Explorer Problems

[Jyeshta]

Hi all,

I'm having problems with Explorer.

1) Sometimes, when I click on a media file, Explorer crashes (error
message appears, then screen goes blank and re-draws).

2) Today, I am unable to delete a bunch of files with very long file
names. Is there a trick to deleting these?

3) I tried to rename the above files and after two successful
re-namings, and another Explorer crash, I can't rename the rest. I
right-click, select "rename", and a little "ding" wave file plays but
I can't rename the file.

Is my computer simply due for a format and reinstall, or is there a
way to fix these problems? Many thanks for any info or advice.

 

[Greg Stigers]

I don't believe in routinely reinstalling Windows as a form of corrective or
preventative maintenance. Spend some time making sense out of the bug check
codes you get. Start with "Interpreting Bug Check Codes" at
<http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/ddtools/hh/ddtools/BCIntro_f55acfed
-3296-4e84-8885-c3162fd0ddbf.xml.asp>. But rather than wait for another
crash, see "How to Use Dumpchk.exe to check a memory dump file" at
<<http://support.microsoft.com/?id=156280>>. Having Explorer crash is a
pretty good indicator of problems. But they are probably ones you can solve.

 

[Jyeshta]

I don't believe in routinely reinstalling Windows as a form of corrective or
preventative maintenance. Spend some time making sense out of the bug check
codes you get. Start with "Interpreting Bug Check Codes" at
<http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/ddtools/hh/ddtools/BCIntro_f55acfed
-3296-4e84-8885-c3162fd0ddbf.xml.asp>. But rather than wait for another
crash, see "How to Use Dumpchk.exe to check a memory dump file" at
<<http://support.microsoft.com/?id=156280>>. Having Explorer crash is a
pretty good indicator of problems. But they are probably ones you can solve.

Thank you, Greg. When Explorer crashes, it doesn't say it's doing a
memory dump and I'm not sure where to find the error log. It doesn't
even give an error number before the crash.

 

[Dan Seur]

I believe there are "total number of characters" limits for
[fullpath+filename] in the OS that might be causing your Explorer
hiccups. If you have very long filenames you may also have deeply nested
dir structures with similarly long names, which can add up and maybe
cause a kerblooey.

Sorry, but I don't recall what those limits are, but Google can probably
help you find out. (Google will also turn up relevant MS knowledgebase
entries.)

 

[Jyeshta]

Thank you, Dan. I'll try searching Google for those entries, and I'll
move those files (if I can) off the desktop and into a shorter
directory name. If I can move them off the desktop, I might be able
to rename or delete them. I appreciate your advice.

I believe there are "total number of characters" limits for
[fullpath+filename] in the OS that might be causing your Explorer
hiccups. If you have very long filenames you may also have deeply nested
dir structures with similarly long names, which can add up and maybe
cause a kerblooey.

Sorry, but I don't recall what those limits are, but Google can probably
help you find out. (Google will also turn up relevant MS knowledgebase
entries.)

Hi all,

I'm having problems with Explorer.

1) Sometimes, when I click on a media file, Explorer crashes (error
message appears, then screen goes blank and re-draws).

2) Today, I am unable to delete a bunch of files with very long file
names. Is there a trick to deleting these?

3) I tried to rename the above files and after two successful
re-namings, and another Explorer crash, I can't rename the rest. I
right-click, select "rename", and a little "ding" wave file plays but
I can't rename the file.

Is my computer simply due for a format and reinstall, or is there a
way to fix these problems? Many thanks for any info or advice.

 

[Dan Seur]

You're welcome...here's hoping...

Thank you, Dan. I'll try searching Google for those entries, and I'll
move those files (if I can) off the desktop and into a shorter
directory name. If I can move them off the desktop, I might be able
to rename or delete them. I appreciate your advice.

I believe there are "total number of characters" limits for
[fullpath+filename] in the OS that might be causing your Explorer
hiccups. If you have very long filenames you may also have deeply nested
dir structures with similarly long names, which can add up and maybe
cause a kerblooey.

Sorry, but I don't recall what those limits are, but Google can probably
help you find out. (Google will also turn up relevant MS knowledgebase
entries.)

Hi all,

I'm having problems with Explorer.

1) Sometimes, when I click on a media file, Explorer crashes (error
message appears, then screen goes blank and re-draws).

2) Today, I am unable to delete a bunch of files with very long file
names. Is there a trick to deleting these?

3) I tried to rename the above files and after two successful
re-namings, and another Explorer crash, I can't rename the rest. I
right-click, select "rename", and a little "ding" wave file plays but
I can't rename the file.

Is my computer simply due for a format and reinstall, or is there a
way to fix these problems? Many thanks for any info or advice.