Drives not showing, folders/file icons/thumbnails not showing

[Euthyphro]

I have just built a new computer, using Windows 7 Pro 64 bit, however, I've noticed when I open Windows explorer, 3 out of 4 times it will continuously search for drives when opening up explorer and not show any drives that are installed. I've tried reformatting, using different hard drives, but the problem persists no matter what I do. I've reinstalled Windows 7 with only a single drive plugged in, tried different SATA ports, but this problem keeps coming back. The only thing I can think of is that the Windows 7 install disk is corrupted and not installing properly.

I've also noticed that once it starts searching like this, the icons wont display in any folder, although the file names will. Likewise, when trying to sort files by date, type, etc, they will not sort.

When this happens, I can easily type in C:\ to get to the drive without problem to access the drive but above problems with icons not showing, sorting, etc still is a problem.

Has anyone had this problem? Know of a way to fix this? I'm not looking forward to having to reformat again as I don't have the time to sit through and reinstall everything again after.

 

[The Danger Boy]

Hey Man.

When Im having problems with the system i do this:

Open cmd as administrator and then type "sfc/scannow" press enter

I will check your system for missing systemfiles and problems.

Give it a try and let me hear from you

 

[Euthyphro]

Hey Man.

When Im having problems with the system i do this:

Open cmd as administrator and then type "sfc/scannow" press enter

I will check your system for missing systemfiles and problems.

Give it a try and let me hear from you

Thanks for the suggestion, I've run the scan and the results were:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>sfc/scannow

Beginning system scan.  This process will take some time.

Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 100% complete.

Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

No luck so far with discovering a solution.

 

[mitchell65]

What drives have you got installed and can you post a screenshot of your Disc Management window?
If you are doubtful about the quality of your Windows Installation Disc, where did it come from?

 

[The Danger Boy]

Okay Man.

The command did not find any problems then I'm can not help :huh:

Sorry but I hope you will find a solution

 

[Euthyphro]

What drives have you got installed and can you post a screenshot of your Disc Management window?
If you are doubtful about the quality of your Windows Installation Disc, where did it come from?

Following hard drives are installed atm:

WDC WD6400AAKS-00A7B0 - 640GB - Western Digital - Windows 7 installed on this drive.
ST3000DM001-1CH166 - 3TB Seagate
KINGSTON SH103S3120G - 120GB Kingston HyperX SSD


With that said, I've also tried installing Windows 7 on the SSD and the same problems occurred.

I've installed all updated drivers from manufacturers website, even went as far as flashing my bios to the latest version from Asus.

And as stated in my original post, just to try and weed out any of the three drives being a problem, I've tried with only one drive plugged in to see if one of the others were somehow causing the issue.


Re: disc quality, it was downloaded and burnt. I think MS used to host the iso's with digitalriver?



I have to run to work now but will check the thread tonight when I get back. Thanks for the assistance thus far and taking the time to try and help me sort this out.

 

[mitchell65]

Thanks for that ifo. You didn't answer my question re the install disc?
Can you click the Start button and in the Search box type "Device Manager" (without the quotes). Then click on Disc Drives and see if there are any yellow triangles in there?

 

[Layback Bear]

I recommend using this Tutorial to post screen shots.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

When you are in Explorer go to the top left and tick on organize and then Layout. Their will be several things to chose from. I have them all checked.

 

[lehnerus2000]

2 Active Drives/Partitions?

I don't think that you are supposed to have 2 Active partitions (Drive 0 and Drive 1).

 

[Layback Bear]

My understanding is you can have two active partitions as long as they are not on the same drive.
I really don't know why one would do that.
Maybe a duel boot. I'm unable to read the picture in post #6.

 

[mitchell65]

I agree Jack. I have two drives with separate OS's and both have Active Partitions! I too had trouble reading the detail on the screenshot.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Fair enough

My understanding is you can have two active partitions as long as they are not on the same drive.
I really don't know why one would do that.
Maybe a duel boot. I'm unable to read the picture in post #6.

I agree Jack. I have two drives with separate OS's and both have Active Partitions! I too had trouble reading the detail on the screenshot.

I suspected that might be true.

I didn't realise that the OP had two separate operating systems on 2 separate drives.
It doesn't say that in their "My System Specs".

I have all of my operating systems on the same HDD (I can only use one at a time anyway) and thus only one Active partition.

 

[Euthyphro]

Perhaps I wasn't clear, but it shouldn't matter how many active/non active drives I currently have because in my original post I was trying to say I installed with only one drive and that even with only 1 drive physically plugged into the computer, the problem still occurs. In other words, even if I unplug every sata cable except the drive Win7 is installed on, the same problem still occurs, in which case it is irrelevant if there are other drives in disk management because the same problem happens when there's only one.

Thanks everyone for the assistance so far, still trying to get it working.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Mechanical/Physical Checks?

Are you sure that drive is in good condition?
Have you tried swapping the drive SATA connections to different sockets on your motherboard?
Have you tried different SATA cables?
Have you tried different power cables?

I've got an issue with my current motherboard.
Sometimes some of the SATA ports go a bit flaky (a heat problem with the controller?).
When the problem happens, if I click on a drive in Windows Explorer, I experience the symptoms similar to the ones you describe (i.e. it takes ages for the folders to appear).

Luckily, 3 of the ports seem to be resistant to this issue and I haven't had any problems since I swapped everything into a new case.
I must have accidentally selected the reliable ports.