weird weird computer problem with thumbnail files??? please help!?

Question

hey for some wierd reason as of about 2 hours ago when ever i click on my documents/my pictures on my pc all the names of files have disapeared!

i always have the view set too thumbnail as its just easier for me to view my files this way.
so all i see is the little squares with the pic in or a W icon in for word but no name underneath. so if i wanna open a word file i have no idea what it is unless i click on it.

if i change the view to list, tiles, icons etc the names all seem to be there as normal.
i'm rather comfused? some of the files are years old up to a week old and none of them have charactors in the names that you are not supposed to use.

also if i click on a thumbnail, when it opens up it all seems fine.

when i first noticed this i just closed my documents then opened it again and all the names reapeared.
but i opened it again later they had disapeared again
now its stuck

is this a sign of a virus?
could i have caught it off a removable hard drive?

Answer 1

Why not try the easiest way if you are facing this problem since few hours.

Click Start
All Programs
Accessories
System Tools
System Restore, from here follow the guidance. By this way nothing will be deleted or there is no harm. A safest way to back computer to earlier position.

Give a try.

Answer 2

You either have a corrupt registry or a virus if you have xp and the disc do a new install but make sure you choose the option that keeps all your files and programes. Run this first its free and may solve problem try system restore tho first
http://www.ewido.net/en/

Answer 3

try rebooting the machine first before messing around with the xp disc.

Answer 4

You should run your your anti-virus and spyware programs