Second time problem... can't open some files???

Question

Last time, I was able to fix this by changing my desktop background/ properties, but this time it won't work. I can't open My Documents, My Pictures, My Computer or even Recycle Bin. I've tried from the desktop and from the start menu. I click on these and all icons vanish, then reappear, but they're useless. HELP!!!!!

Answer 1

Just in case you have a virus or spyware:

Try these. They work and they are free:

Run the tool and then download the free spyware and virus protection programs:

Malicious virus removal tool:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

Ad-Aware Free download:
http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/...

AVG Download free
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

Good Luck

Answer 2

Ok, follow these step and see if everything is fine. If it is then you may need to reboot windows altogether. Maybe a virus of some sort. While in safe mode, do a virus scan ok. See if you can find your original windows cd to make sure you have it just in case you need it. Check your color scheme for your display and make sure you are using 256 colors. Change your wallpaper back to default. Have you been getting any error messages? What version of windows are you running?

Follow this and go into safe mode. You can still surf and all that but in safe mode, I want you to run a virus scan. Then reboot and go back to normal windows desktop and change those other settings.

Here is what you need to know about safe mode:

Description of Safe Boot Mode in Windows 2000
View products that this article applies to.
Article ID : 202485
Last Review : September 11, 2003
Revision : 3.0
This article was previously published under Q202485
For a Microsoft Windows XP version of this article, see 315222 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/EN-US/).

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SUMMARY

MORE INFORMATION

Description of Safe Boot Options
SUMMARY
Windows supports several Safe Boot options that load a minimal set of drivers. You can use these options to start Windows so that you can modify the registry or load or remove drivers.
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MORE INFORMATION
To use a Safe Boot option, follow these steps: 1. Restart your computer, and when the Boot menu appears, press F8.
2. When the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, select an option, and then press ENTER.
3. When the Boot menu appears again, with the words "Safe Mode" displayed in red at the bottom, select the installation you want to start, and then press ENTER.
WARNING: Do not select a Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 installation.
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Description of Safe Boot Options
• Safe Mode (Safeboot_Option=Minimal): A minimal set of device drivers and services to start Windows.
• Safe Mode with Networking (Safeboot_Option=Network): A minimal set of device drivers and services to start Windows plus the drivers necessary to load networking.
• Safe Mode with Command Prompt (Safeboot_Option=Minimal): This is the same as Safe mode, with the exception that Cmd.exe is started rather than Windows Explorer.
• Enable VGA Mode: This starts Windows in 640 X 480 mode using the current video driver (not Vga.sys). This mode is useful for cases in which the display was configured at a setting the monitor cannot display.

NOTE: Safe mode and Safe mode with Networking load the Vga.sys driver instead.
• Last Known Good Configuration: This starts Windows using a previous good configuration.
• Directory Service Restore Mode: This mode is valid only for Windows domain controllers. It performs a directory service repair.
• Debug Mode: This option enables debug mode in Windows. Debugging information can be sent across a serial cable to another computer running a debugger. This mode is configured to use COM2.
• Enable Boot Logging: When the computer is started with any of the Safe Boot options except Last Known Good Configuration, logging is enabled. The Boot Logging text is recorded in the Ntbtlog.txt file in the %systemroot% folder.
An environment variable is set when you use one of the Safe Boot options. The environment variable is "Safeboot_Option." This variable is set to either Network or Minimal.

The default Microsoft VGA driver is used for display (640 X 480 X 16 colors). You must log on in all modes (either by a domain or the local SAM, depending on which Safe Boot mode you choose).
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APPLIES TO
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server

Answer 3

Theres probably a problem with Windows Explorer (program used to browse files on your computer). I'm not entirely sure of a way to fix this, but try rebooting your hard drive, and check for any updates to windows.