Hello,

we know the preview function of Explorer may cause trouble if the
multimedia files are corrupted, e.g. I cannot safely unplug an
external USB hard drive because some files on it are probably kept
open by that function.

In an older post, Taurarian said it is possible to disable the
function:

> To disable file information extraction, rename the key and place a minus
> sign in front of the current name (i.e.
> "-{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}").

I searched the CLSID folder of the registry for "properties handler"
and found the following:

Video media properties handler
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{40C3D757-D6E4-4b49-BB41-0E5BBEA28817}

Audio media properties handler
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{875CB1A1-0F29-45de-A1AE-CFB4950D0B78}

AVI properties handler
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}

MIDI properties handler
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{A6FD9E45-6E44-43f9-8644-08598F5A74D9}

WAV properties handler
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E4B29F9D-D390-480b-92FD-7DDB47101D71}

Can I disable all these handlers in the same way?
Do you know other means to disable the preview function?

Thank you,
TheLuke

TheLuke,

See http://windowsxp.mvps.org/videothumb.htm (ignore the title)

REGSVR32 /u SHMEDIA.DLL turns off the video thumbnail/preview generation.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://windowsxp.mvps.org


"TheLuke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
Hello,

we know the preview function of Explorer may cause trouble if the
multimedia files are corrupted, e.g. I cannot safely unplug an
external USB hard drive because some files on it are probably kept
open by that function.

In an older post, Taurarian said it is possible to disable the
function:

> To disable file information extraction, rename the key and place a minus
> sign in front of the current name (i.e.
> "-{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}").

I searched the CLSID folder of the registry for "properties handler"
and found the following:

Video media properties handler
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{40C3D757-D6E4-4b49-BB41-0E5BBEA28817}

Audio media properties handler
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{875CB1A1-0F29-45de-A1AE-CFB4950D0B78}

AVI properties handler
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}

MIDI properties handler
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{A6FD9E45-6E44-43f9-8644-08598F5A74D9}

WAV properties handler
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E4B29F9D-D390-480b-92FD-7DDB47101D71}

Can I disable all these handlers in the same way?
Do you know other means to disable the preview function?

Thank you,
TheLuke

"Ramesh [MVP]" wrote in message news:

> REGSVR32 /u SHMEDIA.DLL turns off the video thumbnail/preview
> generation.

Done, but I'm still unable to unplug the HD ("the device cannot be
stopped right now etc...").

Can you suggest me an utility to see which process is keeping files
opened on the HD?

Thank you,
TheLuke

Try Process Explorer from www.sysinternals.com

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://windowsxp.mvps.org

Using ToolbarCop to remove the unwanted Toolband, Toolbar Icons and BHO:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/toolbarcop.htm

"TheLuke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
"Ramesh [MVP]" wrote in message news:

> REGSVR32 /u SHMEDIA.DLL turns off the video thumbnail/preview
> generation.

Done, but I'm still unable to unplug the HD ("the device cannot be
stopped right now etc...").

Can you suggest me an utility to see which process is keeping files
opened on the HD?

Thank you,
TheLuke