Windows crashes when displaying folders containing Jpegs.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jason
  • Start date Start date
J

Jason

I've been runing XP Pro for quite some time, error free, I might add.

Although, today when I opened the "My Pictures" folder I received the
message, "Windows explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close." I
receive the same basic message no matter what application I try to use to
open a Jpeg. (... has encountered a problem...). The computer does not
actually crash, it just basically refreshes the desktop and closes the
application that was trying to view the picture. I have already run a
complete virus scan, run Adware 6, and restored to a couple of days ago. To
clarify, attempting to open any Jpeg, anywhere, results in this error. Any
ideas will be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Jason
 
"Jason" said in news:[email protected]:
I've been runing XP Pro for quite some time, error free, I might add.

Although, today when I opened the "My Pictures" folder I received the
message, "Windows explorer has encountered a problem and needs to
close." I receive the same basic message no matter what application
I try to use to open a Jpeg. (... has encountered a problem...). The
computer does not actually crash, it just basically refreshes the
desktop and closes the application that was trying to view the
picture. I have already run a complete virus scan, run Adware 6, and
restored to a couple of days ago. To clarify, attempting to open any
Jpeg, anywhere, results in this error. Any ideas will be much
appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Jason
Click to expand...

Do you have the Thumbnail view enabled? If so, a hidden file thumbs.db
gets created in that directory. Use a DOS shell (aka Command Prompt) to
navigate to that directory, use attrib command to remove the hidden
attribute, and delete the .db file. Then see if you can open that
directory in Explorer.

Your description is confusing. First you say that you cannot open
Explorer when you attempt to open the "My Pictures" folder. But then
later you say that explorer.exe (for the desktop) gets unloaded and
reloaded (hence the desktop "refresh") and the "application" closes.
Did you open the file in the application by opening the application and
then browsing to the directory to select the file (which means you can
browse into your My Pictures directory)? Or did you double-click on the
image file (which, again, means you can browse into that directory) but
the expected application did not load?

Is it only under the My Pictures directory the problem occurs? Or do
you have .jpg files elsewhere that will open okay or fail when you
double-click on them?

Have you ran msconfig.exe to disable all startup programs, rebooted, and
checked if the problem still occurs?
 
Thanks for the quick response. Deleting the thumbs.db file had no effect.

To simplify, here is the condensed version of my troubles.

ANY application that tries to view a thumbnail, be it Explorer, Photoshop,
or IE, will draw the error message "blah blah application has encountered a
problem and needs to close." Clicking any folder containing Jpegs will open
the folder, but with the error message. If I ignore the error message and
double click an image, explorer reloads immediately. If I use Photoshop, I
can navigate to any folder containing Jpegs, but hovering over one to make a
selection will also draw the error because is tries to preview the Jpeg,
again, ignoring the error and double clicking will immediately reload
explorer.

Again, Thanks in advance.

Jason
 
"Jason" said in news:[email protected]:
Thanks for the quick response. Deleting the thumbs.db file had no
effect.

To simplify, here is the condensed version of my troubles.

ANY application that tries to view a thumbnail, be it Explorer,
Photoshop, or IE, will draw the error message "blah blah application
has encountered a problem and needs to close." Clicking any folder
containing Jpegs will open the folder, but with the error message. If
I ignore the error message and double click an image, explorer
reloads immediately. If I use Photoshop, I can navigate to any folder
containing Jpegs, but hovering over one to make a selection will also
draw the error because is tries to preview the Jpeg, again, ignoring
the error and double clicking will immediately reload explorer.

Again, Thanks in advance.

Jason
Click to expand...

Uffda.

Have you tried running a full virus scan using a recently updated
anti-virus program?

Have you ran Ad-aware and Spybot to check for spyware?

Problem still occur if you reboot into Safe mode?
 
Yes, yes, and yes.

Already have tried full virus scan ( updated Norton Antivirus), have run
updated versions of Adware and Spybot, have booted to safe mode, and have
even tried a System Restore to about ten days ago.
I'm backing stuff, getting ready to reformat. Can be up and running in a
couple of hours.
Thanks for the help, is is appreciated.

Jason
 
"Jason" said in news:[email protected]:
Yes, yes, and yes.

Already have tried full virus scan ( updated Norton Antivirus), have
run updated versions of Adware and Spybot, have booted to safe mode,
and have even tried a System Restore to about ten days ago.
I'm backing stuff, getting ready to reformat. Can be up and running
in a couple of hours.
Thanks for the help, is is appreciated.

Jason
Click to expand...

Rather than reformat and do a fresh install, have you tried booting with
the Windows install CD and running its Repair function?

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I had this problem and it turned out to be a conflict with Photoshop. After days of searching the solution turned out to be really simple for me. If you can get Explorer to stay open for long enough to get to any jpg images (it doesn't matter where) right click on one, choose 'Properties' and then choose the 'Photoshop Image' tab and uncheck the 'Generate thumbnails' box. This worked for me. It should also work for other image formats (tifs etc). From discussions on threads elsewhere, the problem also seems to be more accute with sub-folders buried deep within a tree structure and with folders with long names

Here's a link to the thread which solved my problem

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...3y9lmNlBEHA.3404%40TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl&rnum=

or go to google groups and search for 'windows explorer memory error xp'

Good luck
 
I had a similar problem. In my case, there was a corrupt file that locked up Windows explorer
If there are no important images, delete the folder. You may have to try to show the problem folder from its parent folder and then highlighting and deleting the problem folder

If there are important images - then you may have to bite the bullet and delete the folder and learn the hard way about backing up important data - happened to me once and I backup faithfully

The last option is do go into safe mode and delete the folder

Hope this help

----- Jason wrote: ----

I've been runing XP Pro for quite some time, error free, I might add

Although, today when I opened the "My Pictures" folder I received th
message, "Windows explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close."
receive the same basic message no matter what application I try to use t
open a Jpeg. (... has encountered a problem...). The computer does no
actually crash, it just basically refreshes the desktop and closes th
application that was trying to view the picture. I have already run
complete virus scan, run Adware 6, and restored to a couple of days ago. T
clarify, attempting to open any Jpeg, anywhere, results in this error. An
ideas will be much appreciated

Thanks in advance

Jaso
 
Hi Nige M.

Thank you SOOOOO much for your solution of this problem. I am an artist and have most of my images stored digitally and have had the hardest time accessing any of my files, and am therefore not able to show anyone anything! But I did like you said and it's totall fixed! Stupid Photoshop, I knew something fishy was going on! Again thanks a whole lot!!!!

Jessica
 
Now, back up your stuff for worry free computing. It's the only way to fly.


jessica said:
Hi Nige M.

Thank you SOOOOO much for your solution of this problem. I am an artist
Click to expand...
and have most of my images stored digitally and have had the hardest time
accessing any of my files, and am therefore not able to show anyone
anything! But I did like you said and it's totall fixed! Stupid Photoshop, I
knew something fishy was going on! Again thanks a whole lot!!!!
Jessica
Click to expand...
After days of searching the solution turned out to be really simple for me.
If you can get Explorer to stay open for long enough to get to any jpg
images (it doesn't matter where) right click on one, choose 'Properties' and
then choose the 'Photoshop Image' tab and uncheck the 'Generate thumbnails'
box. This worked for me. It should also work for other image formats (tifs
etc). From discussions on threads elsewhere, the problem also seems to be
more accute with sub-folders buried deep within a tree structure and with
folders with long names.
 
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