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Question

'This PC' keeps crashing when I click Display view icon

Jan 17, 2015 6:43AM PST

Just bought a Lenovo Flex 2 running Windows 8.
When I use 'Pictures' in 'This PC' (equivalent to My Computer on my old PC) I have found that when I click on the icon to choose to see the details of the files (ie not Thumbnail view but the view with a list of dates etc) this makes the window crash. It just disappears every single time.

At first it happened when I was in the 'Details' view and scrolled down the screen. Now it won't let me change to the 'Details' view at all.

Not sure if I've explained this very well.
Today is my first day using it (and my first day of trying to grapple with Windows Cool and I have just downloaded the photos from my iPhone as a first task to get to know the PC. Incredibly frustrated. All I want to do is see a list of photos and when they were taken.

Anyone else experienced this? Help! This is an important view for me and I'm totally stuck.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Can be true.
Jan 17, 2015 7:22AM PST

If there is any issue with decoding pictures or video, this does happen. It's a very old problem with Windows so while it's known there is no quick fix.

Remember I'm taking YOUR WORD you didn't install any decoders. That's where I find the most trouble along with images Windows can't decode.

Try using a picture viewer like IRFANVIEW instead of Windows Explorer.
Bob

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It's not the images that are the problem
Jan 17, 2015 7:40AM PST

Thanks for your reply but I'm not sure I have explained the problem well - it's not when I try to view images that I have a problem. I just want to see a list of the images I have, and going to that view is the problem. How else do I get to see a list of the images or other files I have without using Explorer?

I only started using the computer today and have installed Bullguard antivirus and downloaded CEWE photoworld, which I haven't used yet on this PC.

Thanks
Tanya

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Again, it's been a Windows Explorer issue for over a decade.
Jan 17, 2015 7:47AM PST

When ever Explorer is used it may open each image to build a preview. I guess this is your first encounter with this issue so you may not know about it.

As to the items you noted you can boot SAFE MODE to see if they are in play or not.

Again, well discussed, catches a lot of folk unaware. Wish Microsoft had a fix.
Bob

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PS. You already know about Bullguard crashes.
Jan 17, 2015 8:04AM PST
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Never had a problem with Explorer before
Jan 17, 2015 8:06AM PST

I've used Explorer to do this 'manouvre' for years and certainly not experienced a problem before on previous OS.
What I don't understand is, I already can see a preview of all the pictures in thumbnails in the view that I have open. I can also open the images and it doesn't crash. It is simply trying to get the list, (ie no image at all, just the text - used to be called 'details' view on other OS). It is going from pictures to words, so why would it be having an image or decoding problem?
Thanks again
Tanya

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You gave the clues
Jan 17, 2015 8:10AM PST

It's been kicking around for years and you shared what's not stock. I've seen folk get stuck like this before.

That's why we try IRFANVIEW next to avoid Windows decoding images. Then again, your PC isn't stock anymore.
Bob

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Just a list - no pictures needed
Jan 17, 2015 8:34AM PST

Didn't know about Bullguard crashing. Will look into it. Bought Bullguard as we kept getting viruses with the other virus software we had bought.

Still don't understand why it is a decoding issue. I looked up Irfanview and it is a graphics viewing and editing package. I just want a list of files that I can move between folders. I don't even need to see a thumbnail.
Cheers
Tanya

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There are other file managers.
Jan 17, 2015 8:47AM PST

I've used Gyula's Navigator for years. What have you tried so far? That is, I find some folk get so locked up over it worked for years they won't try safe mode, kicking out something or another app. Can't tell what you are doing yet.
Bob

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Thanks - I'll have a play
Jan 18, 2015 12:38AM PST

Only tried the machine for the first time yesterday and so will see what I can try with safe mode. (Not sure what to do - never tried before - I don't understand computers very well though I've used them for years!) Will have a look at Gyulia 's navigator. The problem seemed to disappear when I moved a lot of the files out of the folder. Maybe it was a specific file that was triggering the problem.

Thanks for all your time answering my questions

Tanya

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That's a good start.
Jan 18, 2015 2:33AM PST

To find which file makes Windows cough, I move half the files to another folder. Then I know which fold has the problem file. Again, no, it's a Windows decoding issue. Windows Explorer does far more than list files and in doing so can trip over it's own feet.

By halving the files again and again I usual find it in 5 or so moves.
Bob