Windows 10: Windows Explorer behaves oddly

When I double click on a drive or directory, normally Explorer shows the contents. Now it displays a message this file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Please install a program or if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control Panel.


I can still see the contents by right clicking Open.

The message makes no sense. There is no file type to associate.

:)

 

Explorer Behaving oddly

The issue doesn't present itself on the new account. though then again that account has an almost empty onedrive folder whereas my main has 350GB

 

Explorer Behaving oddly

My windows explorer has been having some odd behavior that just started recently. Specifically it just doesn't load the files its seeing properly. The files still exist and other programs have no problem finding them.

Best case (opens but doesn't load icons and can't reorder files ie, by name/date)





Worst case (doesn't even load any files.)





Any other program still seems to be able to access the files just fine, IE from a recent file list, so the files are still there and can be read just fine.

Restarting the explorer process can somtimes restore some functionality and SOME of the icons load, like so





I dont know if its related but the ability to take screenshots is also no longer functional. I optained the above using the 'snipping' tool as the printscreen button doesn't do anything.

restarting the computer breifly restores full functionality but eventually it reverts to the above behavior.

 

You have possibly been affected by a virus which has inserted hidden autorun.inf files in your drives and directories. Are you aware of any recent problems on your PC that might support this theory?

 

I would perform a full antivirus scan.

 

I have run anti-virus and malware scans. Shows nothing. I suspect new tools, Malswarebytes and IOBit.

 

It is worse than I thought. When I right click on the desktop or the explorer there is no create folder or create shortcut

 

I would consider doing a clean format install.

 

I am postponing that hoping for a rescue with some registry tweak. I can postpone indefinitely. I can select directories with right click open. I can create shortcuts by cloning and modifying an existing one. Reinstalling and reinstalling all software takes at least a couple of days.

 

The only registry solution you could try is to download and merge the .reg files provided for Drive and Directory in the following tutorial (option 2):

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/8...dows-10-a.html

 

Bingo. I installed
Directory.reg
Folder.reg
lnk.reg
and it WORKS! Many thanks

 

Glad this worked! Please mark the thread as solved so others know.

Make sure you have created a new system restore point and it would be worth having a system backup as well!

Best wishes,
Phil