Strange MP3 and AVI files

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jeff Cook
  • Start date Start date
J

Jeff Cook

Hi folks

I have a question about some kind of nasty, but I'm not sure if it is
dangerous code or just a bloody nuisance.

My flatmate has downloaded an AVI file from Kazaa, and it behaves strangely
to say the least. When I hover the mouse pointer over the file name in
Windows Explorer, the machine grinds to a halt with 100% CPU being gobbled
by Explorer. I have seen the same thing with MP3 files as well. The
Cleaner didn't see anything, and neither did AVG. I didn't bother with the
numerous other programs because I don't think this problem is the sort of
adware/spyware that those programs look for.

I restarted the machine (XP Home) in safe mode with command prompt (probably
a bit extreme, but I wanted a result first time) and deleted the offending
file, 111.avi, from the Kazza Shared Folder. There does not appear to be
any lingering effects, and there is nothing new that is trying to run on
bootup.

My question is what the hell is causing the problem? There's been plenty of
debate in internet land as to whether AVI and MP3 file types are safe, and
the consensus seems to be that they are. It looks like there must be
something "different" about the header (or wherever it is that Explorer
extracts the details that it shows when you hover over the file) that causes
an immediate loss of available CPU, but is otherwise harmless if you don't
go near it.

I trawled the net via Google to no avail, so I thought I'd run this one past
you guys.

Jeff
 
from the said:
Hi folks

I have a question about some kind of nasty, but I'm not sure if it is
dangerous code or just a bloody nuisance.

My flatmate has downloaded an AVI file from Kazaa, and it behaves strangely
Click to expand...

I trawled the net via Google to no avail, so I thought I'd run this one past
you guys.
Click to expand...

You didn't look very hard. If we are talking WinXP then explorer is well
know for going into conniptions when presented with any sort of media
file that it can't successfully open (because it believes that you want
it to tell you the encoding methods, clip length, and colour of the
actors' underwear).

See:
http://www.tweakxp.com/tweak2123.aspx

among others.
 
GSV Three Minds in a Can said:
strangely



You didn't look very hard. If we are talking WinXP then explorer is well
know for going into conniptions when presented with any sort of media
file that it can't successfully open (because it believes that you want
it to tell you the encoding methods, clip length, and colour of the
actors' underwear).

See:
http://www.tweakxp.com/tweak2123.aspx

among others.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. I'm assuming from the link above that I remove and then
restore the preview and then everything is sweet. I have done this but have
no way of testing at this point because I don't have/want the file that
caused my problem. From what I can determine, it's just a matter of time
before another one comes along. I'll also assume at this point that when
another one does come along, I won't get the same problem as it is now
fixed.

Please advise me if I am assuming far too much.

Jeff
 
It could be that windows explorer is polling the file for
information. If you right click on the heading bar (the top
of the file names and properties) you can select what info
WinXP will display about the file. The more you choose,
the slower things will be, especially with big media files.
I have mine set to just Name, Type, Size and Date.
 
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