Hey - IT folks - what the fvck is causing this?

[kick-ass-bob]

My computer has a really annoying as hell problem - whenever a program (SAS, Firefox, and others) accesses the "Open" dialog box and I choose a file, Windows Explorer starts crashing in the back ground - CONSTANTLY (like every 10-15 seconds) - until I quit said program.

It is becoming more and more frequent, but IT here has no clue as to what is causing it.
Anyone ever see this before?

Win XP, over a gig of RAM, lots of hard drive space free, 2.4 GHz P4.

Please help me before I shoot this computer.
:grr:

[Deja Q]

1. Spyware or virus, my-oh-my

Better clean it now, before you fry!

www.lavasoft.com for Ad-aware (free adware removal)

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,22262,00.asp for spybot S&D (free spyware/trojan removal)

http://free.grisoft.com/ FREE antivirus software

http://www.zonelabs.com/ FREE basic firewall

[kick-ass-bob]

4. I've run spyware/ad-aware programs

and the virus scan always comes up clean.

:grr:

[Deja Q]

6. Clean all temp files and internet cache files?

Used windows update to update the system?

Ran chkdsk for corrupt files?

Defragged the system?

[kick-ass-bob]

9. yes,yes, no, yes.

Let me try that third one.

[underpants]

2. Yes, can I help you?

[kick-ass-bob]

5. I might use that horn in a few minutes.

Worst part is, I am running a SAS program that takes about 1/2 hour, so I have to grin and bear the constant crashing in the background until it is done.

[DS1]

3. Make sure there isn't a floppy in the A

:D

[kick-ass-bob]

7. What's an 'A'?

:7

And who would've put their floppy in there??? THAT'S GROSS! x(

[seemunkee]

8. Scan the disk for any bad sectors

Or it could be spyware. Look in the event log and see if there is anything about the crash. There should also be a minidump of the system that IT can analyze and see if that will find the problem.

[kick-ass-bob]

11. You are over-valuing my IT support.

This is the IT that could not get hired in the private sector. And a guy who was a COBOL programmer 25 years ago.

[seemunkee]

18. Don't you go dissing COBOL programmers

That was my first gig.

You can do a scan of the disk yourself. I would also defrag if you haven't done it lately. To check the event log go to control panel -> administrative tools -> event viewer. Check all the different logs and look for errors that correspond to the times of the crashes. Hopefully it will give you a clue.

[kick-ass-bob]

23. not dissing COBOL programmers, but they just moved him into

tech support - something he never did before in his life.

[ET Awful]

10. Download and run regvac to clean up any screwy stuff in your registry

Install and run the Microsoft anti-spyware program (free on microsoft.com)

Download and run hijack this.

If you want to post the hijack this log I'll look at it, but I'm not a real "expert" so make sure you back up your registry before you make any changes I suggest :P

[Deja Q]

13. Which means backing it up when it's not in use.

That's one of 500 complaints I have about the registry...

And why I prefer Unix/Linux. No poorly-designed registry that gets mucked about...

[ET Awful]

15. I agree . . . kind of. The thing about Windows is that an ounce of

prevention is worth several tons of cure.

Simply using Firefox instead of IE, installing a decent antivirus program and anti-spyware program (both of which are free if you know which ones to use) will keep your machine running completely trouble free.

After a single spyware infestation a year or two ago, I have never had a single issue with any of the machines I use.

[kick-ass-bob]

16. The worst thing is....

I've been doing all that you have just said!!

:cry::mad::nuke::grr:

:wtf:

chkdsk is still running.....

[ET Awful]

20. Have you installed any oddball software, by which I mean

software from a lesser known company that may have set up some kind of screwy install routine that wrote bad data to your registry?

Other than that I'd be inclined to look for a hardware issue (possibly faulty RAM which will cause random reboots occasionally or maybe a bad power supply).

[kick-ass-bob]

21. not prior to the problem, no.

I downloaded some spyware detector software after it started happening.

I just ran all the programs that were recommended (and spyware AGAIN) and nothing. I even installed SP2 - and the problem still occurs.

Would it really be hardware if the problem only happens when a certain software action occurs? (using open/save dialogs)

I have officially had it with this crap now.

[ET Awful]

24. Hmmmm . . .

I would probably do a repair install of Windows. You'll have to re-install your applications as well, but won't lose any data.

[kick-ass-bob]

25. Thanks. I guess I'll just have to give in to the IT folks.

They'll end up reformatting the whole damned thing (but maybe I can talk them into a repair install.)

Thanks for trying for me. :thumbsup:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

12. If none of the above helps, try running Windows Update

It'll likely install a new version of Internet Explorer, which will hopefully replace the faulty component.

Edit: the right euphemism is not fvck. it's fsck. ;)

[kick-ass-bob]

14. FYI - Windows Update was done - we are told to not install SP2.

Might this fix the problem?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

17. Perhaps. I'd look up on the side effects of SP2 before:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=884130

[Dangerously Amused]

19. Sweetheart...

...get a Mac. Really. We don't have to deal with this stuff. You'll be so much happier.


:hide:

[kick-ass-bob]

22. I have 3 Macs at home.

If I feasibly could, I would.