Windows 7 Windows Explorer Glitches (GRoD and No Thumbnails, among other things)

[redrat9595]

I'm not entirely sure what info is required for this request, but I'm on Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit. Whatever else you need, tell me, but my profile has a lot. Anyways, my issue is that Windows Explorer is being really frustrating. I'm pretty good with computers, to the point that even my Grandfather, who worked in the field for years and still keeps up with it all asks me for help with the odd glitch. My family calls me I.T. I'm no coder, but I'm pretty good when it comes to troubleshooting, and I have gotten just about nil on this problem.

I keep getting what seems to be known as the GRoD (Green Ribbon of Death) and a lack of or entirely incorrect thumbnails. Sometimes during the GRoD I'll get some thumbnails, but they're scattered, with no more than two in succession. I've tried Thumbnail cache clearing, thumbs.db deletion, the show icon only checkbox, and still nothing. I either get an IfranView symbol, the Windows Photo viewer symbol (depending upon the current settings I'm trying to get to work) or just a blank space. Sometimes I'll even get the blank spaces mixed in with the little white file pictures.

This seems to be where most people's problem ends. But I also randomly get dumped by my computer. The screen will go black for a second, then I get switched to what I assume to be Classic View, and about 45 seconds later it just turns off and then on again from BIOS. Not even a "System is Shutting Down" screen. I also frequently have Windows Explorer crashes, where it will entirely freeze (but everything else still running is COMPLETELY fine). The only solution is the power button or shutdown.exe in task manager, as the start menu is unresponsive when this happens. Sometimes, it will work fine, then when I hit the computer button in the start menu, it just won't do anything, then it will go to Basic view 30 seconds later or so, and then shut down.

Also, partially unrelated but possibly relevant, I ran on a WinXP computer for 9 years. I had the option, through the task manager, to shut off explorer to save processor and RAM resources, then I could run it again, without a restart, with no issues. If I try that now, I get all sorts of errors when I try to access explorer.

Thanks in advance and here's to hoping it's an easy fix.

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like you're experiencing a series of frustrating issues with Windows Explorer on your Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit system. The problems you described, such as the GRoD (Green Ribbon of Death), incorrect or missing thumbnails, random computer shutdowns without warning, and Windows Explorer crashes, can indeed be quite vexing. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can take to address these issues:

Green Ribbon of Death and Thumbnail Problems:​

1. Clear Thumbnail Cache:
   • Press Windows Key + R, type cleanmgr, and press Enter.
   • Select your system drive and check the "Thumbnails" option before running the cleanup.
   []Check Disk and Repair:
   • Open a Command Prompt as an administrator and run chkdsk /f to check for and fix disk errors.
   []Reset Folder View Settings:
   • Go to a folder, apply the view settings you want, then go to Organize > Folder and Search Options > View tab, and click on "Apply to Folders."

     Random Computer Shutdowns:​

   []Check for Overheating:
   • Make sure your computer is not overheating. Clean any dust from fans and ensure proper airflow.
   []Check Power Settings:
   • Go to Control Panel > Power Options and check the power settings to ensure they are configured correctly.

     Windows Explorer Freezing and Crashes:​

   []Update Graphics Drivers:
   • Ensure your graphics drivers are up-to-date. Visit the manufacturer's website to download and install the latest drivers.
   []Scan for Malware:
   • Use Windows Defender or a reputable antivirus software to scan your system for malware.

     Task Manager Issue:​

   []System File Checker (SFC):
   • Open a Command Prompt as an administrator and run sfc /scannow to check and repair system files.

     Unsupported Feature from Windows XP:​

   []Compatibility Mode:
   • If you're trying to use features from Windows XP, you can try running Windows Explorer in Compatibility Mode for Windows XP. If these steps don't resolve the issues you're facing, it might be beneficial to consider upgrading to a more recent version of Windows as Windows 7 is no longer receiving security updates from Microsoft. Feel free to try these steps and let me know if you encounter any roadblocks or if there are any changes in the behavior of Windows Explorer on your system.