Jpeg Folders open strangely

[Bob Williams]

E-Machines, P4, 2.93GHz, 1.5GB RAM, Win Xp, Norton Internet Security.

When I open a folder of jpeg images (say 15 images at 2MB each), the
thumbnails appear very slowly.... maybe 20-30 seconds. When they do
appear, some are full size thumbnails and some are smaller. If I then
click REFRESH, they all appear at full size.
If I close the folder and reopen it a few minutes later, all the
thumbnails are INSTANTLY displayed at full size.

Now, here is where it really gets spooky!
When I open the jpeg folder for the first time and the thumbnails start
to appear slowly, if I scroll down to look at the last thumbnail before
it is fully displayed, the thumbnail images start to corrupt and the
computer freezes. When I CTRL+ALT+DELETE and End Task, I notice that
when the desktop reappears, Norton I.S. is missing from the System Tray.
I ran Norton Anti Virus and found nothing. Then I ran Spybot, and
Adaware and found nothing significant. After deleting the few things
found by Spybot and Adaware, the problem still persists.

Any ideas on how to fix this weird problem???
Bob Williams

 

[John Inzer]

E-Machines, P4, 2.93GHz, 1.5GB RAM, Win Xp, Norton
Internet Security.

When I open a folder of jpeg images (say 15 images at 2MB
each), the thumbnails appear very slowly.... maybe 20-30
seconds. When they do appear, some are full size
thumbnails and some are smaller. If I then click REFRESH,
they all appear at full size.
If I close the folder and reopen it a few minutes later,
all the thumbnails are INSTANTLY displayed at full size.

Now, here is where it really gets spooky!
When I open the jpeg folder for the first time and the
thumbnails start to appear slowly, if I scroll down to
look at the last thumbnail before it is fully displayed,
the thumbnail images start to corrupt and the computer
freezes. When I CTRL+ALT+DELETE and End Task, I notice
that when the desktop reappears, Norton I.S. is missing
from the System Tray. I ran Norton Anti Virus and found
nothing. Then I ran Spybot, and Adaware and found nothing
significant. After deleting the few things found by
Spybot and Adaware, the problem still persists.

Any ideas on how to fix this weird problem???
Bob Williams

==============================
Just a few ideas....

I would search for and delete all Thumbs.db files.

Some info:
What is thumbs.db
http://tinyurl.com/b5qam

(188540) You receive an "Invalid page fault"
error message when you try to view the contents
of a folder or its subfolders by using Thumbnail
view in Windows Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=188540

Can you view the images in Safe Mode?

(315222) A Description of the Safe Mode
Boot Options in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315222

Is any improvement realized if you reduce
your Graphics Hardware Acceleration?

Is your video driver current? (Check the mfgs
website)

Are you fully updated from Windows Update?

WinXP SP2?

Did you install/update/uninstall anything just
prior to this issue?

Have you tried doing some maintenance?

Running Disk Cleanup, Error Checking and
Defrag on a regular schedule is a good idea.

(310312) Description of the Disk Cleanup
Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310312

(315265) How to Perform Disk Error Checking
in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315265
(check the two boxes..."Automatically fix file
system errors" and "Scan for and attempt
recovery of bad sectors") the utility will run
the next time you restart your computer.
(run error checking repeatedly until it finds
no errors)

(314848) How to Defragment Your Disk
Drive Volumes in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314848

(305781) HOW TO: Analyze and Defragment
a Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=305781

You may have a corrupted WinXP User Account.

(279783) How To Create and Configure
User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=279783


--

John Inzer
MS Picture It! MVP
How to ask a newsgroup question:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Bob Williams]

==============================
Just a few ideas....

I would search for and delete all Thumbs.db files.

Some info:
What is thumbs.db
http://tinyurl.com/b5qam

OK, I Did that but it did not improve the situation.
FYI, the thumbs.db that I deleted was of the type, Value Added.....
Unfortunately, I deleted it before I noticed the "Date Modified" which
could have told me when I inherited it.

(188540) You receive an "Invalid page fault"
error message when you try to view the contents
of a folder or its subfolders by using Thumbnail
view in Windows Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=188540
Can you view the images in Safe Mode?

No Invalid Page Fault message from MS.
I can view the images in Safe Mode but the problem occurred there too
and still persists.

N.B. After I experienced the freezeup, I was prompted to report the
problem to MS, which I did.
I received a message back from MS, indicating a proposed workaround
that involved deleting Internet Explorer add-ons that I don't recognize.
I did not proceed with the workaround yet because I wouldn't recognize a
good add-on from a malicious one if I met them on the street. Also, the
computer is only a few weeks old and I never even opened IE. I use
Netscape 7.1 as my browser.

(315222) A Description of the Safe Mode
Boot Options in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315222

Is any improvement realized if you reduce
your Graphics Hardware Acceleration?

Will try that later and report back.

Is your video driver current? (Check the mfgs
website)

Yes! The computer is just a few weeks old.

Are you fully updated from Windows Update?
WinXP SP2?
Yes

Did you install/update/uninstall anything just
prior to this issue?

I added 1GB of RAM.
But Windows recognizes it in MY COMPUTER > Properties

Have you tried doing some maintenance?

Running Disk Cleanup, Error Checking and Defrag on a regular schedule is
a good idea.

Not yet because of the Newness of the computer

(310312) Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310312

(315265) How to Perform Disk Error Checking in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315265
(check the two boxes..."Automatically fix file system errors" and "Scan
for and attempt recovery of bad sectors") the utility will run
the next time you restart your computer.
(run error checking repeatedly until it finds no errors)

Will try that later on and report back.

(314848) How to Defragment Your Disk Drive Volumes in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314848

(305781) HOW TO: Analyze and Defragment a Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=305781

No defrag yet because of newness of the computer.

You may have a corrupted WinXP User Account.

(279783) How To Create and Configure
User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=279783

Will try that later and report back.
Thanks for your input.

P.S. What do you think about "deleting the IE add-ons" workaround?
Does it make sense that the problem would reside in IE, when AFAIK, that
program is not used in opening and displaying jpeg folders?
Bob Williams

 

[John Inzer]

As I previously stated...I'm only offering
suggestions...I do not have the exact fix.
Prodeed at your own risk!

?The same issue occurred in Safe Mode?
The RAM could be a problem...I would
try removing the new RAM just to see if any
change was realized.

A new computer does not necessisarily
have a current video driver. Check the
version number of the one you are running
and check the website of your video adapter's
website for updates...you may be surprised.

Also...being "New" doesn't rule out maintenance...
Disk Cleanup / Error Checking / Defrag.

Also you may want to add the following
freebies to your arsenal of malware fighters:

a-squared Free
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/download/

MS AntiSpyware BETA
http://tinyurl.com/47cus

And...be sure to check for updates to all of
the programs frequently...some are updated
several times a week.

If reducing the Graphics Hardware Acceleration
makes an improvement...it's almost a guarantee
that the video driver is the problem.

Could IE be an issue? I suspect that it could
but I would rule out the other issues first.

--

John Inzer
MS Picture It! MVP
How to ask a newsgroup question:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
=================================

OK, I Did that but it did not improve the situation.
FYI, the thumbs.db that I deleted was of the type, Value
Added..... Unfortunately, I deleted it before I noticed
the "Date Modified" which could have told me when I
inherited it.

No Invalid Page Fault message from MS.
I can view the images in Safe Mode but the problem
occurred there too and still persists.

N.B. After I experienced the freezeup, I was prompted to
report the problem to MS, which I did.
I received a message back from MS, indicating a proposed
workaround that involved deleting Internet Explorer
add-ons that I don't recognize. I did not proceed with
the workaround yet because I wouldn't recognize a good
add-on from a malicious one if I met them on the street.
Also, the computer is only a few weeks old and I never
even opened IE. I use Netscape 7.1 as my browser.


Will try that later and report back.


Yes! The computer is just a few weeks old.

I added 1GB of RAM.
But Windows recognizes it in MY COMPUTER > Properties
Not yet because of the Newness of the computer

Will try that later on and report back.


No defrag yet because of newness of the computer.


Will try that later and report back.
Thanks for your input.

P.S. What do you think about "deleting the IE add-ons"
workaround?
Does it make sense that the problem would reside in IE,
when AFAIK, that program is not used in opening and
displaying jpeg folders?
Bob Williams

================================

 

[Bob Williams]

If reducing the Graphics Hardware Acceleration
makes an improvement...it's almost a guarantee
that the video driver is the problem.

How do I adjust the Graphics Acceleration?
Bob

 

[John Inzer]

How do I adjust the Graphics Acceleration?
Bob

=================================
Reduce Video Hardware Acceleration in Windows XP

Microsoft Windows XP
1.. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2.. Double-click Display.
3.. Click the Settings tab, and then click Advanced.
4.. Click the Troubleshooting tab, and then move the Hardware
Acceleration slider until it is one notch to the right of None (the
Basic acceleration setting).
5.. Click OK, and then click Close.
6.. If you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.

--

John Inzer
MS Picture It! MVP
How to ask a newsgroup question:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Bob Williams]

=================================
Reduce Video Hardware Acceleration in Windows XP

Microsoft Windows XP
1.. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2.. Double-click Display.
3.. Click the Settings tab, and then click Advanced.
4.. Click the Troubleshooting tab, and then move the Hardware
Acceleration slider until it is one notch to the right of None (the
Basic acceleration setting).
5.. Click OK, and then click Close.
6.. If you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.

Reducing the speed of the Graphics Accelerator did not make any difference.
The problem persists.
Now here is where it really gets bizarre.
The folders that were opening strangely were in "MY PICTURES"
(A Sub Folder of MY DOCUMENTS).
I copied the contents of one of the folders in MY PICTURES to a New
Folder on my desktop. The images opened normally.
Is there something about the MY PICTURES folder that makes it different
from a plain vanilla folder that I create on my desktop?
The saga continues!
Bob Williams
P.S. How do I tell Windows that when I open a folder, I want to VIEW it
in the same mode as it was when I closed it?
Bob

 

[Yves Alarie]

For PS
Click on Tools and Folders option. Scroll down and check the box "Remember
folder settings..

 

[Bob Williams]

Thank you Yves.
Bob

For PS
Click on Tools and Folders option. Scroll down and check the box "Remember
folder settings..

 

[John Inzer]

Reducing the speed of the Graphics Accelerator did not
make any difference. The problem persists.

=================================
Ok...that probably rules out a video driver issue.

Be sure the change the acceleration back to full.
=================================

Now here is where it really gets bizarre.
The folders that were opening strangely were in "MY
PICTURES" (A Sub Folder of MY DOCUMENTS).
I copied the contents of one of the folders in MY
PICTURES to a New
Folder on my desktop. The images opened normally.
Is there something about the MY PICTURES folder that
makes it different from a plain vanilla folder that I
create on my desktop?
The saga continues!
Bob Williams

=================================
Still guessing...maybe your My Pictures folder
is corrupted. And...it's even possible that your
WinXP User Account is corrupted.

Let us know if you find a fix.

--

John Inzer
MS Picture It! MVP
How to ask a newsgroup question:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375