [COLOR=blue]Return[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Private[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR] Compress_Files([COLOR=blue]ByVal[/COLOR] TempFolderString [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR], [COLOR=blue]ByVal[/COLOR] LocalFname [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR]) [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Boolean[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] ret [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Boolean[/COLOR] = [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] sf [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]StackFrame[/COLOR] = [COLOR=blue]New[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]StackFrame[/COLOR]()
        [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] mb [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]MethodBase[/COLOR] = sf.GetMethod()
        [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=green]'compress the temporary files[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=#2b91af]ZipFile[/COLOR].CreateFromDirectory(fileLocations.Temporary & TempFolderString, LocalFname, [COLOR=#2b91af]CompressionLevel[/COLOR].Optimal, [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR])
            ret = [COLOR=blue]True[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Catch[/COLOR] ex [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Exception[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] sw [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] System.IO.[COLOR=#2b91af]StreamWriter[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR] System.IO.[COLOR=#2b91af]File[/COLOR].Exists([COLOR=#a31515]"D:\Error.txt"[/COLOR]) [COLOR=blue]Then[/COLOR]
                System.IO.[COLOR=#2b91af]File[/COLOR].Delete([COLOR=#a31515]"D:\Error.txt"[/COLOR])
                sw = [COLOR=blue]My[/COLOR].Computer.FileSystem.OpenTextFileWriter([COLOR=#a31515]"D:\Error.txt"[/COLOR], [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR])
                sw.WriteLine(ex.Message)
                sw.Close()
            [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR]
            ret = [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Return[/COLOR] ret
    [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Private[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR] Copy_Files([COLOR=blue]ByVal[/COLOR] LocalFname [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR], [COLOR=blue]ByVal[/COLOR] cFname [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR]) [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Boolean[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] ret [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Boolean[/COLOR] = [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]My[/COLOR].Computer.FileSystem.CopyFile(LocalFname, cFname)
            ret = [COLOR=blue]True[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Catch[/COLOR] ex [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Exception[/COLOR]
 
            ret = [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Return[/COLOR] ret
    [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Private[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR] Generate_Directory() [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] fname [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] Nows [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Date[/COLOR] = [COLOR=#2b91af]DateTime[/COLOR].Now.AddMinutes(-1)
        [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] startTargetDate [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]New[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]DateTime[/COLOR](Nows.Year, Nows.Month, Nows.Day, Nows.Hour, 0, 0)
        [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] format [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR] = [COLOR=#a31515]"yyyyMMdd-HHmm"[/COLOR]
        fname = startTargetDate.ToString(format)
        [COLOR=blue]Return[/COLOR] fname.Replace([COLOR=#a31515]"-"[/COLOR], [COLOR=#a31515]"\"[/COLOR])
    [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Private[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR] Generate_FileName([COLOR=blue]ByVal[/COLOR] fType [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR], [COLOR=blue]ByVal[/COLOR] Exten [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR], [COLOR=blue]ByVal[/COLOR] takeMins [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Int16[/COLOR]) [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] fname [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] Nows [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Date[/COLOR] = [COLOR=#2b91af]DateTime[/COLOR].Now.AddMinutes(-takeMins)
        [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] startTargetDate [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]New[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]DateTime[/COLOR](Nows.Year, Nows.Month, Nows.Day, Nows.Hour, Nows.Minute, 0)
        [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] format [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR] = [COLOR=#a31515]"yyMMdd,HHmmss"[/COLOR]
        fname = startTargetDate.ToString(format) & fType & SERIALnumber & Exten
        [COLOR=blue]Return[/COLOR] fname
    [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Private[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR] Housekeeping(fileLocation [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR])
        [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] lookForSize [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Int32[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] LocationString [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR] = [COLOR=#a31515]""[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] deleteNeeded [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Boolean[/COLOR] = [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]Select[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Case[/COLOR] fileLocation
                [COLOR=blue]Case[/COLOR] fileLocations.Temporary
                    lookForSize = TempSizeRemain
                    LocationString = fileLocations.Temporary
                [COLOR=blue]Case[/COLOR] fileLocations.Local
                    lookForSize = LocalSizeRemain
                    LocationString = fileLocations.Local
                [COLOR=blue]Case[/COLOR] fileLocations.Float
                    lookForSize = FloatSizeRemain
                    LocationString = fileLocations.Float
                [COLOR=blue]Case[/COLOR] fileLocations.Fixed
                    lookForSize = FixedSizeRemain
                    LocationString = fileLocations.Fixed
                [COLOR=blue]Case Else[/COLOR]
                    lookForSize = 0
            [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Select[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=green]'Check if the dive has more space than the value set in the INI file[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR] lookForSize <> 0 [COLOR=blue]Then[/COLOR]
                [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] Drives() [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]DriveInfo[/COLOR] = [COLOR=#2b91af]DriveInfo[/COLOR].GetDrives()
                [COLOR=blue]For[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Each[/COLOR] drive [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]DriveInfo[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]In[/COLOR] Drives
                    [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR] drive.Name = fileLocation.Substring(0, 3) [COLOR=blue]Then[/COLOR]
                        [COLOR=#2b91af]Debug[/COLOR].Print(drive.TotalFreeSpace / 1024 / 1024)
                        [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR] (drive.TotalFreeSpace / 1024 / 1024) < FixedSizeRemain [COLOR=blue]Then[/COLOR]
                            deleteNeeded = [COLOR=blue]True[/COLOR]
                        [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR]
                    [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR]
                [COLOR=blue]Next[/COLOR]
                [COLOR=green]'if the space is less than the value in the INI file then delete the oldest Folder[/COLOR]
                [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR] deleteNeeded = [COLOR=blue]True[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Then[/COLOR]
                    [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] DirPaths [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] Linq.[COLOR=#2b91af]IOrderedEnumerable[/COLOR]([COLOR=blue]Of[/COLOR] IO.[COLOR=#2b91af]DirectoryInfo[/COLOR]) = [COLOR=blue]New[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]DirectoryInfo[/COLOR](LocationString & [COLOR=#a31515]"\Archive\"[/COLOR]).GetDirectories().OrderBy([COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR](c [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]DirectoryInfo[/COLOR]) c.CreationTime)
                    [COLOR=#2b91af]Directory[/COLOR].Delete(LocationString & [COLOR=#a31515]"\Archive\"[/COLOR] & DirPaths(0).Name, [COLOR=blue]True[/COLOR])
                [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR]
 
            [COLOR=blue]Return[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]True[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Catch[/COLOR] ex [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Exception[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]Return[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Public[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Sub[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]New[/COLOR]()
        TimeCheck.Interval = 1000
        TimeCheck.Enabled = [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Sub[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Public[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR] GetLastComp()
        [COLOR=blue]Return[/COLOR] lastComp
    [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Private[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Sub[/COLOR] TimeCheck_Tick(sender [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Object[/COLOR], e [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]EventArgs[/COLOR]) [COLOR=blue]Handles[/COLOR] TimeCheck.Tick
        [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] sf [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]StackFrame[/COLOR] = [COLOR=blue]New[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]StackFrame[/COLOR]()
        [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] mb [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]MethodBase[/COLOR] = sf.GetMethod()
        [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] dd [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Date[/COLOR] = [COLOR=#2b91af]DateTime[/COLOR].Now
            [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] RetVal [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Boolean[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR] lastComp.AddMinutes(1).Minute >= dd.Minute [COLOR=blue]And[/COLOR] dd.Second >= 15 [COLOR=blue]And[/COLOR] startcomp.Minute <> dd.Minute [COLOR=blue]Then[/COLOR]
                [COLOR=green]' Compressed the finished files[/COLOR]
                [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]DateTime[/COLOR].Now.Minute [COLOR=blue]Mod[/COLOR] 2 = 0 [COLOR=blue]Then[/COLOR]
                    RetVal = CompressFiles([COLOR=#a31515]"\Odd"[/COLOR])
                [COLOR=blue]Else[/COLOR]
                    RetVal = CompressFiles([COLOR=#a31515]"\Even"[/COLOR])
                [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR]
                [COLOR=blue]Dim[/COLOR] da [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]String[/COLOR]
                da = dd.ToString([COLOR=#a31515]"HH:mm:15 yyy-MM-dd"[/COLOR])
                [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR] RetVal = [COLOR=blue]True[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Then[/COLOR] lastComp = [COLOR=#2b91af]DateTime[/COLOR].Parse(da)
            [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Catch[/COLOR] ex [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Exception[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Sub[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Public[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR] Startcompress() [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Boolean[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR] attribSet = [COLOR=blue]True[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Then[/COLOR]
                TimeCheck.Interval = 1000
                TimeCheck.Enabled = [COLOR=blue]True[/COLOR]
            [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]If[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Catch[/COLOR] ex [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Exception[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Return[/COLOR] TimeCheck.Enabled
    [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR]
    [COLOR=blue]Public[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR] StopCompress() [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Boolean[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
            TimeCheck.Enabled = [COLOR=blue]False[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Catch[/COLOR] ex [COLOR=blue]As[/COLOR] [COLOR=#2b91af]Exception[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Try[/COLOR]
        [COLOR=blue]Return[/COLOR] TimeCheck.Enabled
    [COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Function[/COLOR]
[COLOR=blue]End[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]Class[/COLOR][/COLOR]

Any ideas how to get around the GUI freezing, the locations it saves to are a local RAID hard drive and up to 2 network locations, if it is just saving to the hard drive then there is no lag, so the problem seems to be saving to the network drives.

Thanks

Stu
 
I'm not about to look too closely through all that code but the usual cause of a GUI freezing is that you are performing a long-running task on the UI thread. Each thread can only do one thing at a time so if your UI thread is busy compressing data then it can't respond to user input or refresh the displayed UI. You need to perform your task on a secondary thread in order to leave the UI thread free to do UI stuff.

In a GUI application, possibly the simplest way to do that is to use a BackgroundWorker. It is designed to hide much of the complexity of multi-threading, i.e. using delegates, and all you to simply call methods and handle events, which you should already be familiar with. You call RunWorkerAsync to raise the DoWork event and you call ReportProgress to raise the ProgressChanged event, with the RunWorkerCompleted event being raised when the DoWork event handler has completed. The only rule you need to remember is that any UI access must be performed in the ProgressChanged and/or RunWorkerCompleted event handlers and never the DoWork event handler. Here's some information and examples that might help:

Using the BackgroundWorker Component

You might also look at using the Tasks Parallel Library (TPL), but I'll leave it to you to research that if you want to. It's something that you should learn how to use at some point but is not necessary in this particular scenario.
 
jmcilhinney, i just wanted to let you know i used the background worker and it seems to work great, i have left a system on test for the next few days to make sure everything does everything it is supposed to., thanks for the help.

Stu
 
I'm not about to look too closely through all that code but the usual cause of a GUI freezing is that you are performing a long-running task on the UI thread. Each thread can only do one thing at a time so if your UI thread is busy compressing data then it can't respond to user input or refresh the displayed UI. You need to perform your task on a secondary thread in order to leave the UI thread free to do UI stuff.

In a GUI application, possibly the simplest way to do that is to use a BackgroundWorker. It is designed to hide much of the complexity of multi-threading, i.e. using delegates, and all you to simply call methods and handle events, which you should already be familiar with. You call RunWorkerAsync to raise the DoWork event and you call ReportProgress to raise the ProgressChanged event, with the RunWorkerCompleted event being raised when the DoWork event handler has completed. The only rule you need to remember is that any UI access must be performed in the ProgressChanged and/or RunWorkerCompleted event handlers and never the DoWork event handler. Here's some information and examples that might help:

Using the BackgroundWorker Component

You might also look at using the Tasks Parallel Library (TPL), but I'll leave it to you to research that if you want to. It's something that you should learn how to use at some point but is not necessary in this particular scenario.

This is old thread but this helps me understand the proper usage of background worker
 
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