Anyone Seen This Before? Not sure what to search for to solve this!

jkozlovsky55 · 16 Jul 2014

Attached image explains what is occurring. This happens in ALL programs, web sites, etc. Even when uploading the image just now on this site I was unable to see any file info (left side of image, only folder icons, no names show). I just had to move it to a location by itself on the desktop so I knew which item it was I was uploading. Viewing folders normally in windows is well... normal (right side of image, folder icons show their names as they should). Using Run or Libraries, etc works as intended, it is just when I am trying to open a file from within a program it does this. Example given is in a music player called Foobar. Again, the program is irrelevant, it does it even in windows controlled programs. Makes it incredibly difficult to locate files you want to open or upload for virtually any purpose. Lost for words on how to put this into a search topic to find help so I just decided to post a picture... if anyone has a solution or even a "term" for this anomaly, I'd love to hear it.

jkozlovsky55 · 18 Jul 2014

Still haven't been able to find anything associated with this issue on the webs. Surely someone has seen this before. Also if this is related at all, checking for updates automatically in programs rarely works. I almost always have to manually go to the website and install the new updated executable. Non-executable updates seem to work fine though (most windows updates, definition updates for ad-aware anti-virus, etc).

Brink · 18 Jul 2014

Hello Jkozlovsky, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I'm not sure what may be causing this, but you could see if doing a system restore using a restore point dated before this started may be able to undo and fix it.

jkozlovsky55 · 19 Jul 2014

Last time it worked that I am certain of was before SP1 was installed after doing a fairly routine reformat and fresh install. However, I doubt that is the direct culprit. I fear registry corruption, but am unsure how to check and correct it. Obviously I'm trying to avoid having to reformat AGAIN for something this silly, though I may have to in order to fix it completely. Just wish I knew what the underlying problem was. All of my desktop, documents, etc link to their location on my large storage drive as to not clutter up my primary SSD that windows itself is installed on. If these paths somehow are getting jumbled when another program tries to seek them out, that would make sense, but it is doing it in all directories, not just ones on the other drive making me think it is something different. Besides, I have used this method for years. It lets you do a format of the primary drive without losing your saved documents, etc. Sometimes re-establishing the paths is a pain since windows quick transfer doesn't seem to know how to handle it. I'm rambling and it is late. Thanks for the quick response none the less.
TL;DR Still haven't figured it out.

Yard Dog · 19 Jul 2014

You could besides the System Restore mentioned by Brink, try to perform a SFC program : SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

jkozlovsky55 · 19 Jul 2014

Ran it 4 times, first time it found 14 problems, fixed 2, the times after that it found the remaining 12 and failed to repair any of them. Attached the sfcdetail.txt if you can make any sense of it.

andrew129260 · 19 Jul 2014

Then you can either wait for someone to come along to help you fix those errors by reading the sfc file, or by doing a repair install which is much quicker.

Repair Install

Brink · 19 Jul 2014

Yeah, there are to many important system files listed in your SFC log that couldn't be repaired.

I would recommend to do a clean install, but this time do not move your user folders or user profile to another location. Instead you could use libraries. Some programs will give you an option to select where to install it.

Create a new folder at any location you want.
Move any files you want into the new folder.
Include the new folder into a library of your choice.
If you like, you can also set the new folder to be the default save to location for the library as well.

jkozlovsky55 · 19 Jul 2014

Create a new folder at any location you want.
Move any files you want into the new folder.
Include the new folder into a library of your choice.
If you like, you can also set the new folder to be the default save to location for the library as well.

Yes, that is how I have it done. Guess I will end up doing a clean install if a repair from disc doesn't help. Just wish I knew what caused it so it doesn't happen again. Guess I will have to pay more attention to the exact moment it occurs if it does occur in the future, thanks for the help everyone.

Yard Dog · 19 Jul 2014

Follow instructions exactly for best results.. good luck !! Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7