When I double click on the C: drive in My Computer to open it, it opens, but the following message appears: "Windows Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience." I can actually navigate through some folders, but not others, before it shuts me out to the desktop. Not sure what's happening, but I've tried the Knowledge base here, but nothing that appears as close to my problem. It only happens on the C: drive and not any other drive, Optical, Flash, or the second HDD installed as a backup. Either does it do it to the external backup eSata Backup Drive. I've cleaned my registry, updated my files (windows and drivers/updates), spyware/adware/malware cleaned, antivirus, Ultimate Defragger. All to no avail. Can anyone help? Any light shed on this will be greatly appreciated. I am worried that I will have to reinstall windows. AMD Phenom Quad 9600 2 GB Corsair PC 6400 RAM Windows XP Pro w/ SP 3 AMD Radeon 3870HD w/512 MB GDDR4 LG BluRay/HD Burner Sata 2 X Internal WD 500 GB SATA HDD + 1 External Seagate 320 GB eSATA HDD Backup Drive ASUS M3A32-MVP Deluxe WiFi Edition Mobo

What happens of you right click on it and left click on open? Do you get the same error. Also, start, run, type c: and press enter. What happens then?

Did this problem appear before or after you cleaned the registry? Did you have any issues prior to this happening? Can you perform a system restore using a restore point prior to this occurrence? If you perform a system restore and the problem isn't solved then undo the restore and try an earlier point.

guapo: the same thing happens whether I right-click or double click. Even if I open or explore. I just tried the run command with the same results. Not sure what's going on. OtheHill: This problem started, or I noticed it, about a week ago. It may have been doing it longer, but I never had to access certain folders prior to then. No issues have cropped up prior to this. I keep my system up to date as far as Norton, Spybot/AdAware, CCleaner, Ultimate Defragger/Kapersky. I maintain updates in BIOS, Chipset and Component Drivers. I guess I can try a Restore and see if it helps. Thanks to both of you for your input.

I would run a repair install of XP with the XP disc. Then you have to reinstall the Windows Updates.

I would download and run anti malware from malwarebytes.org before anything. If that doesn't help, I would run Hijack This and at last resort, do a restore point.