Cannot open/access downloads folder

HI all...

This morning I cannot open the downloads folder. It worked fine yesterday, but today when I tried to open it (I can see it just fine using the link C:/users/joe/downloads) it simply does not open...no error message either. I can right click on it and get to properties...I can even go to recent places and see it there but still not open it. Under "advanced properties" the two options of "run as administrator" and "run in separate memory space" are both grayed out...although run in separate memory space does have a check mark.

Joe

When I click the Downloads link the explorer window simply closes and I am left with just the desktop again.

Complete scan with AVG (updated databases) comes up clean.

AddRAM said:

run a system file checker

sfc /scannow

instructions are below

Sorry but there were no instructions.....

the scannow reported no integrity violations.

Also I was unable to get my system (Zotac minimal) to boot from USB...F2 on startup did not give "boot from USB" as an option...

Joe

All the files are on the USB...is there one I can pick to have the system reboot from USB? The minimag does not have an external drive.

Also I was able to copy the content from the downloads folder by going to recent places...created a new folder on the desktop called downloads copy...then I can access all the files in downloads but just from the copied folder so at least I did not lose any data.