Bizarre problem with Explorer

[Guest KevinQ]

Since the installation of SP3, Windows Explorer has started acting strangely.

I'm not sure what triggers it, but it seems to be network-related, possible

when the system is accessed rather than when it goes looking.

 

The symptoms are the appearance of multiple dektop entities in the folder

pane (an example: http://Quitt.net/ExplorerBug/TooManyDesktops.png ), and

explorer not being able to find or access some subdirectories. Close the

explorer window and open a new one, and everything's fine for a while.

Sometimes days, sometimes minutes.

 

This has happened on every one of my XP systems, includeing XP 64-bit. Yes,

I have scanned for malware with numerous scanners, and nothing is found. If

it's critical to the investigation, I even have a virtual machine that

exhibits the problem.

 

As far as I can tell, there are no other symptoms, no extraneous disk or

network activity, and no extra processes. I don't claim that this is a SP3

problem, but there may be an interaction between it and other things on my

system.

 

Can I buy a clue?

 

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#include <standard.disclaimer>

_

Kevin D Quitt USA 91387-4454 96.37% of all statistics are made up

[Guest KevinQ]

RE: Bizarre problem with Explorer

 

For what it's worth, clicking on the icons, from top to bottom, yields:

My Computer

My Documents

My Network Places

Recycle Bin

 

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#include <standard.disclaimer>

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Kevin D Quitt USA 91387-4454 96.37% of all statistics are made up

[Guest PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Re: Bizarre problem with Explorer

 

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for

Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat and

e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada. Go to

http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 | select "Windows

XP" then select "Windows XP Service Pack 3"

--

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net

DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

 

KevinQ wrote:

> Since the installation of SP3, Windows Explorer has started acting

> strangely. I'm not sure what triggers it, but it seems to be

> network-related, possible when the system is accessed rather than when it

> goes looking.

>

> The symptoms are the appearance of multiple dektop entities in the folder

> pane (an example: http://Quitt.net/ExplorerBug/TooManyDesktops.png ), and

> explorer not being able to find or access some subdirectories. Close the

> explorer window and open a new one, and everything's fine for a while.

> Sometimes days, sometimes minutes.

>

> This has happened on every one of my XP systems, includeing XP 64-bit.

> Yes,

> I have scanned for malware with numerous scanners, and nothing is found.

> If

> it's critical to the investigation, I even have a virtual machine that

> exhibits the problem.

>

> As far as I can tell, there are no other symptoms, no extraneous disk or

> network activity, and no extra processes. I don't claim that this is a

> SP3

> problem, but there may be an interaction between it and other things on my

> system.

>

> Can I buy a clue?

[Guest Alan]

Re: Bizarre problem with Explorer

 

Hi Kevin,

 

For what it's worth, I've been having multiple desktop folders showing up in

Windows Explorer ever since my first XP Gold PC back in 2001. I don't think

it has anything at all to do with SP3.

 

I just googled "windows explorer multiple desktop entries" and I see that

you and I are not the only ones who are experiencing this.

 

At

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/59952-45-multiple-desktop-icons-windows-explorer

there is another poster who reports having a similar problem.

 

And, if you go to Reply # 22 at

http://forums.techguy.org/windows-nt-2000-xp/549345-solved-explorer-tree-display-curiosity-2.html a

poster states: "There's a bug which may occur if you have the desktop

toolbar enabled on your taskbar. It can cause these multiple desktop icons

to appear."

 

Alan

 

"KevinQ" <KevinQ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:F878B452-3371-41AE-95DD-C8A40A59913F@microsoft.com...

> Since the installation of SP3, Windows Explorer has started acting

> strangely.

> I'm not sure what triggers it, but it seems to be network-related,

> possible

> when the system is accessed rather than when it goes looking.

>

> The symptoms are the appearance of multiple dektop entities in the folder

> pane (an example: http://Quitt.net/ExplorerBug/TooManyDesktops.png ), and

> explorer not being able to find or access some subdirectories. Close the

> explorer window and open a new one, and everything's fine for a while.

> Sometimes days, sometimes minutes.

>

> This has happened on every one of my XP systems, includeing XP 64-bit.

> Yes,

> I have scanned for malware with numerous scanners, and nothing is found.

> If

> it's critical to the investigation, I even have a virtual machine that

> exhibits the problem.

>

> As far as I can tell, there are no other symptoms, no extraneous disk or

> network activity, and no extra processes. I don't claim that this is a

> SP3

> problem, but there may be an interaction between it and other things on my

> system.

>

> Can I buy a clue?

>

> --

> #include <standard.disclaimer>

> _

> Kevin D Quitt USA 91387-4454 96.37% of all statistics are made up

>

[Guest KevinQ]

Re: Bizarre problem with Explorer

 

I contacted Microsoft's SP3 support and got no joy.

 

On the other hand, I seem to have found a solution (I say 'seem' because

sometimes it went days without it happening). Curiously, I just happened on

it in an unrelated thread.

 

Go to http://pcbutts1.com/downloads/tools/tools.htm and get the "Windows

Explorer shell fix" - which amounts to a batch file. It just reregisters the

appropriate DLLs with some twists I haven't bothered (yet) to understand.

Thank you, Sohtyaelehtreklats.

 

 

Why don't I get notifications when I have 'Notify me of replies' checked?

 

--

#include <standard.disclaimer>

_

Kevin D Quitt USA 91387-4454 96.37% of all statistics are made up

[Guest KevinQ]

Re: Bizarre problem with Explorer

 

"Alan" wrote:

....

> And, if you go to Reply # 22 at

> http://forums.techguy.org/windows-nt-2000-xp/549345-solved-explorer-tree-display-curiosity-2.html a

> poster states: "There's a bug which may occur if you have the desktop

> toolbar enabled on your taskbar. It can cause these multiple desktop icons

> to appear."

 

I just reread you post - I had missed this. This is indeed the missing link

- I've only recently started using the desktop toolbar. HAH!

 

Still - that fix is holding, so we'll see if I have to remove the toolbar.

Thanks to all for responding.

 

--

#include <standard.disclaimer>

_

Kevin D Quitt USA 91387-4454 96.37% of all statistics are made up

 

 

> Alan

>

> "KevinQ" <KevinQ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:F878B452-3371-41AE-95DD-C8A40A59913F@microsoft.com...

> > Since the installation of SP3, Windows Explorer has started acting

> > strangely.

> > I'm not sure what triggers it, but it seems to be network-related,

> > possible

> > when the system is accessed rather than when it goes looking.

> >

> > The symptoms are the appearance of multiple dektop entities in the folder

> > pane (an example: http://Quitt.net/ExplorerBug/TooManyDesktops.png ), and

> > explorer not being able to find or access some subdirectories. Close the

> > explorer window and open a new one, and everything's fine for a while.

> > Sometimes days, sometimes minutes.

> >

> > This has happened on every one of my XP systems, includeing XP 64-bit.

> > Yes,

> > I have scanned for malware with numerous scanners, and nothing is found.

> > If

> > it's critical to the investigation, I even have a virtual machine that

> > exhibits the problem.

> >

> > As far as I can tell, there are no other symptoms, no extraneous disk or

> > network activity, and no extra processes. I don't claim that this is a

> > SP3

> > problem, but there may be an interaction between it and other things on my

> > system.

> >

> > Can I buy a clue?

> >

> > --

> > #include <standard.disclaimer>

> > _

> > Kevin D Quitt USA 91387-4454 96.37% of all statistics are made up

> >

>

>

>

[Guest KevinQ]

RE: Bizarre problem with Explorer

 

OK, this is the last post*. One of my machines ended up showing the problem,

so I just removed the desktop toolbar. All the others are holding steady and

working as expected.

 

--

#include <standard.disclaimer>

_

Kevin D Quitt USA 91387-4454 96.37% of all statistics are made up

 

 

 

"KevinQ" wrote:

> Since the installation of SP3, Windows Explorer has started acting strangely.

> I'm not sure what triggers it, but it seems to be network-related, possible

> when the system is accessed rather than when it goes looking.

>

> The symptoms are the appearance of multiple dektop entities in the folder

> pane (an example: http://Quitt.net/ExplorerBug/TooManyDesktops.png ), and

> explorer not being able to find or access some subdirectories. Close the

> explorer window and open a new one, and everything's fine for a while.

> Sometimes days, sometimes minutes.

>

> This has happened on every one of my XP systems, includeing XP 64-bit. Yes,

> I have scanned for malware with numerous scanners, and nothing is found. If

> it's critical to the investigation, I even have a virtual machine that

> exhibits the problem.

>

> As far as I can tell, there are no other symptoms, no extraneous disk or

> network activity, and no extra processes. I don't claim that this is a SP3

> problem, but there may be an interaction between it and other things on my

> system.

>

> Can I buy a clue?

>

> --

> #include <standard.disclaimer>

> _

> Kevin D Quitt USA 91387-4454 96.37% of all statistics are made up

>