Explorer Mouse Hover Errors with Some Cab Files

[Sam Coe]

When the mouse hover gets close enough to generate the hover-tip file
information in the Explorer listing of files... an error is generated
instead for some .cab files. The error notice is:

“Windows Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are
sorry for the inconvenience.

If you were in the middle of something, the information you were working on
might be lost.”

This occurs for some Cab files but not all. It is reproducible. Rebooting
makes no difference.

It is noted that the software “Search Everything”, when told to search for
all .cab files, can open any .cab file. Whereupon, details of the selected
..cab file are shown for all .cab files that do NOT cause the mouse hover
error, but a blank listing of details is generated for the .cab files that
do cause the mouse hover error. Something odd is going on with respect to
some .cab files. It is as if something is selectively corrupting part of
these .cab files.

How can I track down the cause for this problem and then eliminate it?

 

[Jose]

When the mouse hover gets close enough to generate the hover-tip file
information in the Explorer listing of files... an error is generated
instead for some .cab files.  The error notice is:

“Windows Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close.  We are
sorry for the inconvenience.

If you were in the middle of something, the information you were working on
might be lost.”

This occurs for some Cab files but not all.  It is reproducible.  Rebooting
makes no difference.

It is noted that the software “Search Everything”, when told to search for
all .cab files, can open any .cab file.  Whereupon, details of the selected
.cab file are shown for all .cab files that do NOT cause the mouse hover
error, but a blank listing of details is generated for the .cab files that
do cause the mouse hover error.  Something odd is going on with respectto
some .cab files.  It is as if something is selectively corrupting part of
these .cab files.

How can I track down the cause for this problem and then eliminate it?

When you hover over a file and wait for the information to appear, XP
tries to figure out the information about the file to display the
info. If the file is corrupted for some reason and XP can't figure
out the information you will get this message.

This helps understand why it is only some files and is reproducible on
the same files. The files are broken. Rebooting will not fix a
broken file.

This also explains why there is no detailed file information for the
afflicted files when you browse or explore the folder. The
information is able to be retrieved for the good files.

..cab files are "cabinet" files and are compressed files that are
uncompressed and then used during the installation of programs, so if
the program using the .cab file is already installed, you probably do
not need the .cab file unless you want to try to reinstall, repair the
installation. They are left behind in the installation folder.

If there comes a day when you try to change something in the
configuration of the application that might need the .cab file, you
will now about it.

The file could have gotten corrupted by a number of unfortunate
circumstances and you will probably never know how it happened or be
able to figure it out - maybe it has always been corrupted.

If it is really bothering you, you will have to replace the
afflicted .cab files perhaps from your installation source (they may
be on the installation media), some other location on your hard disk,
a reinstall - or just not worry about it now that you know what it
means.