File Explorer Not Working Correctly With 8.1 Update
Apr 20, 2014
Yesterday, while using File Explorer a problem occurred. I had a CD open showing files on the CD and I had a folder open (that is on my desktop) and was copying files from the CD to the desktop folder. I am not sure what I may have done, but after closing the File Explorer, it is no longer working correctly. When I left click on the folder icon on the taskbar on my desktop nothing is shown on my desktop. The taskbar icon shows that File Explorer is open and if I hover my cursor over it, a 'mini' is shown (just above the taskbar) of what is open, but will not expand to view on the desktop, just shows the 'open' page above the taskbar. If I open WORD or some other program and try to 'saveas' the files are shown and I can save the document. I down loaded a "file manager" from the Microsoft Store so I can get at and work with files, but I am not able to use the Win 8 File Explorer. I have done a normal shutdown and restart, but still have the problem. I tried to do a system restore, but the restore would not complete. (suggested I turn off antivirus).
I recently found many application would not save to correct type. Some software icons would come out to a blank or white block, but those software actually there. For example, realrecorder is running, it would come out a white block on taskbar on bottom. I tried use 'access and program default' in control panel, still not fix the issue. Ms word, and word pad also come out white blank icon.
my windows file viewer has an annoying bug. When I double click a folder it opens in a new tab, every time. I've tried going to >view>options>change folder and search options but it says that they should open in the same window.
I was thrilled to see MS finally added the "copy path" function to the ribbon. To my dismay, it has suddenly stopped working. I can't think of any significant changes I've made to my system (no clipboard extenders recently added, etc.). If I use the SHIFT+right-click copy as path shell extension it works fine.
HP Envy h8-1420t intel i7-3770k 10 GB RAM Windows 8 Pro x64
I've read a number of other users' problems with USB 3.0 not working, but mine is different!
I have an AS US CM 6870-us 012 s desktop, currently running Windows 8.1 (originally downloaded from the Store, but I recently purchased a retail full-install version to see if I could correct the many problems). It has several USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports in front - the USB 2.0 ports work fine, but the USB 3.0 ports SORT OF WORK (but they don't).....
When I plug in a USB 3.0 external drive (Western Digital My Passport), I hear the brief music indicating Plug-n-Play connection occurred (the USB 3.0 end was inserted into the USB 3.0 port). However, I don't get a drive letter assigned, nor do I see it in File Explorer, nor do I see it registered in AS US's AI Suite II/System Information/Disk......but I DO see it in Disk Management (without a drive letter - just Disk 5)!
There are no problems appearing in Device Manager, nor in any item related to USB (none anywhere, nadda, zip, zero) - every thing is working, so when I look for hardware errors (running Hardware Troubleshooter), none are found. When I look at AI Suite II software to un-install Boost 3.0, there is no Boost 3.0 shown that I can disable or un-install, as others have done to correct their problems.
I tried a full install of Windows 8.1 and have the exact same result, yet when the system was originally running Windows 8.0 (that came on the PC), everything worked perfectly!
I keep experiencing increasing memory usage by Windows Explorer. Most frequently when moving files, or if I use the "Open containing folder" for a file playing in Foobar. It takes several of these to amount to an actual increase but that's only a minor annoyance.
The real problem is that, after opening task manager and selecting to restart explorer, it quite frequently acts as if it has restarted (explorer.exe appearing in the program list), but does not actually load. No desktop, no icons, no start button (I use classic shell), no charms menu, and the windows button to return to the start screen does nothing. All I get is the system clock and the few icons next to it. The problem continues even if you continually restart, until it randomly corrects itself. Could take 1 additional restart, could take 15-20.
This is majorly problematic and annoying, google turns up nothing, and I'm honestly starting to wonder if there's just something wrong with my computer. There's already a hardware problem in that my webcam has an internal disconnect and the display itself has vertical lines randomly appearing, which I am settling with HP, but there are no other noticeable problems.
How to check if i update the windows 8.1 update 1 from x64 bits systems because i download all packages from microsoft download center and install in that order and dont recive error. Every package ask me to reestart i see all packages are installed on update history and on the section installed updates but I don't see nothing related to windows 8.1 update 1 as the way as see when you install from win update. I check for updates and dont find nothing. I have my service packs and mayor updates on my pc stored because in this house all use win 8.1 x64 and we have a slow connection and because i install by this way. I must say you i see all characteristics of the update 1 but i want to know if don't have errors i ran dism online clean up image restore health and sfc scannow and dont find errors. I only am worried because if this update was not installed properly the supports ends on may 13 and want to have install by the right way.
Thats are the packages and the order of i install
KB2919442, KB2919355, KB2932046, KB2959977, KB2937592, KB2938439 y KB2934018.
When I execute the Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth (fastest cmd I know I see my build are)
Installed Win 8 Pro with 'keep Win 7 settings' option, then noticed that it displayed GMT rather than UTC+10 for Canberra, Australia. Checked and updated 'Date and Time' to (UTC+10:00) Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, made sure Location was 'Australia' and Language 'English (Australia)' and still the system time is 4am when it should be 4pm.
When my friend plugs in his iPhone wanting to download photos from it to the computer, a full screen Metro app opens, which I believe is the Photo app. But it just says Apple iPhone in big letters, and below that "There are no files or folders in this view". There are definitely pictures on the phone, and I had him take a few new ones just to be sure. In Autoplay, iPhone default action is "Import photos and videos (Photo)" so I am assuming this is the Photo app. I ran sfc /scannow, which found no problems, and DISM which said it fixed some corruption, and rebooted. But the issue remains.
When I've been running certain programs on my computer, I keep getting the message, program has stopped working. A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available. This has happened to me in Internet Explorer when I try to play movies, Windows Media Player, Norton Internet Security and when I try to run Windows Experience index.
Some programs wont even open. My computer has been running fine since I purchased it 8 months ago. This started happening after a windows update a couple of weeks ago. I've refreshed windows 8 twice, ran a full system virus scan, ran malwarebytes and it found nothing. I also tried sfc /scannow and used dism /online /cleanup-image /restore health to fix component store corruption and fix corrupt system files and also tried gwscan from Hirens boot cd. I generated a system health report and this is what the report came up with:
my keyboard doesn't work correctly. In most programs and on webpages, the number keys do not work nor do the special characters accessed through the shift key. Sometimes they act like the space bar, other times they repeat the previously typed alpha character.
All works perfectly in MS Word. The numbers on the keypad do work in all programs. I've checked the control panel and can't find any settings that appear to influence this - no accessibility settings, nothing.
When in file explorer the zip icon under the share tab is not active. When I click on a simple folder, it does not highlight. If I right click on the folder and go to send to all I get is the dvd drive unless I shift right click first then a drop down of more selections appear but not send to compress. Is this something that need to be activated. I can un-zip a fle from the view tab.
The attrib +s +h command that is used to make a file a system and hidden file is no longer working. When i try to use the command on a folder, the folder just shows up as a normal hidden folder which can be easily viewed using show hidden items in view option. It looks as if every system file is not recognizing itself as a system file.
Also every folder in my system has appeared a desktop.ini and thumbs.db folder.
Back on the 9th I installed the Windows 8.1 Update 1 for my laptop (HP Envy m6-1206TX), which - to the best of my understanding - has broken my computer. Neither my computer nor WhoCrashed seems to think there's a problem, so I don't have anything better than a description for this.
After the initial mandatory restart and every restart since then, I am able to log in normally. However, within a few minutes my taskbar and desktop will both freeze and then disappear. Any windows that are open will cycle between which is the active window making them almost but not entirely unusable, and the screen will flash. After a couple of minutes of this, the flashing will increase in speed and the computer will rapidly cycle between
Is it possible to sort a folder's contents with both File names and Sub-Folder names intermixed? I have projects in sub-folders, and 'support' files like this:
About two weeks ago I began to notice strange behavior on my PC which made me think it may be a virus. Some examples:
1. When I'm online a message window frequently appears stating "internet explorer has stopped working"
2. Some websites do not display adverts on the page. I've attached a screenshot from youtube to illustrate what I'm referring to.
3. Some webpages will not load. I keep seeing "webpage under maintenance at this time". This is typical for websites at certain times but to see it every time I try to access is suspicious.
4. I use Hotmail and typically the first time I start it up in the day I notice that the first email I open causes the entire page to go blank as if it erases everything on it, it then reopens with all of my emails listed and finally the email I began to read will reopen. This only happens after I boot my system and open the first email. This will not happen on any other computer.
5. I seem to be having issues installing certain programs. They won't install citing various reasons such as outdated files, incompatible etc. These were all working flawlessly prior to reformatting my system.
6. I'm unable to post messages even though I'm logged in. When I type a message I see the timer cycling but it never posts my messages, it's as if it's stuck in a loop or frozen.
Having felt that a system reformat was in order I did just that not more than a week ago. Everything was reinstalled and updated. Once all the Windows 8 files were installed I began to notice the exact same problems surfacing immediately. I'm currently using Win 8 with IE 10. 16 GB RAM, 64 bit OS. The computer itself is an HP and a year old.
I can't use the native Windows 8 copy/paste. Copy works, but when I paste, I get the "waiting" cursor, then get dumped to the Metro screen. So far, the only way I can move or copy things is with CFiShellToys or TeraCopy, and I installed these only after the Native Windows 8 Copy/Paste kept failing.
I've already run SFC at the command prompt, and according the the results, all is well.
I checked the Event log, and here it is.
Faulting application name: explorer.exe, version: 6.2.9200.16384, time stamp: 0x50107dbc
Have just noticed that the slider (for want of a better word) is not working properly in exp 11 browser. You have to hold the cursor until it goes black and they move it up or down ok in Firefox.
Just the other day i was having problems with the Temporary profile problem, but by the end of the day i finally fixed it. But i also deleted my user account so i found this program that will restore deleted data, it was in trial mode so i only allowed me to download 1 Gb so i got what I thought was the most important like App data, contacts, desktop, documents, KAG, and all of the little files at the end of the screen.
I put all of the things in my account once the problem was fixed. Then every time i open my windows explorer and i try to open anything it says that windows explorer has crashed and then it restarts.
I did a clean install of Windows 8.1 this week and have a fully updated installation now with minimal programs installed. My problem is this, I have my downloads folder set to sort files by date created, from newest to oldest so I can easily find my newest downloads as they should be at the top of the listing, but Windows explorer will not refresh the view if I have have explorer open, forcing me to either manually refresh it or go to another folder, then come back which updates the view. I never had to do this with the old win 8 pro installation and have tried resetting the folders several times but it still won't update by itself. I do have the latest version of Start8 installed, but that never caused a problem before.
I use an alternative file manager so I don't run explorer.exe very often. But today I had a need to, and when I opened it, I found that the ribbon interface was missing.
The file manager I use does take over all file and folder operations by default, but even turning off the "Explorer replacement" option, the ribbon remains missing...
Iam running 8pro 64 bit. when I open an file explorer window, sometimes there is everytihg, but most of the time, there is just "desktop" and it is searching.I have to manually right click and open new explorer to get it to show all drives and locations. Also, when I get into a window with movies or pictures, all the files are white, no thumbnail! I have no virus and the installation is new and it is from the Microsoft site. all updates are installed.
When i open up my file explorer and for some reason steam friends it shows on the task bar that it is there and it is running but when i click on them it doesnt show the window.
I upgraded to w 8.1 with firefox as my default browser. When I opened the "e" shortcut google web page opened. I tried to download IE 11 but a message said it was already running. open IE ?
So when I restart my system everything works fine. After s few minutes videos e.g. on Youtube stop working (keep on buffering but won't play). From that moment on I can't change the system volume and trying will result in crashing the Windows Explorer. After the Explorer restarts some things start to work partially again, e.g. I can change the volume again and streams work for a few seconds each.
However, the Explorer keeps on crashing every few minutes and no multimedia stuff seems to work properly, neither Youtube nor music players like Winamp.
I suspect it is somehow related to my Logitech G35, as the problem came up today after plugging the headset in. However, I use the headset nearly daily for months now .
I guess for now I will just go and try to kill some processes...
I have a similar problem with EI 11 on my PC with Windows 8.1, which is fully updated. It happens whenever I try to "Save as" a download or to print a web page.
So far I have reset it, opened it as administrator and turned off smart screen filter - to no effect.
Should I try to disable EI from the Uninstall Programs - Turn Windows on or off?
I have been always a Microsoft person. But I have tried any and all fixes to try and get internet explorer to stop coming up with internet explorer has stopped working will search for a problem.
I as of today have disabled it and are using another browser that does not have this bug in it. I am having no trouble with the browser I am using, and it does not stop working like ie 11. I do not think you should have to go threw all hoops and loops to get this to work correctly. Microsoft should come up with something that works correctly all the time and you do not have to check add ins, disable other items or what not.
"To change the way Windows Explorer opens (copy and paste)
one of the examples below to the target portion of a shortcut and name it Windows Explorer.
Examples:
Open Windows Explorer with My Computer as the root with all drives visible and "My Computer" selected. C:WINDOWSEXPLORER.EXE /e,/n,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}"
(other examples followed)
In Windows 8.1 the "target" box is grayed out. File Explorer always starts with the THIS PC folder highlighted... and I would like to change that. How?
