I think windows explorer is crashing

[Preserved]

64 Bit was running fine for a month, until reciently when I go to look at the drives from another app I can't browse the main disc C. For example, I can be in a browser using gmail and go to upload a file using browse and explorer (is it explorer?) just shows the drive letter and if I click the drive it hangs. Same thing in Photoshop..go to save a file somewhere and it hangs not being able to drill down through the files of c drive.

Even if I go to My Computer, then click on any of the drives and nothing, it hangs with the url bar turning green and never getting any where.

On rebooting, it might run for awhile fine, but something triggers this then there's nothing I can do to fix it except force a reboot.

I've tried looking at aplication logs and error logs, but nothing looks like an issue.

Is this explorer exe crashing? Any suggestions for figuring this out? I've not installed anything new, and even tried rolling back a couple weeks using system restore and nothing.

The only thing I can think that might be a clue is some update asked to be installed, and it looked safe so I agreed. After that I had a mysterious floppy drive when I don't physically have one and I was asked to reactivate. I think thisis when the issue began, not 100% sure.

Looking for any suggestions to solve this...

Thanks,

Preserved

 

[Barman58]

Hello Preserved,

First thing I would do is a full scan with whatever AV system you use and also with Spybot S&D and Malwarebytes

Spybot-S&D!
Malwarebytes.org

If this scans clear I would then try a system file check

System Files - SFC Command - Vista Forums (vista link but commands are the same).

 

[Preserved]

Hmm.

Installed Malwarebytes and tried to run, freezes after 1 second (both scan types). Tried SB search nd destroy, installs fine, won't run..nothing.

Trying Windows defender now. At least it runs.

 

[Airbot]

Restart your computer, press F8 to go into Safe Mode, run your scans from there.

 

[Preserved]

Malwarebytes quick scan ran ok after rebooting into normal windows, only found hijack.displayProperties which is aparently a false positive.

 

[Airbot]

Yes, it is. But you can let it fix it. Still, try the scans in safe mode, with Spybot, which you should run in Vista compatibility mode and as an administrator. You might also try Windows Malicious Software Removal tool too. Pick 32 or 64 bit, whichever you are running.
windows malicious software removal tool 32 bit
Download details: Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool x64