Have you tried a System Restore in Safe Mode? Also if you can see and open C:\Documents and Settings then the option in Tools, Folder Options, Views "Hide protected operating system files" must be unchecked. Does this mean you have "tinkered" here before?
MJF
The microsoft optional driver is the same driver as the nvidia 197.45 whql.
The problem I ran into wasn't so much the driver as it was how Microsoft update installed the driver.
To install video or sound drivers correctly, you first have to remove the old drivers completely using the uninstall function. Then restart in safe mode and run a driver cleaner program like driver cleaner pro.
Then restart back to a normal desktop and install the new driver.
You are better off getting the latest drivers for video and sound from the manufacturers website than letting windows update do it for you.
I should have known better, but I wanted to see if the update process had improved.
Windows updates is great for windows and small drivers like a printer or a scanner. But video and sound drivers are so complex that if all the files are not in perfect sync, you get a crash.
WU does the same kind of install that you would get if you tried to install a new driver over the top of the old driver. Most files are rewritten to the new file, but every so often while the install is going on a file will have all the same attributes as the one thats getting replaced and windows and the installer end up keeping the older file.
but yea, it was the nvidia driver from WU.
Hope that helps.
So is the whole problem now solved? If so could you click the red triangle at th top of each post and report the thread as "solved"
My C:\Documents and Settings folder has changed its name to C:\Desktop. It's still has all the files as when it was C:\Users, it just decided to change its name.
I keep my system wide open. So I can see changes that are made to system files and folders.
My other system is has the same specs as this one except it has a multi boot setup for many operating systems.(95, 98, XP, VISTA, win7 and Ubuntu)
This system is optimized for gaming and the only real change to the system over the past couple of weeks( other than the driver) was an update for the steam client. That caused headaches for about a day.
Also, I have never gotten an error message or a BSOD.
also
The registry still shows command and controls for C:Users.
Command prompts even list everything as it should be ( C:\Users\tk)
It just seems to be in explorer where things are odd.
There's the problem. Most of us use electricity!This system is optimized for gaming and the only real change to the system over the past couple of weeks( other than the driver) was an update for the steam client. That caused headaches for about a day.
Thanks for the advice!You are better off getting the latest drivers for video and sound from the manufacturers website than letting windows update do it for you.
I should have known better, but I wanted to see if the update process had improved.
Windows updates is great for windows and small drivers like a printer or a scanner. But video and sound drivers are so complex that if all the files are not in perfect sync, you get a crash.
WU does the same kind of install that you would get if you tried to install a new driver over the top of the old driver. Most files are rewritten to the new file, but every so often while the install is going on a file will have all the same attributes as the one thats getting replaced and windows and the installer end up keeping the older file.
but yea, it was the nvidia driver from WU.
Hope that helps.
I had a feeling it had something to do with electricity. :)
One last observation and then I give up.
Using DOS, the directory structure is exactly as it should be. Everything is named exactly as it should be and where it should be.
But with explorer and a couple of explorer alternatives, the odd names are showing up. The user folder is still named Desktop.
A search thru the registry for c:\desktop shows nothing. Everything is still pointing to c:\users\tk
Just out of curiosity, have you run any anti-malware scans? Run Malwarebytes Anti-malware:
download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop
|MG| Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.46 Download
* Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
* At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
* If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
* Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan.
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
Jacee
MB didn't find any threats.
SBS&D only found a couple of tracking cookies.
AVG didn't find anything
GMER came up clean
Security essentials was clean
Hijackthis had nothing.
and
Avast was clean.
I am kind of thinking that whatever has changed the name must be related to a basic service, because it does the same thing in safe mode.
Then on the other hand it may just be a glitch in the code.
Well... try doing a "dir /a" in a command prompt at the root of your C drive. See if there are any funny junctions that shouldn't be there? Cut and paste the command window text back here if you want.
Quote