Windows 7: Blank Windows Explorer Pane

Hey guys.
Lately, when I open up any folder, I get a blank pane (picture included.)



Do you have any ideas how to fix this?

Thanks,
Justin

Hello Justin,

Welcome to the Seven Forums.

You could try a restore point to a time before the problem started. Info here if needed. System Restore

You could also do a system file check (sfc). Info here: SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

Please keep us posted.

Gary

Hmm, I tried the sfc /scannow, and it said nothing was wrong.. something obviously is.

Also, I cannot boot down properly, I have to hard turn off.

I'm not sure what happened, but I don't have any restore points past yesterday.

Looks like I need to just reformat and reinstall.

Oh, do you know if I run the Windows 7 iso at boot, like I would be reinstalling, if there is a "repair" menu? Maybe I could repair whatever is wrong.

Windows installation DVD gives an options at the second screen of the setup to Repair Computer, but it mostly has to do with startup issues, not fixing corrupt installations...

I think somethink went wrong during install, if you can re-install, do it to get rid of headaches.

Yeah - I can restore.
I just have to back everything up.

I took everything off my external HDD because it is clicking.

Yeah, have the same problem, it can be fixed, if you enter a path, but you can't move anywhere. Only killing the process and restarting the explorer seems to fix the problem for some time.

I only have two thoughts about this, one is your video driver. If you are having problems shutting down, maybe it is related to that.

The second is have you changed the DPI setting for the desktop. I have seen blank windows before and it was related to that. I this case, the inside part of the window was invisible though.

Well, for those considering the re-installation, if you're up for it and don't want to waste the work you've done to your system, you could do a Repair Install

It is some bug. It happens on both my desktop and laptop, and yeah, it seems to be related to usb drives. Though I just now got the same behavior after trying to access another partition on the laptop, so I will add trying to access any other "volume". The explorer window will open, and the green "progress" bar will slowly make its way across the breadcrumb/directory field. Subsequent windows will open as blank after that. Killing explorer doesn't seems to work, as it never really "dies". Reboot fixes it. Not an install issue, and I'm 90% sure that reinstalling would just lead to the same thing.

I second quidpro's findings. Happens on my x64 laptop - Dell Studio 15 with a Radeon 3450.