Can't browse Windows folders!

[bluetipex]

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??

 

[Trader333]

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

 

[bluetipex]

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

 

[bluetipex]

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!