Win XP Explorer crashes when viewing folders with .AVI files

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scuwp

3209 posts

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# 68070 14-Sep-2010 14:47

I have an annoying issue where Windows Explorer crashes whenever I open a folder with .avi files. A Google search reveals the issue is to do with how Windows tries to load the complete file where codecs are unknown or incomplete and/or something to do with Windows trying to load a preview that freezes the whole explorer system.

The files in question all play just fine and I never use thumbnail view (only details view)

Suggested fixes include a variety of unproven registry hacks/changes that I am very nervous about, as playing with the registry is well beyond my understanding.

Has anyone done this, or have an alternative fix that they can recommend?

Thanks

Always be yourself, unless you can be Batman, then always be the Batman

Asmodeus

1006 posts

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# 379699 14-Sep-2010 15:02

I had this years ago. For me it was only doing it when the folder was set to thumbnail view. I ended up taking files out one by one and it ended up being a single video that was doing it. Never found out why though sorry.

garvani

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# 379700 14-Sep-2010 15:08

I had this several years ago too. If i recall i ran a registry patch called avifix or something along those lines and it was all good after that. I imagine it is probably just one video file that is causing this though

SepticSceptic

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# 379765 14-Sep-2010 17:47

I still get this happening, but not so much with AVI files - it's possibly a codec pack, or a conflict with various media handling applications. I sort of have the feeling that it started after I installed Nero 9, but could be coincidence.

About once or twice a month at the moment, on a Win7 install. Same files in the same directories will otherwise behave nicely.

My thoughts are no longer my own and is probably representative of our media-controlled government

scuwp

3209 posts

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# 379781 14-Sep-2010 18:40

Bit the bullet and tried this fix, which seems to have worked, but I am not exactly sure what is does or what other ramifications there may be elsewhere? I just did step 4 as my issue was only with media not images

If you have a large movie clip and it either is corrupt (ie. no index from a partial download) or it uses an unsupported codec, then Explorer tries to load the whole file. This can slow your computer a lot and prevent deleting/renaming/moving/etc the file until it’s finished.
Simply do the following steps:
1) Open a command window (Start->Run, type in 'cmd' hit enter)
2) To remove image preview, type and hit enter
regsvr32 /u shimgvw.dll
3) To readd image preview, type and hit enter
regsvr32 shimgvw.dll
4) To remove media preview, type and hit enter
regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll
5) To readd media preview, type and hit enter
regsvr32 shmedia.dll

Always be yourself, unless you can be Batman, then always be the Batman

Lias

3880 posts

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# 379831 14-Sep-2010 20:31

scuwp: Bit the bullet and tried this fix, which seems to have worked, but I am not exactly sure what is does or what other ramifications there may be elsewhere? I just did step 4 as my issue was only with media not images

If you have a large movie clip and it either is corrupt (ie. no index from a partial download) or it uses an unsupported codec, then Explorer tries to load the whole file. This can slow your computer a lot and prevent deleting/renaming/moving/etc the file until it’s finished.
Simply do the following steps:
1) Open a command window (Start->Run, type in 'cmd' hit enter)
2) To remove image preview, type and hit enter
regsvr32 /u shimgvw.dll
3) To readd image preview, type and hit enter
regsvr32 shimgvw.dll
4) To remove media preview, type and hit enter
regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll
5) To readd media preview, type and hit enter
regsvr32 shmedia.dll

Your unregstering (telling windows not to use) the DLL file which handles media previews in windows explorer.

It shouldnt have any ramifications beyond not letting you see any audio/video preview information (wont see bitrates, dimensions, etc for AV files)

Information wants to be free. The Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it.

scuwp

3209 posts

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# 380098 15-Sep-2010 12:51

Cheers Lias, I was nervously looking for what else this command may have mucked up. I think I can happily live without that data.

Always be yourself, unless you can be Batman, then always be the Batman

Ragnor

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# 380415 16-Sep-2010 00:54

Didn't this problem get fixed in a service pack or update, I would double check your XP install has SP3 and post SP3 updates installed.

scuwp

3209 posts

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# 380458 16-Sep-2010 08:01

Ragnor: Didn't this problem get fixed in a service pack or update, I would double check your XP install has SP3 and post SP3 updates installed.

Yeah, read that somewhere else too. Yes I am running a licensed XP system and all updates available are installed including SP3 and subsequent patches. I would change to Win7 but with the laptops age its probably not worth the hassle and cost, and I still kinda like XP. My newer laptop runs Vista Business and no issues there with avi. files so they obviously fixed it somewhere along the line. Cheers

Always be yourself, unless you can be Batman, then always be the Batman