[DllImport("User32")] 
        private static extern bool SendMessage(IntPtr hWnd, int msg, int wParam, int lParam);

        int m_paintFrozen = 0;
        private bool FreezePainting 
        { 

            get { return m_paintFrozen > 0; }

            set 
            { 
                if (value && IsHandleCreated && this.Visible) 
                { 
                    if (0 == m_paintFrozen++) 
                    { 
                        SendMessage(Handle, WM_SETREDRAW, 0, 0); 
                    } 
                } 

                if (!value) 
                { 
                    if (m_paintFrozen == 0) 
                    { 
                        return; 
                    }

                    if (0 == --m_paintFrozen) 
                    { 
                        SendMessage(Handle, WM_SETREDRAW, 1, 0); 
                        Invalidate(true); 
                    } 
                } 
            } 
        }

You can then force a control to stop painting by setting FreezePainting to true, just remember to do it inside of a

try - finally block so you are sure you turn it back on..