Widows Explorer Crashes when accessing MOV files

When I navigate with Windows Explorer to my folder containing QuickTime .mov files I see that all the files are listed as QuickTime movies and are shown with the QuickTime icon.

When I right click or left click on a mov file the following error is generated:

"Program Error: explorer.exe has generated errors and will be closed by Windows. You will need to restart the program. An error log is being created. "

This error occurs only with mov files.

Interestingly (to me anyway) the thumbnail which appears on the left side of the right pane in Windows Explorer is that of Windows Media Player not the QuickTime Player.

I have run ShelExView and disabled all non-Microsoft shell extensions. The problem did not go away. While in ShelExView, I did a search for the mov file extension. Interestingly (to me anyway) the mov file extension was not to be found.

My photo organizing program (Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0) which once could cataglog and play mov files will now crash when either of those tasks is attempted.

QuickTime will still open and play the mov files.

Dr. Waston says this happened:
"Application exception occurred:
App: explorer.exe (pid=544)
When: 1/12/2006 @ 11:06:39.619
Exception number: c0000005 (access violation) "


I also ran Debugging Tools with this result:
"Opened log file 'c:\debuglog.txt'

Microsoft (R) Windows Debugger Version 6.5.0003.7
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Loading Dump File [C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\DrWatson\user.dmp]
User Dump File: Only application data is available

Module list is corrupt. "

Dr. Watson's user.dmp is the only dmp file on my hard drive. I ran three dumps with the same result each time.

I am running Windows 2000 SP4.

 

Have you looked at which program is assigned to open the .mov files? Go to windows explorer > tools > folder options > file types tab, and scroll down to mov. Change it to the file you wish to use; use the browse button to make sure the path is correct.

 

Thanks for your speedy reply sparrow.

Yes, QuickTime is the program assigned to open files of the type MOV.

While checking that out I changed the file type icon and assigned Notepad as the file to open files of the type MOV.

Viewing the MOV files in Windows Explorer I could see that the file icons were changed. But right clicking or left clicking on a MOV file gives the same results as detailed in my original post.

 

The error would seem to indicate that either you have some malware infecting the computer or windows has become damaged. If a search for viruses etc. is unproductive (follow the advice here ), I'd opt for a repair installation of windows.

 

Thanks again sparow.

I ran eTrust EZ Antivirus and PestPatrol...no bad stuff reported.

I have never restored an operating system and don't know anyone who has. I have thought about doing it at times but have been too timid to attempt it. Luckily, any problems I have encountered in the past I have been able to resolve without going through a restoration.

But if that is the only option I have I will try it. My biggest concerns are what the restoration may do to all the operating system updates that have been installed over the years, and whether it will be necessary re-install all the programs residing on my harddisk (including the system updates).

 

Thanks Arie.

I also suspect that it is a shell extension. But I can't isolate the offending program. I've taken the steps and have run the utilities suggested on the HelpWithWindows site (see my first post).

Since my last post I uninstalled QuickTime then installed the newest version. ShellExView continues to find no MOV extensions.