[Fluffykinz]

I wasn't sure where to put this, so I'm sorry if this is in the wrong category. I'm just not sure how to label it.

Two days ago I just opened My Documents folder, and a second later a box appeared 'Windows Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close'. It's still happening, every single time I just open My Documents, it happens. Strangely, if I open My Picture, or My Music, or My Videos, it's fine. I can open files, and it's fine. But, I have a program called WeGame and I record movies with it. THAT folder also crashes, not when I open it, but when I click on any of the files inside. I've had WeGame for far too long for that to be the problem, as it's never done that before and it's not over-loaded with files.

What I've discovered is that, if I display my folders in other forms rather then 'Thumbnail' it fixes the problem. But, this to me isn't good enough, nor is it fair -- I shouldn't have to disable a feature that worked fine (and is supposed to work) prior to it suddenly not working for no reason. This doesn't work for the WeGame files, though, so it wouldn't solve all my problems anyway.

I've looked around extensively online, but I've found that none of the reports of the Windows Explorer error message fit my problem exactly. They relate to it, but some of them have nothing to do with what I'm talking about. Others think the person is talking about Internet Explorer, which I am not, and that has nothing to do with it either (I don't see how it could since I rarely use Internet Explorer at all).

Earlier on the day that I said this was happening, a box appeared that said 'Generic Host Win32 has encountered an error'. It hasn't done it since, and I assume I fixed this, but when this came up, it removed my internet connections, deleted my volume control panel program, reset my Windows XP styles to like Windows 98, basically screwed everything up. I system restored, and everything is okay, and I haven't seen that message since. I'm wondering if that had something to do with the system going crazy, and what the cause was.

I also did a virus scan last night, came up with five virus alerts and a huge list of files that were corrupted. I'm re-scanning right now as I type this and I'll probably post a screen-shot if anything comes up when it's done.

I've had this computer for... over a year? I've never had any problem, especially not one like this.

Comp Info:
Dell Vostro (VOSTRO_200)
Windows XP
Service Pack 2

Any help on this is appreciated.

[seahwk83]

How far back did you go with the system restore, just a day or 2 or longer. Could try to restore back to even an earlier restore point.

Try using a registry cleaner/optimizer, ccleaner is freeware and probably find things that should be addressed

Ccleaner
Download CCleaner 2.09.600 - FileHippo.com
On the right hand side, click download latest version

[Fluffykinz]

Yes, I only went back a day before the problem started, I'll try going back father. And thanks for the link, I'll be sure to post the results.

[seahwk83]

Try the ccleaner too, you would be suprosed at the results of it if you do not use a registry cleaner on a regular basis

[Fluffykinz]

Well, good news, it appears setting my restore point back to July 1st has solved both problems. Pretty simple, I guess... thanks for the help though, and for the cleaner, which I intend to make good use of.

[seahwk83]

Glad you got it all working again, Just be careful not to do whatever may have caused that and as it is working properly tight now, you may want to make a new restore point with today's date