Slow dir listing for large/graphic files

in windows 2000, when attempting to view the contents of directories containing graphic files, the file list takes a very long time to load. It seems as though information is being gathered for each file, each time the directory is opened. Does anyone know how to index the directories or otherwise circumvent whatever process is causing the list of image files to load so slowly? I happens whether the directory is on the network or on the local drive.