Windows "Poofing"

BanYa4eVr · 01-19-2009, 08:40 PM

Yeah.

I try sending a picture via e-mail today and when I click browse, it opens a windows explorer to choose a file. Nothing wrong with that. But within 3 or 5 seconds, or when I move my mouse, EVERYTHING just, closes. Firefox doesn't even prompt a crash window. Nothing. Just poofs off the screen.

I restart Firefox and try again. This time it comes up with a "FF has encountered an error and needs to close" window, and closes.

Now I decide to check what's in the starting folder that the Explorer opens in when I click browse. There are some fairly large images (byte wise) in the folder, but Explorer doesn't crash at all.

Maybe it's my registry I thought. So I scan it with a program I have and it comes up with tons of problems, like, 500+ or somthing 250ish of them being File Association errors or whatever. The scan completes, as soon as I move my mouse, poof. The application closes. Explorer wasn't even open.

So uhm... WTF?

Anyone can help me out here?

WiLLiSTER · 01-19-2009, 11:35 PM

Telling us your os might help..

Also, fix those registry problems without using the mouse. Tab to change your target and space to choose.

BanYa4eVr · 01-20-2009, 01:49 PM

Sorry ^^u

Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Since rebooting it hasn't happened to me since. Though that hasn't stopped it from reoccurring again before...

I've done full system scans for adware/malware and viruses. Nothing.

One thing I have noticed is it is usually associated with image files while in Details view.

WiLLiSTER · 01-20-2009, 03:17 PM

Did you get those registry errors fixed?

BanYa4eVr · 01-20-2009, 08:03 PM

I think I have, yesterday. The program said it was set to auto fix problems, and auto-close after registry fixes were made, so that explains the registry scanning program closing out of nowhere. Opened it again and it showed that it fixed 500 something problems out of 500 something found.

But it happened again today with a folder with large-ish images in it. This time crashed Explorer and my entire desktop, causing all my icons to reload and my entire start menu/system tray.

This has happened before and wont stop occurring. Not with specific folders, but it seems it's a different folder each time. This time it's a folder with large jpgs and pngs.

WiLLiSTER · 01-20-2009, 08:43 PM

Malicious script possibly not being picked up by your av/malware scanner? If you boot up in safe mode, does it still happen?

starfox444 · 01-20-2009, 10:57 PM

Maybe service pack 3 will help, i got it from just having automatic updates on.

ranatalus · 01-26-2009, 03:02 PM

honestly it just sounds like something in the OS is corrupt

backing your files up and re-installing windows is going to be your easiest solution

Hiryuu · 01-27-2009, 01:43 PM

If you haven't done this already, I'd run Spybot S&D and Malwarebytes to see if you've got anything. I'd also inquire as to WHAT you're using for anti-virus as well, since that might be compromised.

If you don't find anything significant, then I would also think that something in the OS has corrupted but I wouldn't be able to begin to tell you how it happened on the lack of details. Considering that you don't have your Windows XP copy up-to-date, I can't figure that it was a bad Windows Update install, for instance.

It sounds very much like a malicious program of some sort.

BanYa4eVr · 01-29-2009, 01:32 PM

I've done full system scans with both Spybot S&D (Up to date) and Norton AV (up to date as well). They both come up with nothing.

I probably is the OS "decaying" or whatever. Small changes or additions that aren't felt or seen until much later or something like that. Is there any quick way to; in a sense, repair the OS without compromising any personal data? Backing up the amount of files I have right now would be a pain... D:

ranatalus · 01-29-2009, 01:34 PM

you can try a repair with an XP cd but i doubt it will work to be honest

ranatalus · 01-29-2009, 01:42 PM

also for some reason i always think you are from south america, haha

BanYa4eVr · 01-29-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranatalus

also for some reason i always think you are from south america, haha

Lol.

Chicago is in North America my friend. :3

ranatalus · 02-02-2009, 09:28 AM

i know it is; i'm only like a 5 hour drive away from you

stuartwood89 · 02-02-2009, 11:37 AM

I love how Americans make a 5 hour drive seem like nothing. That's like clear across my country.