Bizarre problem with Explorer

[KevinQ]

Since the installation of SP3, Windows Explorer has started acting strangely.
I'm not sure what triggers it, but it seems to be network-related, possible
when the system is accessed rather than when it goes looking.

The symptoms are the appearance of multiple dektop entities in the folder
pane (an example: http://Quitt.net/ExplorerBug/TooManyDesktops.png ), and
explorer not being able to find or access some subdirectories. Close the
explorer window and open a new one, and everything's fine for a while.
Sometimes days, sometimes minutes.

This has happened on every one of my XP systems, includeing XP 64-bit. Yes,
I have scanned for malware with numerous scanners, and nothing is found. If
it's critical to the investigation, I even have a virtual machine that
exhibits the problem.

As far as I can tell, there are no other symptoms, no extraneous disk or
network activity, and no extra processes. I don't claim that this is a SP3
problem, but there may be an interaction between it and other things on my
system.

Can I buy a clue?

 

[KevinQ]

For what it's worth, clicking on the icons, from top to bottom, yields:
My Computer
My Documents
My Network Places
Recycle Bin

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat and
e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada. Go to
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 | select "Windows
XP" then select "Windows XP Service Pack 3"

 

[Alan]

Hi Kevin,

For what it's worth, I've been having multiple desktop folders showing up in
Windows Explorer ever since my first XP Gold PC back in 2001. I don't think
it has anything at all to do with SP3.

I just googled "windows explorer multiple desktop entries" and I see that
you and I are not the only ones who are experiencing this.

At
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/59952-45-multiple-desktop-icons-windows-explorer
there is another poster who reports having a similar problem.

And, if you go to Reply # 22 at
http://forums.techguy.org/windows-nt-2000-xp/549345-solved-explorer-tree-display-curiosity-2.html a
poster states: "There's a bug which may occur if you have the desktop
toolbar enabled on your taskbar. It can cause these multiple desktop icons
to appear."

Alan

 

[KevinQ]

I contacted Microsoft's SP3 support and got no joy.

On the other hand, I seem to have found a solution (I say 'seem' because
sometimes it went days without it happening). Curiously, I just happened on
it in an unrelated thread.

Go to http://pcbutts1.com/downloads/tools/tools.htm and get the "Windows
Explorer shell fix" - which amounts to a batch file. It just reregisters the
appropriate DLLs with some twists I haven't bothered (yet) to understand.
Thank you, Sohtyaelehtreklats.


Why don't I get notifications when I have 'Notify me of replies' checked?

 

[KevinQ]

:
....

And, if you go to Reply # 22 at
http://forums.techguy.org/windows-nt-2000-xp/549345-solved-explorer-tree-display-curiosity-2.html a
poster states: "There's a bug which may occur if you have the desktop
toolbar enabled on your taskbar. It can cause these multiple desktop icons
to appear."

I just reread you post - I had missed this. This is indeed the missing link
- I've only recently started using the desktop toolbar. HAH!

Still - that fix is holding, so we'll see if I have to remove the toolbar.
Thanks to all for responding.

 

[KevinQ]

OK, this is the last post*. One of my machines ended up showing the problem,
so I just removed the desktop toolbar. All the others are holding steady and
working as expected.