[phileysmiley]

Whenever I open any Explorer window on my laptop, the CPU pins and I have to shut it down using the button -- everything freezes and nothing works at all.

Everything else works fine -- multiple IM apps, FF with up to 40 tabs open, etc. But just one Explorer window and that's it.

Windows XP
NOD 32 (up to date)
CA Firewall

[yeshuas]

your optical drive may be going, if it is removable try taking it out then see if it works

[yeshuas]

another thing to try is to see if you have any system files that are corrupt try this

Go to Start->Run and type in sfc /scannow and hit OK. Let it scan. If it finds any files missing/corrupted, it may ask for the Windows CD.

[yeshuas]

knowing that you probably have toms of picture type files and possibly avi files, if the above suggestions don't help as a last resort you can try this but it is more involved.

NOTE: before doing this, you should make a backup of your registry by going to start->run, typing regedt32 , then going to File > Export and saving the registry file somewhere safe.

1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. Type: regedt32
4. Browse to the registry key (the things that look like folders on the left side of the screen) HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.avi\shellex\PropertyHandler.
5. Delete the Key on the right hand side called "default" by right-clicking and hitting "Delete".

That should be it. If that doesn't work, the following command might help, but it will disable all AVI thumbnail preview capability:

go to Start > Run, type: REGSVR32 /U SHMEDIA.DLL and press OK. To undo this change, simply go to Start > Run, type: REGSVR32 SHMEDIA.DLL and press OK.

[phileysmiley]

I started running an Ad-Aware full system scan just before you posted, so I'll see if that helps. It has a long way to go.

BTW I had to download a new one, so in the process of downloading it I had to save it to a folder, and I was able to do it -- I wasn't even able to save to a folder earlier because as soon as the "save to..." folder opened everything would freeze. So maybe it just needed a rest, who knows.

====
EDIT: Just saw your last post:

If that doesn't work, the following command might help, but it will disable all AVI thumbnail preview capability

You know, I was trying to remember when I had this problem before and it was when I was opening a folder with a lot of jpgs and avis in it and it was on thumbnail view. It was the thumbnail rendering that was the culprit because all I had to do was put it on list or details view and it was fine. I have a feeling that may have been the problem again and I just didn't remember since it was so long ago.

[yeshuas]

I started running an Ad-Aware full system scan just before you posted, so I'll see if that helps. It has a long way to go.

BTW I had to download a new one, so in the process of downloading it I had to save it to a folder, and I was able to do it -- I wasn't even able to save to a folder earlier because as soon as the "save to..." folder opened everything would freeze. So maybe it just needed a rest, who knows.

needed a rest have you been workin that puter to hard LOL

[phileysmiley]

Scan came up clean. I think I found the folder that was the culprit. I had them all set to list view (apply all folders) but for some reason a folder with lots of pics and movies was on thumbnail view. I set it to details and hopefully it will stay that way.

[yeshuas]

all is working ok them I hope (-:

[phileysmiley]

Still locking up whenever I try to save a file.

Go to Start->Run and type in sfc /scannow and hit OK. Let it scan.

Running now.

I also backed up my files onto an external and deleted some pic/movie folders.

================
UPDATE: File check was ok.

Did this

NOTE: before doing this, you should make a backup of your registry by going to start->run, typing regedt32 , then going to File > Export and saving the registry file somewhere safe.

1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. Type: regedt32
4. Browse to the registry key (the things that look like folders on the left side of the screen) HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.avi\shellex\PropertyHandler.
5. Delete the Key on the right hand side called "default" by right-clicking and hitting "Delete".

[phileysmiley]

It's still happening. It's intermittent, but it always happens when I am going to save a file. The "save as" box opens where you navigate to the folder and everything freezes.

That's 6 times now I've had to shut down the laptop with the off button.