HELP! - SO MANY Windows 7 problems!!!

windows7fix · 30 Jan 2010

I've had so many problems with Windows 7 since i installed it via student discount a month ago. The only reason i am able to get onto seven forums is through dual boot (Vista & 7). Here are some of the problems:

1) Windows Explorer will not show any icons other than empty folders or blank icons (refresh icons won't solve problem)

2) Windows Explorer's preview pane will not work. I also cannot view properties of files folders, or drives.

4) Windows Explorer occasionally crashes, wont respond, and windows cant close the window, regardless if you select the option of "close window" in task manager

5) My computer, control panel, and explorer all have loading progress bars at the top that never seem to end and keep going on and on.

6) Microsoft Office Word hangs about every 1/10 openings. When i click restart program, all I'm left with is a white, non-responsive window that cant close even with task manager. (I've already tried office diagnostics)

An interesting thing to note is that when I access my files in a way other than My Cpmputer, documents, or any windows explorer (like going to Windows Live SkyDrive or sending files in Messenger), all of these problems don't seem to apply. the explorer in these (online) programs works normally.

I am using Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit build 7600, HP Pavilion Elite m9360f

I have Norton 360 installed and Webroot Internet Security Complete Beta. I ran scans and nothing came up.

This was a clean install on a fresh hard drive (2 X 500GB).

Please help me fix these problems. I've put up with this for a month and scoured the internet only to not find anything.

richc46 · 30 Jan 2010

Welcome Windows,

I am sorry that you are having so many problems. You may want to try this. Run it several times

Repair Install

Tepid · 30 Jan 2010

Download the ISO again and burn it at the slowest speed possible. If you had to download it.
Reinstall Win 7 from Scratch.

Then don't use Webroot, just trust me.
Norton is not much better...

I recommend Microsoft Security Essentials

Overall I think you have a bad installation of Windows.

jfar · 30 Jan 2010

Hi, first thing I would do is uninstall one of your Anti Virus programs, it is not a good idea to run two together. And I would get rid of Norton.

madtownidiot · 30 Jan 2010

Norton will slow your system down worse than most malware and viruses out there, and anything that requires a removal tool to get rid of might as well be classified as an infection. Replacing it with something like MSE would probably help immensely.

windows7fix · 30 Jan 2010

Do you all think that MSE is much better than webroot or norton? I paid for norton and wouldnt want the money to go to waste or to buy it again if its not the best

richc46 · 30 Jan 2010

windows7fix said:

Do you all think that MSE is much better than webroot or norton? I paid for norton and wouldnt want the money to go to waste or to buy it again if its not the best

Unqualified yes. Use MSE, Its free and no annual fee. Most members of the Forum recommend it. Made just for Windows. Use it in conjuction with malwarebytes. You will have very good protection at no cost.

windows7fix · 30 Jan 2010

and do you think norton 360 delivers better protection than MSE? What about webroot internet security?

richc46 · 30 Jan 2010

The problem with the software that you mention, is that they slow down the system, create problems and are a major problem to uninstall. MSE in conjunction with Malwarebytes, has none of those problems and has a good track record catching problems before they begin.

Tepid · 30 Jan 2010

Keep this in mind.

Norton has been around so long that good virus/malware writers know how to circumvent it.
There is a nasty little virus/malware going around now that Norton gets trashed by,, don't have the name of it at this time.

MSE is designed by windows for windows and integrates very well,, while it may not be the absolute best thing on the market,,, for free,, it is better than Norton or Mcafee, and smokes AVG (garbage). Avast is ok, but my opinion is MSE is better.

MSE is getting better all the time. the more people using it the better it will get.

Also,, webroot is what GeekSqaud forces on people to clean up systems,, and I have cleaned up many many many many GeekSqaud trashed computers.