Hello, I have a problem with Explorer

I have Windows Vista for Business with Service Pack 2. It is 32-bit.

I believe that something had solved this problem before, but I don't remember what.

But whenever I try to browse the downloads directory in users/(username)/downloads, after a few seconds it crashes and causes me to restart explorer. Would you be able to offer any insight regarding this matter? I am trying to review that directory to find files that I can delete to free up space, but it keeps crashing.

[FONT=&quot]Hi JCM,[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Please follow the steps mentioned in the link to check if the issue gets resolved: http://www.vistax64.com/crashes-deb...-crashes-when-opening-downloads-folder-2.html[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]If the issue persists, then we can try the following steps to clear corruption system files.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Start - type in Search box - CMD find at top of list - RIGHT CLICK - RUN AS ADMIN and then type in sfc /scannow. please use the following link for detailed instructions:[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]If this does not work, then run Check Disk from within the Drive's Properties Page, providing the link for reference: [/FONT][FONT=&quot]http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
Please post back with the results.[/FONT]

Madhur B said:

[FONT=&quot]Hi JCM,[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Please follow the steps mentioned in the link to check if the issue gets resolved: http://www.vistax64.com/crashes-deb...-crashes-when-opening-downloads-folder-2.html[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]If the issue persists, then we can try the following steps to clear corruption system files.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Start - type in Search box - CMD find at top of list - RIGHT CLICK - RUN AS ADMIN and then type in sfc /scannow. please use the following link for detailed instructions:[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]If this does not work, then run Check Disk from within the Drive's Properties Page, providing the link for reference: [/FONT][FONT=&quot]http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
Please post back with the results.[/FONT]

Click to expand...

I tried to disable thumbnails unsuccessfully. Before I try using the SFC command, etc, perhaps this will give some details:

this is the error:
Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: Explorer.EXE
Application Version: 6.0.6002.18005
Application Timestamp: 49e01da5
Fault Module Name: kernel32.dll
Fault Module Version: 6.0.6002.18449
Fault Module Timestamp: 4da47967
Exception Code: 0eedfade
Exception Offset: 0003fc56
OS Version: 6.0.6002.2.2.0.256.6
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 0370
Additional Information 2: 5a1267f096511023d0fb6d9563da6654
Additional Information 3: 7da6
Additional Information 4: 84b2fb9c2c5b00130a5867ced1a592f3


Also, today, I received something different:

runtime error 216 at 0b9f3eda

Hi,
We can try to do a clean boot to check if would work, providing the link to do a clean boot for reference: How to perform a clean boot to troubleshoot a problem in Windows Vista or Windows 7

If the issue persists, then try to disable add-on from Internet Explorer. Please use the following link for detailed instructions: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/114310-internet-explorer-reset.html

Please post back with the results.

Madhur B said:

[FONT=&quot]Hi JCM,[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Please follow the steps mentioned in the link to check if the issue gets resolved: http://www.vistax64.com/crashes-deb...-crashes-when-opening-downloads-folder-2.html[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]If the issue persists, then we can try the following steps to clear corruption system files.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Start - type in Search box - CMD find at top of list - RIGHT CLICK - RUN AS ADMIN and then type in sfc /scannow. please use the following link for detailed instructions:[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]If this does not work, then run Check Disk from within the Drive's Properties Page, providing the link for reference: [/FONT][FONT=&quot]http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
Please post back with the results.[/FONT]

Click to expand...

I decided to do the SFC command. that particular regular SFC /SCANNOW did not fix the problem. there are files that are corrupted. Do I post the CBS.log here? what do i look for in there?

Hi JCM,

Try to check if you are able to access download folder in safe mode. Please use the following link for detailed instructions to go safe mode: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/123496-safe-mode.html

Yes you can post the CBS.log also to read cbs.log files follow the steps mentioned in the following article: How to analyze the log file entries that the Microsoft Windows Resource Checker (SFC.exe) program generates in Windows Vista

Please revert back for clarification.

Madhur B said:

Hi JCM,

Try to check if you are able to access download folder in safe mode. Please use the following link for detailed instructions to go safe mode: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/123496-safe-mode.html

Yes you can post the CBS.log also to read cbs.log files follow the steps mentioned in the following article: How to analyze the log file entries that the Microsoft Windows Resource Checker (SFC.exe) program generates in Windows Vista

Please revert back for clarification.

Click to expand...

I still have the same problem in safe mode. Also, in the CBS log it seems like the only file that is not being repaired is a modified calculator software program (at least from what I can tell). Should I run check disk?

Hi JCM,

Try to create a new User Account and check if you are able to access the download folder. Please use the following link to create a new user account, ensure that the new user account is an Administrator account: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/93009-user-account-create.html

To access the download folder go to C:/users/(username)/downloads and check.

In case this does not work, we can delete the files from the download folder and check if it would work. Please use the following link for detailed instructions: File - Delete from Command Prompt - Windows 7 Forums

If issue persists, delete the download folder and check. Please use the following link for detailed instructions: Folder - Delete from Command Prompt - Windows 7 Forums

After deleting the Download folder create a new folder and name it Downloads.

Note: Deleted files cannot be retrieved.

Please revert back for clarification.

JCM...

If the pc crashes or freezes when opening a folder containing user files, the single most likely reason is CODECs - the applications that "translate" graphic and other formats into a type that Windows applications can display.

For immediate relief where it's affecting a single folder like this, boot into safe-mode - this will stop the CODEC from being used and prevent the thumbnails from being drawn. Once there, create a new folder and move all of the files from your Downloads folder into that one. Now reboot into Windows and you should be able to use your Downloads folder again. If you try to open that new folder, you will most likely get the same crash as you used to - but at least you'll know where the problem lies and it won't stop you using your pc while you sort it out.

Once you've done that, it's usually just a matter of replacing or updating any CODECs you've installed. Chances are that you've installed a CODEC pack - like K-Lite - at some point and there's a bug when it's creating thumbnails for one type of file. The best thing to do is to completely uninstall any CODEC pack and reboot - then see if you can open that new folder without the crashing. If so, you know for sure that the CODEC was the issue and you have a couple of choices on what to do next. If it's been a while since you installed those CODECs and you're happy enough with them (apart from this new problem), it's very likely that installing the latest version of the same CODEC pack will be all you need to do. If you only recently installed - or recently updated - those CODECs, you may need to use a different package. (Note - "serious" Windows users will say not to use CODEC packages - preferring to only install individual CODECs as required.)

If you move the contents of the Downloads folder to that new folder and still have the problem, post back as that would mean a different and potentially more serious problem.

Madhur, regarding that solution, there is a problem when creating the new user account as an administrator. Though it is created as an administrator, it says that I do not have access to the user directory of my other administrator account. It asks me edit it or something, then has the options of "continue" or "Cancel." When I click continue, the green loading bar in the directory appears, and then stops a little past the red X, and does not seem to be giving access via the new user account.

PengiPete, I have heard of an issue that the problem is where you have suggested. However, the fact remains that opening the "Downloads" folder crashes it, so I cannot go into the directory and select everything and copy it. I may, however, be able to copy the downloads directory itself into a new directory, and delete the original directory.

Did you try it in Safe Mode as I suggested - unless you use Safe Mode, it won't work if it is a CODEC issue (working in Safe Mode means that most "add-on" services and apps are disabled - including the third-party CODECs that often cause this issue when drawing thumbnails for certain files)

pengipete said:

Did you try it in Safe Mode as I suggested - unless you use Safe Mode, it won't work if it is a CODEC issue (working in Safe Mode means that most "add-on" services and apps are disabled - including the third-party CODECs that often cause this issue when drawing thumbnails for certain files)

Click to expand...

Explorer also crashes when viewing the downloads directory in safe mode, though it is slightly slower to do so.

Hi JCM,

Change the settings of old User Account to a Standard Account and check if you are able to access the download folder.

If issue persists, try system restore when the computer was working fine, please use the following link for detailed instructions: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html

NOTE: With system restore you will not lose any data from the computer, any new programs installed in the computer has to be reinstalled on the computer.

Please post back with the results.

Hello, after a long time of not being able to access that directory (even after chkdsk), I decided to copy the files to my external drive from the downloads directory, then delete the files that I suspected were corrupted from the original drive. That actually solved the problem, and it turned out that some ZIP or RAR files were corrupted causing this issue. It did the same thing on the external drive, so I then deleted the files there too.

I deleted these files in both hard drives by using 'del *.zip' etc in the command line prompt.