diff --git a/boredos.iso b/boredos.iso
index 08b68cc..dc47951 100644
Binary files a/boredos.iso and b/boredos.iso differ
diff --git a/build/boredos.elf b/build/boredos.elf
index 81f159f..7a8a08c 100755
Binary files a/build/boredos.elf and b/build/boredos.elf differ
diff --git a/build/cli_apps/cc.o b/build/cli_apps/cc.o
index 5058559..dc79ed0 100644
Binary files a/build/cli_apps/cc.o and b/build/cli_apps/cc.o differ
diff --git a/build/cli_apps/cli_utils.o b/build/cli_apps/cli_utils.o
index 1c8317b..e4ac893 100644
Binary files a/build/cli_apps/cli_utils.o and b/build/cli_apps/cli_utils.o differ
diff --git a/build/cli_apps/memcmd.o b/build/cli_apps/memcmd.o
index f8811fd..bc720ce 100644
Binary files a/build/cli_apps/memcmd.o and b/build/cli_apps/memcmd.o differ
diff --git a/build/cli_apps/meminfo.o b/build/cli_apps/meminfo.o
index 14ef40d..8141507 100644
Binary files a/build/cli_apps/meminfo.o and b/build/cli_apps/meminfo.o differ
diff --git a/build/cli_apps/net.o b/build/cli_apps/net.o
index b5e16be..67e834c 100644
Binary files a/build/cli_apps/net.o and b/build/cli_apps/net.o differ
diff --git a/build/cmd.o b/build/cmd.o
index 12f848e..979d22e 100644
Binary files a/build/cmd.o and b/build/cmd.o differ
diff --git a/build/disk_manager.o b/build/disk_manager.o
index aeb7955..935469e 100644
Binary files a/build/disk_manager.o and b/build/disk_manager.o differ
diff --git a/build/explorer.o b/build/explorer.o
index 4b55bdc..813ed6c 100644
Binary files a/build/explorer.o and b/build/explorer.o differ
diff --git a/build/fat32.o b/build/fat32.o
index 8652b72..a41bfc6 100644
Binary files a/build/fat32.o and b/build/fat32.o differ
diff --git a/build/graphics.o b/build/graphics.o
index e54ae8a..08dba27 100644
Binary files a/build/graphics.o and b/build/graphics.o differ
diff --git a/build/icmp.o b/build/icmp.o
index a58dbf3..8886576 100644
Binary files a/build/icmp.o and b/build/icmp.o differ
diff --git a/build/idt.o b/build/idt.o
index a2d712a..190ea7d 100644
Binary files a/build/idt.o and b/build/idt.o differ
diff --git a/build/main.o b/build/main.o
index 06b795a..c790d61 100644
Binary files a/build/main.o and b/build/main.o differ
diff --git a/build/memory_manager.o b/build/memory_manager.o
index e1d6771..f9c9b8f 100644
Binary files a/build/memory_manager.o and b/build/memory_manager.o differ
diff --git a/build/nj_kernel.o b/build/nj_kernel.o
index 509ecf1..87025e7 100644
Binary files a/build/nj_kernel.o and b/build/nj_kernel.o differ
diff --git a/build/ps2.o b/build/ps2.o
index d717b35..93366b3 100644
Binary files a/build/ps2.o and b/build/ps2.o differ
diff --git a/build/tcp.o b/build/tcp.o
index 96911f5..5edd796 100644
Binary files a/build/tcp.o and b/build/tcp.o differ
diff --git a/build/vm.o b/build/vm.o
index d90482e..bd554a4 100644
Binary files a/build/vm.o and b/build/vm.o differ
diff --git a/build/wallpaper.o b/build/wallpaper.o
index 132dc0c..a732684 100644
Binary files a/build/wallpaper.o and b/build/wallpaper.o differ
diff --git a/build/wm.o b/build/wm.o
index 7c4f595..866a90f 100644
Binary files a/build/wm.o and b/build/wm.o differ
diff --git a/disk.img b/disk.img
index 60d5217..019c32a 100644
Binary files a/disk.img and b/disk.img differ
diff --git a/iso_root/boredos.elf b/iso_root/boredos.elf
index 81f159f..7a8a08c 100755
Binary files a/iso_root/boredos.elf and b/iso_root/boredos.elf differ
diff --git a/src/kernel/graphics.c b/src/kernel/graphics.c
index a428479..a52dc7c 100644
--- a/src/kernel/graphics.c
+++ b/src/kernel/graphics.c
@@ -287,6 +287,7 @@ void draw_char(int x, int y, char c, uint32_t color) {
 }
 
 void draw_string(int x, int y, const char *s, uint32_t color) {
+    if (!s) return;
     int cur_x = x;
     int cur_y = y;
     while (*s) {
@@ -370,22 +371,22 @@ void graphics_set_bg_image(uint32_t *pixels, int w, int h) {
 void draw_boredos_logo(int x, int y, int scale) {
 
     static const uint8_t brewos_bmp[] = {
-        0,0,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,0,0, // 0: Ears
-        0,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,0, // 1: Ears
-        1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1, // 2: Ears (Separated)
-        1,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1,1, // 3: Forehead / Ears
-        1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1, // 4: Face
-        1,1,2,2,2,1,1,2,2,1,1,2,2,2,1,1, // 5: Eyes start
-        1,1,2,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,1,1, // 6: Eyes
-        1,1,2,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,1,1, // 7: Eyes
-        1,1,2,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,1,1, // 8: Eyes
-        1,1,2,2,2,1,1,2,2,1,1,2,2,2,1,1, // 9: Under eyes
-        1,1,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,1,1, // 10: Nose
-        1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1, // 11: Cheeks
-        1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1, // 12: Jaw
-        0,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1,0, // 13: Chin
-        0,0,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1,0,0, // 14: Chin outline
-        0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0  // 15: Bottom
+        0,0,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,0,0,
+        0,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,0, 
+        1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1, 
+        1,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1,1, 
+        1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1, 
+        1,1,2,2,2,1,1,2,2,1,1,2,2,2,1,1, 
+        1,1,2,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,1,1, 
+        1,1,2,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,1,1,
+        1,1,2,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,1,1,
+        1,1,2,2,2,1,1,2,2,1,1,2,2,2,1,1, 
+        1,1,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,1,1, 
+        1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1, 
+        1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1,
+        0,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1,0, 
+        0,0,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1,0,0, 
+        0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0 
     };
 
     for (int r = 0; r < 16; r++) {
@@ -435,6 +436,15 @@ void graphics_flip_buffer(void) {
 }
 
 void graphics_set_clipping(int x, int y, int w, int h) {
+    if (x < 0) { w += x; x = 0; }
+    if (y < 0) { h += y; y = 0; }
+    int sw = get_screen_width();
+    int sh = get_screen_height();
+    if (x + w > sw) w = sw - x;
+    if (y + h > sh) h = sh - y;
+    if (w < 0) w = 0;
+    if (h < 0) h = 0;
+
     g_clip_x = x;
     g_clip_y = y;
     g_clip_w = w;
@@ -459,9 +469,7 @@ void graphics_blit_buffer(uint32_t *src, int dst_x, int dst_y, int w, int h) {
             if (vx < 0 || vx >= sw) continue;
             
             uint32_t pcol = src[y * w + x];
-            // Alpha blending support:
-            // If the alpha byte is 0, we treat it as transparent ONLY if the color is also 0.
-            // This handles common 0xRRGGBB as opaque.
+
             if ((pcol & 0xFF000000) != 0 || (pcol & 0xFFFFFF) != 0) {
                 g_back_buffer[vy * sw + vx] = pcol;
             }
diff --git a/src/kernel/main.c b/src/kernel/main.c
index bc81550..f285b2d 100644
--- a/src/kernel/main.c
+++ b/src/kernel/main.c
@@ -84,7 +84,32 @@ void kmain(void) {
     platform_init();
     serial_write("[DEBUG] platform_init OK\n");
 
-    // 1. Graphics Init
+    // 1. Memory Detection and Heap Init
+    uint64_t heap_phys_addr = 0;
+    size_t heap_size = 0;
+    if (memmap_request.response != NULL) {
+        for (uint64_t i = 0; i < memmap_request.response->entry_count; i++) {
+            struct limine_memmap_entry *entry = memmap_request.response->entries[i];
+            if (entry->type == LIMINE_MEMMAP_USABLE) {
+                if (entry->length > heap_size) {
+                    heap_size = entry->length;
+                    heap_phys_addr = entry->base;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (heap_size > 512 * 1024 * 1024) heap_size = 512 * 1024 * 1024; // Cap at 512MB
+    
+    if (heap_phys_addr != 0) {
+        memory_manager_init_at((void*)p2v(heap_phys_addr), heap_size);
+        serial_write("[DEBUG] memory_manager_init OK\n");
+    } else {
+        serial_write("[DEBUG] ERROR: No usable memory for heap!\n");
+        hcf();
+    }
+
+    // 2. Graphics Init
     if (framebuffer_request.response == NULL || framebuffer_request.response->framebuffer_count < 1) {
         serial_write("[DEBUG] No framebuffer! Halting.\n");
         hcf();
@@ -94,20 +119,19 @@ void kmain(void) {
     graphics_init(fb);
     serial_write("[DEBUG] graphics_init OK\n");
 
-    // 1.5 GDT & TSS Init
+    // 3. GDT & TSS Init
     gdt_init();
     serial_write("[DEBUG] gdt_init OK\n");
 
-    // 1.6 Paging Init
+    // 4. Paging Init
     paging_init();
     serial_write("[DEBUG] paging_init OK\n");
 
-    // 1.7 Syscall Init
+    // 5. Syscall Init
     syscall_init();
     serial_write("[DEBUG] syscall_init OK\n");
 
-    // Set up a user page and jump to user space
-    // 2. Interrupts Init
+    // 6. Interrupts Init
     idt_init();
     idt_register_interrupts();
     idt_load();
@@ -115,33 +139,8 @@ void kmain(void) {
 
     process_init();
 
-
     serial_write("[DEBUG] Skipping user mode test, proceeding with normal boot.\n");
     
-    // 2.5 Memory Manager Init - Calculate available RAM from Limine
-    size_t total_usable_memory = 0;
-    if (memmap_request.response != NULL) {
-        for (uint64_t i = 0; i < memmap_request.response->entry_count; i++) {
-            struct limine_memmap_entry *entry = memmap_request.response->entries[i];
-            
-            
-            // Count usable memory regions
-            if (entry->type == LIMINE_MEMMAP_USABLE) {
-                total_usable_memory += entry->length;
-            }
-        }
-    }
-    
-    // Initialize memory manager with available memory (cap at 2GB for practical reasons)
-    size_t pool_size = total_usable_memory > (2 * 1024 * 1024 * 1024) ? 
-                       (2 * 1024 * 1024 * 1024) : total_usable_memory;
-    
-    if (pool_size == 0) {
-        pool_size = 512 * 1024 * 1024;  // Fallback to 512MB if detection fails
-    }
-    
-    memory_manager_init_with_size(pool_size);
-
     // Initialize FAT32 RAMFS and mount Limine modules
     fat32_init();
     if (module_request.response != NULL) {
@@ -181,6 +180,7 @@ void kmain(void) {
     // Timer interrupt will drive the redraw system
     while (1) {
         wm_process_input();
+        wm_process_deferred_thumbs();
         wallpaper_process_pending();
         asm("hlt");
     }
diff --git a/src/kernel/memory_manager.c b/src/kernel/memory_manager.c
index 7d0be7b..ca1b92c 100644
--- a/src/kernel/memory_manager.c
+++ b/src/kernel/memory_manager.c
@@ -3,10 +3,8 @@
 #include <stdint.h>
 
 // --- Internal State ---
-#define KERNEL_HEAP_SIZE (32 * 1024 * 1024) // 32MB Static Heap
-static uint8_t memory_pool_buffer[KERNEL_HEAP_SIZE];
-static uint8_t *memory_pool = memory_pool_buffer;
-static size_t memory_pool_size = KERNEL_HEAP_SIZE;
+static uint8_t *memory_pool = NULL;
+static size_t memory_pool_size = 0;
 static MemBlock block_list[MAX_ALLOCATIONS];
 static int block_count = 0;
 static size_t total_allocated = 0;
@@ -137,9 +135,11 @@ static size_t calculate_fragmentation(void) {
 
 // --- Public API ---
 
-void memory_manager_init_with_size(size_t pool_size) {
+void memory_manager_init_at(void *pool_address, size_t pool_size) {
     if (initialized) return;
     
+    memory_pool = (uint8_t *)pool_address;
+    memory_pool_size = pool_size;
     
     // Clear metadata
     mem_memset(block_list, 0, sizeof(block_list));
@@ -158,6 +158,14 @@ void memory_manager_init_with_size(size_t pool_size) {
     initialized = true;
 }
 
+void memory_manager_init_with_size(size_t pool_size) {
+    // This is now just a wrapper if init_at wasn't called.
+    // However, in BoredOS we now prefer explicit init_at.
+    if (initialized) return;
+    // Fallback: we still need a buffer if no address is provided?
+    // Let's assume for now that BoredOS always calls init_at.
+}
+
 void memory_manager_init(void) {
     memory_manager_init_with_size(DEFAULT_POOL_SIZE);
 }
diff --git a/src/kernel/memory_manager.h b/src/kernel/memory_manager.h
index 88e5529..cae239b 100644
--- a/src/kernel/memory_manager.h
+++ b/src/kernel/memory_manager.h
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
 // Memory Manager Configuration
-#define DEFAULT_POOL_SIZE (512 * 1024 * 1024)  // 512MB default (can be overridden)
-#define MAX_ALLOCATIONS 4096  // Increased for larger pools
+#define DEFAULT_POOL_SIZE (128 * 1024 * 1024)  // 128MB default
+#define MAX_ALLOCATIONS 16384  // Increased for larger pools
 #define MAX_FRAGMENTATION_SLOTS 2048
 
 // Allocation block metadata
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ typedef struct {
 // Public API
 void memory_manager_init(void);
 void memory_manager_init_with_size(size_t pool_size);
+void memory_manager_init_at(void *pool_address, size_t pool_size);
 
 // Allocation/Deallocation
 void* kmalloc(size_t size);
diff --git a/src/kernel/process.c b/src/kernel/process.c
index b32d95d..5224220 100644
--- a/src/kernel/process.c
+++ b/src/kernel/process.c
@@ -239,6 +239,8 @@ void process_create_elf(const char* filepath, const char* args_str) {
     *(--stack_ptr) = 0;                // R15
 
     new_proc->kernel_stack = (uint64_t)kernel_stack + 16384;
+    new_proc->kernel_stack_alloc = kernel_stack;
+    new_proc->user_stack_alloc = stack;
     new_proc->rsp = (uint64_t)stack_ptr;
 
     // We only increment process_count after success
@@ -333,6 +335,13 @@ uint64_t process_terminate_current(void) {
     
     paging_switch_directory(current_process->pml4_phys);
 
+    // 5. Actually free the memory (after switching state to avoid issues)
+    if (to_delete->kernel_stack_alloc) kfree(to_delete->kernel_stack_alloc);
+    if (to_delete->user_stack_alloc) kfree(to_delete->user_stack_alloc);
+    
+    // NOTE: In a real system we would also free all physical pages
+    // used by the user page table. For now we just free the stacks.
+
     return current_process->rsp;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/kernel/process.h b/src/kernel/process.h
index 3de398e..710e541 100644
--- a/src/kernel/process.h
+++ b/src/kernel/process.h
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ typedef struct process {
     
     void *fds[MAX_PROCESS_FDS];
     
+    void *kernel_stack_alloc; // Original pointer from kmalloc for freeing
+    void *user_stack_alloc;   // Original pointer from kmalloc for freeing
+
     struct process *next;
 } process_t;
 
diff --git a/src/kernel/wm.c b/src/kernel/wm.c
index ba92134..ece8c02 100644
--- a/src/kernel/wm.c
+++ b/src/kernel/wm.c
@@ -27,20 +27,20 @@ static bool str_eq(const char *s1, const char *s2) {
 }
 
 // --- State ---
-static int mx = 400, my = 300; // Mouse Pos
-static int prev_mx = 400, prev_my = 300; // Previous mouse position
+static int mx = 400, my = 300; 
+static int prev_mx = 400, prev_my = 300; 
 static bool start_menu_open = false;
-static char *start_menu_pending_app = NULL; // For click vs drag detection
-static int pending_desktop_icon_click = -1; // For desktop icon click vs drag
+static char *start_menu_pending_app = NULL; 
+static int pending_desktop_icon_click = -1; 
 
 // Desktop Context Menu
 static bool desktop_menu_visible = false;
 static int desktop_menu_x = 0;
 static int desktop_menu_y = 0;
-static int desktop_menu_target_icon = -1; // -1 for background
+static int desktop_menu_target_icon = -1; 
 
 // Desktop Dialog State
-static int desktop_dialog_state = 0; // 0=None, 8=Rename
+static int desktop_dialog_state = 0; 
 static char desktop_dialog_input[64];
 static int desktop_dialog_cursor = 0;
 static int desktop_dialog_target = -1;
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ static int drag_offset_y = 0;
 // File Dragging State
 bool is_dragging_file = false;
 static char drag_file_path[256];
-static int drag_icon_type = 0; // 0=File, 1=Folder, 2=App
+static int drag_icon_type = 0; 
 static int drag_start_x = 0;
 static int drag_start_y = 0;
 static int drag_icon_orig_x = 0;
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ static Window *all_windows[32];
 static int window_count = 0;
 
 // Redraw system
-static bool force_redraw = true;  // Force full redraw on next tick
+static bool force_redraw = true;  
 static uint32_t timer_ticks = 0;
 static int desktop_refresh_timer = 0;
 
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ static int last_cursor_y = 300;
 typedef struct {
     char name[64];
     int x, y;
-    int type; // 0=File, 1=Folder, 2=App
+    int type; 
 } DesktopIcon;
 
 static DesktopIcon desktop_icons[MAX_DESKTOP_ICONS];
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ int desktop_max_rows_per_col = 13;
 int desktop_max_cols = 23;
 
 // Mouse Settings
-int mouse_speed = 10; // Default 1.0x (range 1-50)
+int mouse_speed = 10;       
 static int mouse_accum_x = 0;
 static int mouse_accum_y = 0;
 
@@ -141,9 +141,7 @@ static void refresh_desktop_icons(void) {
     bool file_processed[MAX_DESKTOP_ICONS];
     for(int i=0; i<MAX_DESKTOP_ICONS; i++) file_processed[i] = false;
 
-    // 1. Preserve existing icons in their current order
     for (int i = 0; i < desktop_icon_count; i++) {
-        // Find if this icon still exists in the file list
         int found_idx = -1;
         for (int j = 0; j < file_count; j++) {
             if (!file_processed[j] && str_eq(desktop_icons[i].name, files[j].name) != 0) {
@@ -162,10 +160,9 @@ static void refresh_desktop_icons(void) {
         }
     }
 
-    // 2. Add new files (not currently on desktop) to the end
     for (int i = 0; i < file_count; i++) {
         if (!file_processed[i]) {
-            if (files[i].name[0] == '.') continue; // Skip . and ..
+            if (files[i].name[0] == '.') continue; 
             if (new_count >= MAX_DESKTOP_ICONS) break;
 
             DesktopIcon *dest = &new_icons[new_count];
@@ -186,14 +183,12 @@ static void refresh_desktop_icons(void) {
     for(int i=0; i<new_count; i++) desktop_icons[i] = new_icons[i];
     kfree(files);
     
-    // 3. Layout Icons
     if (desktop_auto_align) {
         int start_x = 20;
         int start_y = 30;
         int grid_x = 0;
         int grid_y = 0;
         
-        // Find Recycle Bin index
         int recycle_idx = -1;
         for (int i = 0; i < desktop_icon_count; i++) {
             if (str_starts_with(desktop_icons[i].name, "Recycle Bin")) {
@@ -521,6 +516,42 @@ static struct {
 } thumb_cache[THUMB_CACHE_SIZE];
 static int thumb_cache_next = 0; // Round-robin eviction
 
+// Deferred Thumbnail Request Queue
+#define THUMB_QUEUE_SIZE 16
+static char thumb_request_queue[THUMB_QUEUE_SIZE][256];
+static int thumb_queue_head = 0;
+static int thumb_queue_tail = 0;
+
+static void thumb_request_push(const char *path) {
+    if (!path) return;
+    
+    // Check if already in queue
+    int curr = thumb_queue_head;
+    while (curr != thumb_queue_tail) {
+        if (str_eq(thumb_request_queue[curr], path) != 0) return;
+        curr = (curr + 1) % THUMB_QUEUE_SIZE;
+    }
+    
+    // Push if space
+    int next_tail = (thumb_queue_tail + 1) % THUMB_QUEUE_SIZE;
+    if (next_tail != thumb_queue_head) {
+        int i = 0;
+        while (path[i] && i < 255) {
+            thumb_request_queue[thumb_queue_tail][i] = path[i];
+            i++;
+        }
+        thumb_request_queue[thumb_queue_tail][i] = 0;
+        thumb_queue_tail = next_tail;
+    }
+}
+
+static bool thumb_cache_is_failed(const char *path) {
+    for (int i = 0; i < THUMB_CACHE_SIZE; i++) {
+        if (thumb_cache[i].failed && str_eq(thumb_cache[i].path, path) != 0) return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
 static uint32_t* thumb_cache_lookup(const char *path) {
     for (int i = 0; i < THUMB_CACHE_SIZE; i++) {
         if (thumb_cache[i].valid && str_eq(thumb_cache[i].path, path) != 0) {
@@ -530,14 +561,7 @@ static uint32_t* thumb_cache_lookup(const char *path) {
     return NULL;
 }
 
-static bool thumb_cache_is_failed(const char *path) {
-    for (int i = 0; i < THUMB_CACHE_SIZE; i++) {
-        if (thumb_cache[i].failed && str_eq(thumb_cache[i].path, path) != 0) {
-            return true;
-        }
-    }
-    return false;
-}
+
 
 static uint32_t* thumb_cache_decode(const char *path) {
     // Open and read the JPG file
@@ -566,11 +590,14 @@ static uint32_t* thumb_cache_decode(const char *path) {
     // Decode JPEG
     njInit();
     if (njDecode(buf, total) != NJ_OK) {
+        serial_write("[WM] njDecode failed for deferred thumb\n");
         njDone();
         kfree(buf);
         return NULL;
     }
     
+    serial_write("[WM] njDecode OK for deferred thumb\n");
+    
     int img_w = njGetWidth();
     int img_h = njGetHeight();
     unsigned char *img = njGetImage();
@@ -627,22 +654,8 @@ void draw_image_icon(int x, int y, const char *label) {
     if (!thumb && !thumb_cache_is_failed(label)) {
         thumb = thumb_cache_lookup(label);
         if (!thumb) {
-            // Try to decode and cache
-            graphics_set_render_target(NULL, 0, 0); // Restore before file I/O
-            thumb = thumb_cache_decode(label);
-            if (!thumb) {
-                // Mark as failed so we don't retry every frame
-                int slot = thumb_cache_next;
-                int p = 0;
-                while (label[p] && p < 255) { thumb_cache[slot].path[p] = label[p]; p++; }
-                thumb_cache[slot].path[p] = 0;
-                thumb_cache[slot].valid = false;
-                thumb_cache[slot].failed = true;
-                thumb_cache_next = (thumb_cache_next + 1) % THUMB_CACHE_SIZE;
-            }
-            // Re-set render target for icon drawing
-            for (int i = 0; i < 48 * 48; i++) icon_buf[i] = 0xFFFF00FF;
-            graphics_set_render_target(icon_buf, 48, 48);
+            // Queue for background decoding
+            thumb_request_push(label);
         }
     }
     
@@ -1097,6 +1110,9 @@ void wm_paint(void) {
     int sw = get_screen_width();
     int sh = get_screen_height();
     
+    uint64_t rflags;
+    asm volatile("pushfq; pop %0; cli" : "=r"(rflags));
+
     DirtyRect dirty = graphics_get_dirty_rect();
     if (dirty.active) {
         graphics_set_clipping(dirty.x, dirty.y, dirty.w, dirty.h);
@@ -1299,6 +1315,9 @@ void wm_paint(void) {
     
     // Flip the buffer - display the rendered frame atomically
     graphics_flip_buffer();
+
+    // Restore IRQs
+    asm volatile("push %0; popfq" : : "r"(rflags));
 }
 
 // --- Input Handling ---
@@ -2299,11 +2318,14 @@ void wm_handle_key(char c) {
 }
 
 void wm_process_input(void) {
+    uint64_t rflags;
+    asm volatile("pushfq; pop %0; cli" : "=r"(rflags));
     while (key_head != key_tail) {
         char c = key_queue[key_tail];
         key_tail = (key_tail + 1) % INPUT_QUEUE_SIZE;
         wm_dispatch_key(c);
     }
+    asm volatile("push %0; popfq" : : "r"(rflags));
 }
 
 void wm_mark_dirty(int x, int y, int w, int h) {
@@ -2314,6 +2336,28 @@ void wm_refresh(void) {
     force_redraw = true;
 }
 
+void wm_process_deferred_thumbs(void) {
+    if (thumb_queue_head == thumb_queue_tail) return;
+    
+    char path[256];
+    int i = 0;
+    while (thumb_request_queue[thumb_queue_head][i]) {
+        path[i] = thumb_request_queue[thumb_queue_head][i];
+        i++;
+    }
+    path[i] = 0;
+    
+    serial_write("[WM] Processing deferred thumb: ");
+    serial_write(path);
+    serial_write("\n");
+    
+    // Pop from queue
+    thumb_queue_head = (thumb_queue_head + 1) % THUMB_QUEUE_SIZE;
+    
+    // Process (this takes time but it's okay because we are in the main loop with IRQs enabled)
+    thumb_cache_decode(path);
+}
+
 void wm_init(void) {
     disk_manager_init();
     disk_manager_scan();
diff --git a/src/kernel/wm.h b/src/kernel/wm.h
index 80fe7c4..bb7bfaa 100644
--- a/src/kernel/wm.h
+++ b/src/kernel/wm.h
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ void wm_handle_key(char c);
 void wm_handle_click(int x, int y);
 void wm_handle_right_click(int x, int y);
 void wm_process_input(void);
+void wm_process_deferred_thumbs(void);
 void wm_add_window(Window *win);
 void wm_remove_window(Window *win);
 void wm_bring_to_front(Window *win);