Use the LockWindowUpdate API call -

Code:
'Put this in the declarations section of a module or form
Public Declare Function LockWindowUpdate Lib "user32" (ByVal hwndLock As Long) As Long
Then when you want to stop the refreshing, do this:

Code:
'before addign any items, call LockWindowUpdate

LockWindowUpdate ListView1.Hwnd

'Add all your items here

'Now that you've added your items, unloack the window,
'which is done by passing 0 to the API call

LockWindowUpdate 0
That does it very nicely

- gaffa