Windows Explorer freezes when copying/moving some files

[Richard Evans]

I am running XP Professional SP2 with 1 GB RAM on a Dell Inspiron 9100
laptop. Most of my computer work is related to my photography profession.
Naming files & copying/moving them in Windows Explorer is a major, required
part of my work. However, recently when I try to copy/move a file from one
folder to another, the program freezes & an error message indicates that
Windows Explorer has encountered a problem & must shut down.

In addition, I frequently get a message that a filename is invalid or too
long, even though I have been using/copying filenames equal or longer (e.g.,
30+ characters) for the past two years. Reducing the filename to a small
number of characters (e.g., a dozen or less), & including a small number of
files at one time, does allow the above procedures to be completed without a
freeze.

With regard to possible malicious invasions, I regularly use programs for
detecting viruses, CA’s pest control, Microsoft’s “Malicious Software Removal
Toolâ€, spam, ad-ware, etc.

Please advise!

Thanks you,

Richard Evans

 

[Rey Santos]

The problem could be that Windows seems to repeatedly recreate the THUMBS.DB
file automatically and if there are too many images specially larger ones
Windows Explorer may just crash. Here's how to stop this from happening:

In Explorer, go to Tools -> Folder Options.
Choose the View tab, and turn off the "Do not cache thumbnails option".
Click Ok

Then locate the Thumbs.db file (usually the last file in the list ) and
delete it.

Also this may help:

Do you happen to have Adobe PhotoShop or
Elements installed?

If you do...right click on a .jpg file and choose
Properties. Click the Photoshop Image tab
and uncheck the "Generate Thumbnails" button,
then click OK.

 

[Don Varnau]

Hi,
Do you restart occasionally?

Right-click is slow or weird behavior caused by context menu handlers
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm

Try a Disk Cleanup- expecially the Temp folder.

Is a third-party program causing this? Does the problem persist in Safe
Mode? 315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

None of the security programs you listed is an anti-virus program.
Get a second opinion on malware:
http://www.kaspersky.com/scanforvirus

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]

 

[Richard Evans]

The problem could be that Windows seems to repeatedly recreate the THUMBS.DB
file automatically and if there are too many images specially larger ones
Windows Explorer may just crash. Here's how to stop this from happening:

In Explorer, go to Tools -> Folder Options.
Choose the View tab, and turn off the "Do not cache thumbnails option".
Click Ok

Then locate the Thumbs.db file (usually the last file in the list ) and
delete it.

Also this may help:

Do you happen to have Adobe PhotoShop or
Elements installed?

If you do...right click on a .jpg file and choose
Properties. Click the Photoshop Image tab
and uncheck the "Generate Thumbnails" button,
then click OK.