Can't browse Windows folders!

bluetipex

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Hi Guys

I have a strange problem that started a few days ago, but I don't think it's spyware:

If I right-click on the "start" button, and choose "explore" then all the folders are displayed as normal. As soon as I click on one of them I get as error message "Windows has encountered a problem and needs to close". I then can't do anything until I go into task manager, and end the task. All my other running applications are left intact, and running normally. Sometimes the error message refers to "Dr Watson".

I am on Win XP, IE7. I tried disabling my firewall (Online Armor) but this didn't help.

Anyone any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

PS. Anything to do with Browser Help Objects??
 
Can you restore your pc to an earlier date ? if so try it.

If you keep getting a Dr Watson message you could try uninstalling any Dr Watson applications and then reinstalling them.


Paul
 
Can you restore your pc to an earlier date ? if so try it.

If you keep getting a Dr Watson message you could try uninstalling any Dr Watson applications and then reinstalling them.


Paul

Thanks Paul

Now that the market's closed I thought I would try the system restore. Before I did that I thought I'd try one more time, and everything is fine!! Weird. However, if the problem re-occurs I shall try the restore as you suggest.

Regards
 
Bad and Good news

The problem came back again today. Very annoying.

I did a system restore to 28 January and still the problem persisted.

My C drive needs a defrag badly, but I only have 5% available space, and it needs 15% to do a defrag. I can't delete things from my C drive because I can't browse the WIndows folders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I then decided that it must be spyware. So, I uninstalled Spyware Doctor, and installed Spycatcher, as recommended by ROGUETRADER on another thread. I've just done a full scan using Spycatcher, it found 137 spyware infections!! I deleted them.

THE PROBLEM HAS NOW GONE, I can browse windows no problem.

I will send Roguetrader a pm to thank him for the recommendation; I fear I may have to get my debit card out and buy the full version (which is something I never ever do). I like my anti-spyware to have a real-time monitor, and the free version doesn't appear to.

I can now free up space on my C drive, and then do a defrag. It's important that I keep my laptop in tip top condition as I use it every day for trading. I should never have let my C drive get into this state.

Nevertheless, T2W helps me yet again!
 
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