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Corrupt file locks up Windows Explorer

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17 replies

by birchyboy

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I have Win XP Pro (also run Linux, but that's an aside) and it locks up when searching a folder.

I have managed, with Dr Watson and observing the lock-up, to tie it down to searches on a particular folder. I copied the files to a USB and did the same search, with the same fault. I assume therefore that it's a file attribute and not a disk fault. It doesn't seem to be a system file fault - run: sfc/scannow shows no problems.

I read another post, where the member did the same as me and apparently had no responses.

Does anybody know a program that can check for corrupt files without trying to open every file in the folder?

17 replies

by thevirtualone

Windows XP automatically searches through archives, more specifically .cab and .zip files try removing these file try removing these file types from the specified folder.

by phillip

TheVirtualOne
I ran the search on the folder concerned and there were zip, avi and cab files. The search didn't lock up looking for *.extensions. It only locked up when I was searching for text within a word processed document.

Unfortunately, ALL the files in that folder have now vanished.

They are not in the recycle bin and I am both mystified and annoyed. All my financial data was in that folder. I have an old backup but there was still new un-backed up data.

Any idea how this could happen?

by phillip

Old Mycroft - You obviously know more about it than I do.

TheVirtualOne & CaptBilly1Eye - I'll check when I get home.

I know that NTFS can report a corrupt file if the long and short filename pairs in the MFT don't match the File Record Segments (e.g. a case error), but then that one can't be copied or backed up, so it's apparently not the case here.
As I said in my first post, if it's not a common hardware error like the storage media, lost clusters, crosslinked files (and it copied to a USB stick), what's left? I assumed it must be a file attribute corruption, despite what Old Mycroft says. If it's not file corruption, can someone help me find what could it be?

by jdclyde

is there a reason you created a new account and used that to post your question?

by phillip

I just forgot that I had set up an account a long time ago.

No other reason.

Should I delete one?

by phillip

CaptBilly1Eye - The link looks very useful. I'll check out my folder when I get home. I didn't get back until late the other day and haven't had a chance to look, but I will let you know what I find.

by phillip

CaptBilly1Eye - there are no AVI files in the directory.

There are 19 ZIP files. I will move them and try Windows Explorer again & post the result. :-)

by jdclyde

others have been known to have multiple accounts so they could stir up crap.

Don't recall crossing paths, and so don't know if you fit in that or not, so I asked.

by phillip

jdclyde -
No worries. I am probably one of the most polite and considerate people around.

That's not to say I can't be very assertive on matters of principle. :-)

P

by jermesauve

Sorry if i make a fasle hope ...
I don't have the answer yet but i say
If on of us found it, he will tell the other one ...
thanks

by jermesauve

I just found that if i set view to "tile" instead of "thumbsnails" ... it does not make window explorer crash, lock up or whatever ... don't know if it can help ..
I have to says that i changed some things in the proprieties of folders.. i tried "Do not cache thumbnails" and "Display file size information in folder tips" and may be other ...

if i turns back to thumbnails, it lock up again so it does not repair the problem but may be help to make a move or something..

by jermesauve

if you wan't to change the view to "tile" of ALL your folder at ounce: in folders options : uncheck : "Remember each folder's view settings"

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