PixInsight Hangs at "Creating Component Windows" for several (10 or more) minute

[EorEquis]

Windows 7 HP, 64bit
PI 1.08.03.1123 Ripley (x64)

Just started happening today.  When I launch PI, the splash screen gets to "Creating Component Windows" and freezes for long periods of time.  In two tests, for 10:32 and 11:03 respectively.

No other software is having delays or unexpected behaviour.

Perhaps related, but I don't know : Windows has begun not refreshing explorer windows after drive actions.  For example...right click, "New Folder"...nothing appears to happen.  However, simply clicking on any other drive, and back to the original drive, "New Folder" now appears.  The same happens if I try to rename.  Right click, choose rename, type in new name...name doesn't change.  Click any other drive, back to first drive...new name is there.  This happens on every drive on the system, no other indications of drive problems.

Quite possibly not a bug with PI...but I don't really know where to look at this point.

[EorEquis]

Well now...in one of the weirder solutions I've ever run across...

Turns out it also took a long time to create any sort of file...which, I presume, PI is trying to do...probably a swap file or what have you?

This also, as it happened, prevented printing anything.  (Not a shock...spool/swap file and all)

Anyway...checked Event Viewer...dozens of CD ROM errors of all things.   

Apparently, the system was so busy trying to talk to the DVD I'd left in there weeks ago...it refused to do anything else anywhere on the storage system unless you insisted via an F5 or whatever.

Obviously not a PI bug.  Sorry for the false report.