small problem/big problem

[cottonmouth]

when i right click on a drive, windows has a problem and explorer refreshes
this is new and i dont like it
anybody know what this is ?

(libraries not responding)

[_I_]

either the drive has problems or windows registry is messed up

[cottonmouth]

it happens on all drives and even with a disk in drive, so its registry problem ?

does anyone know how i would go about sorting my registry ?

iv googled some stuff and people do get this problem, i wanted to create a thread here before i attempt anything on my own...

http://www.sevenforums.com/crash-lockup-debug-how/104768-troubleshooting-explorer-exe-crashing-issues.html#post903148

i found this

[_I_]

best fix is to reinstall windows

[cottonmouth]

no, please dont say that

[FluffyPinkDecoyBunny]

If it was just one drive, then it would most likely be a problem with that drive. I've never come across the issue, but you can try doing this (not sure if it will help):

Open a command prompt and type in sfc /scannow

If you did the sfc /scannow and it didn't fix the issue, than as suggested, a clean Windows re-install is probably the best bet to get your problem fixed.

[Azza ☠]

A 3rd party context menu extension (shell extension) would be most likely causing the problem.

You get them from apps, like drive encryption or wipe software, etc.

For example: Secure wiping software will add a new menu option "Wipe recycling bin content or this folder content with such and such app..."

Legit apps will ask you if you want to add it to your menus when installing. You know anything which might of added something to that menu? Remove that and check. If that's the case, depending on the software, you want just want to re-install it without that menu extension... or replace/upgrade that software.

[cottonmouth]

ok so i could uninstall recent software that iv added to menus , i do recall something, , so il uninstall some things and try again...
so if i do uninstall the program that is causing this, would that fix it ?

[FluffyPinkDecoyBunny]

If you did a recent install of some software (past few days) that could be causing your problem, you could always try a system restore to a past date (before you installed the software) - if you have a restore point from that far back.

[Azza ☠]

Yes, that's one way, if it's just a new issue. Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs, sort it by date and remove the latest. System restore is the next option, but personally I wouldn't recommend it.

You could use this or similar tool just to browse the Shell Extensions and find the problem:
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html

[cottonmouth]

cracked it, im pretty sure it was spybot, i recall adding it to menus , thanks everyone, but thank u Azza ,easy fix, i had a bad experience with my last clean install so im glad iv avoided that

[cottonmouth]

Escrito originalmente por FluffyPinkDecoyBunny:

Open a command prompt and type in sfc /scannow

while fixing my problem earlier i did as you said above,

it told me"you must be an administrator running a console session in order to use the sfc utility

i went to user , this profile i use has administrator privileges , i have always used admin account,, so i heard i shouldnt be using admin account all the time ,especially browsing internet

1.how exactly am i putting myself at risk using admin all the time ?

2.why wouldnt it let me use sfc utility if i got admin privs ?

3.how do i change my current profile to standard account ?, it wouldnt let me, i tried changing to standard user, the option was blurred out and i cant change..or will it not let me because my other account is standard and you always need an admin account ?

4.should i generally be using a standard account and keep an account with admin privs for when i need it ? if its safer,,,, as far as i know iv always used admin account for everything

[Azza ☠]

Start > Run > Type "cmd.exe", but just right-click it from the list, there's an option "Run as administrator" (use that).

Even as admin, you must elevate the command prompt to admin, due to security. Windows UAC (User Access Control) will kick in with a warning message, allow it, this is for your security. The command prompt should now say "Administrator: ..." at the top.

I personally don't have a problem with running as an Admin Account... In fact, I recommend it for more advance users as it gives better control to fix issues when things go wrong. Not using one won't help or prevent all viruses anyways, it will just make them harder to get rid of, due to not having the permissions to do so. Windows UAC (if enabled) will add a security layer to prevent applications/viruses from access anyways, then a quality virus scanner on top of that might have application control, which adds another layer of security. Both block rights from using Admin commands without your given permission.

There's also Windows Data Execution Prevention (DEP), under Control Panel > System > Advanced > Performance Settings > Data Execution Prevention. Ensure that's enabled too.

[cottonmouth]

nice, learning everyday.., iv also created a third account strictly for admin and il use standard from now on

scanning...did not find any integrity violations

i got browser hijacked last year, ikr, it was a security flaw in office 2010,,it was bad, not sure how long they had me for, im sure thats how my email got hacked too, i might have helped them if i was using admin account at the time

[Azza ☠]

Well so long you have access to admin when you need it and can swap between them, it's a good idea.

I'm still trying to get Microsoft to tend with the security hole in their Office 365 cloud network (not that I even use it). They at least fixed the major ones giving full admin access or spoofing a basic cookie to allow full access. Cloud networking for businesses is just silly.

[cottonmouth]

Escrito originalmente por Azza ☠:

There's also Windows Data Execution Prevention (DEP), under Control Panel > System > Advanced > Performance Settings > Data Execution Prevention. Ensure that's enabled too.

should i select 'for essential windows programs only OR 'All Programs'
currently set to 'essential programs'

everytime i clean install. Office 2010 is the first thing i uninstall