files properties

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Guest

When I use My Computer and right-click on the name of a file the menu pops
up. At the bottom of the menu it says "properties". When I click on
"properties" I don't get any results and the Windows Task Manager shows that
My Computer is "Not Responding." This problem started about the time that I
installed sp2 for WinXP. Does anyone have any idea why trying to bring up
the properties for a file in My Computer causes My Computer to stop
functioning? Thanks for any help?

CB
 
Curious said:
When I use My Computer and right-click on the name of a file the menu
pops
up. At the bottom of the menu it says "properties". When I click on
"properties" I don't get any results and the Windows Task Manager
shows that
My Computer is "Not Responding." This problem started about the time
that I
installed sp2 for WinXP. Does anyone have any idea why trying to
bring up the properties for a file in My Computer causes My Computer
to stop
functioning? Thanks for any help?
Click to expand...
Got an older version of DivX installed? See here:

Right click causes an error and crashes Explorer.exe after installing
Windows XP SP2 - http://www.winxptutor.com/sp2/divxcrash.htm

Slow right-click and other issues -
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm

Manage the context-menu entries for folders, drives and Namespace
objects - http://windowsxp.mvps.org/context_folders.htm

Malke
 
Thanks for you reply. I didn't have DivX installed on my computer. The
right-click on the file name brings up the menu, but when I click on
"properties" then My Computer doesn't respond any more. Thanks again.

CB
 
Curious said:
Thanks for you reply. I didn't have DivX installed on my computer.
The right-click on the file name brings up the menu, but when I click
on
"properties" then My Computer doesn't respond any more. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Then go through the other steps to find out what right-click entry is
causing the problem. Here's a direct link to ShellExView:

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html

Malke
 
Thanks for you reply. I downloaded and installed ShellExView. I'm checking
one item at a time. This will take a little while. Thanks again.

CB
 
I did as you suggested. I used ShellExView to shut down all the items that
it listed (about 12 at a time) and nothing made any difference. I also
changed some of the services in Administrative Tools in the Control Panel and
none of that made any difference. I guess I'll just keep searching on the
internet and see if I can find the answer. Either that or break down and pay
MS $35 to get them to tell me how to make their product function properly.

CB
 
It's your responsibility to make it work properly. It's your system. You control it not MS. They are charging you $35 to do your job for you. If it's their fault it's free.

There are no files in My Computer.
 
Curious said:
I did as you suggested. I used ShellExView to shut down all the items
that
it listed (about 12 at a time) and nothing made any difference. I
also changed some of the services in Administrative Tools in the
Control Panel and
none of that made any difference. I guess I'll just keep searching on
the
internet and see if I can find the answer. Either that or break down
and pay MS $35 to get them to tell me how to make their product
function properly.
Click to expand...

No, you're the one who has done something that has caused your operating
system to malfunction. None of my 6 personal Windows XP boxen
malfunctions, and of course none of my clients' machines do either
after I've fixed them.

There are other troubleshooting steps. Here are just a few, but you
should always start by asking yourself, "what changed between the time
things worked and the time they didn't?".

1. Scan for viruses/malware. Here are some general steps:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

2. If the machine is malware-free, do clean-boot troubleshooting:
Clean Boot - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=310353
and How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

3. Look in Event Viewer for clues. Start>Run>eventvwr.msc [enter]

That's a start, combined with whatever you have installed that is
causing a problem possibly with the right-click context menu.

Malke
 
I didn't create WinXP pro sp2 or the software that's apparently causing
compatibility problems. I guess that if I had paid $199 to MS directly for
WinXP (instead of $147 to NewEgg) then I'd be entitled to tech support. I'm
not responsible for software that I paid for not being compatible. It's my
system, but they created and sold me (through NewEgg) the operating system.
It's pretty sad that Windows doesn't have any serious competition.
 
Thanks for the info. I've actually had this problem since sp2 came out, so
I've had it for quite a while. Which, of course, means that I don't really
know what I did way back when this first started. I did a fresh install of
WinXP pro sp2 about 8 or 9 months ago and it worked fine until I started
installing programs. So I'll keep scanning and digging until I find the
culprit. Thanks again.

CB

Malke said:
Curious said:
I did as you suggested. I used ShellExView to shut down all the items
that
it listed (about 12 at a time) and nothing made any difference. I
also changed some of the services in Administrative Tools in the
Control Panel and
none of that made any difference. I guess I'll just keep searching on
the
internet and see if I can find the answer. Either that or break down
and pay MS $35 to get them to tell me how to make their product
function properly.
Click to expand...

No, you're the one who has done something that has caused your operating
system to malfunction. None of my 6 personal Windows XP boxen
malfunctions, and of course none of my clients' machines do either
after I've fixed them.

There are other troubleshooting steps. Here are just a few, but you
should always start by asking yourself, "what changed between the time
things worked and the time they didn't?".

1. Scan for viruses/malware. Here are some general steps:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

2. If the machine is malware-free, do clean-boot troubleshooting:
Clean Boot - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=310353
and How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

3. Look in Event Viewer for clues. Start>Run>eventvwr.msc [enter]

That's a start, combined with whatever you have installed that is
causing a problem possibly with the right-click context menu.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
Click to expand...
 
Curious said:
Thanks for the info. I've actually had this problem since sp2 came
out, so
I've had it for quite a while. Which, of course, means that I don't
really
know what I did way back when this first started. I did a fresh
install of WinXP pro sp2 about 8 or 9 months ago and it worked fine
until I started
installing programs. So I'll keep scanning and digging until I find
the
culprit. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

You're welcome. Here's your operative phrase:
it worked fine until I started installing programs
Click to expand...

You need to find out what you installed that is causing the problem.
Make sure you have the latest versions of your programs. Many companies
updated their programs to work with SP2.

Malke
 
I performed the actions that you suggested in your pervious post. I scanned
for malware with SpySweeper and found nothing bad. I did an anti-virus scan
with Norton AntiVirus and found nothing. I did a clean boot per MS's
instructions and still had my original problem. I looked at Event Viewer
immediately after having the problem and got an entry in the log that stated
that there was an error which was an application error (the application was
not identified). The catagory was "(100)" and the event was "1000". All of
that is meaningless generalizations to me. I already know that there's an
error -- I need specifics.

I've had this problem with My Computer and obtaining the properties
information through the right-click menu for so long that I have no idea what
software I might have installed immediately prior to the beginning of the
problem. I waited this long to try to find a solution because I finally
became frustrated and irritated enough to do something. It would appear to
me that either I'll just accidently stumble across the solution or I'll
install Windows Vista when it's released and check to make sure that every
function in windows is performing properly after I install each piece of
subsequent software.

Thanks for your help.

CB
 
I reinstalled WinXP pro sp2 (over itself) yesterday. So I would assume that
any missing system files have been replaced. Thanks for the reply.

CB
 
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