All folders appear empty when opened

Whenever I open any folder to view its contents there are no listings in any view (large, small icons or list). The contents are present they just don't show up.All the software works properly, I have scanned for viruses and have none.

The problem appeared after I tried to install NortonAntiVirus 2004 and then uninstalled it. This software never installed properly after going through a host of Symantec's suggestions. Each time I would uninstall it the problem appeared. When the software was installed (even though I got a Symantec error message that it wasn't installed completely) the problem disappeared.

I finally reloaded my old version of NortonAntivirus 2001 which works fine, but the problem of blank folders is still present. Any suggestions?

1. In Windows Explorer, hold down the left Ctrl key and press the + (plus)
key in the numeric keypad.

2. For a better AV solution, consider http://www.my-etrust.com/microsoft

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

"Peter" wrote in message
...
Whenever I open any folder to view its contents there are no listings in
any view (large, small icons or list). The contents are present they just
don't show up.All the software works properly, I have scanned for viruses
and have none.

The problem appeared after I tried to install NortonAntiVirus 2004 and
then uninstalled it. This software never installed properly after going
through a host of Symantec's suggestions. Each time I would uninstall it
the problem appeared. When the software was installed (even though I got a
Symantec error message that it wasn't installed completely) the problem
disappeared.

I finally reloaded my old version of NortonAntivirus 2001 which works
fine, but the problem of blank folders is still present. Any suggestions?

I opened Windows explorer and tried control and plus sign on keypad, but it does nothing to solve the problem. ANy other ideas?

Sorry about that. I should have looked more closely at your question.

1. Possibly a virus or parasite. I don't keep close track of these things,
so I couldn't say if this is indicative of any particular one. Obvious
measures are up-to-date AV and the basic anti-parasite scanners.

Ad-Aware http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
SpyBot S&D http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download
HijackThis http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe
CWShredder http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/cwshredder.zip
Spyware Blaster http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

PLEASE! Before doing any of these, see also,
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm for suggestions and cautionary
information about internet surfing, and some important hints about using the
above. ESPECIALLY, be aware that HijackThis scans result in a LOT of stuff
that you *don't* want to delete. The admonishment to save a log and show it
to an expert is critically good advice. Not following that advice can really
do some damage to your system. SpyBot S&D, too, is capable of similar
problems, especially if you change default scan settings, or "Immunize".

2. Might also use MSCONFIG to disable all startup items *except* WIN.INI and
SYSTEM.INI. Restart and see if that fixes it. If so, that points to a
relatively limited list of causes.

3. Might be that the .folder filetype is messed up, but I don't have a 98
machine handy to find the info for you. With any luck, someone else will
happen by with the answer for this one while you're busy trying out the
above remedies.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

"Peter" wrote in message
...
I opened Windows explorer and tried control and plus sign on keypad, but
it does nothing to solve the problem. ANy other ideas?

In addition to Gary's suggestions, you might try running a repair on Internet
Explorer:

Click StartRun, type the following and click Enter, for IE5x:
RUNDLL32 SETUPWBV.DLL,IE5Maintenance

or this, if you have IE6x installed:
RUNDLL32 SETUPWBV.DLL,IE6Maintenance

If you do not know which you have, run the former first...if it says it can't find
it, run the latter one, for IE6 instead.

Choose the Repair option, and continue.

If the repair says it cannot complete, or it does not fix the problem, reinstall
Internet Explorer:

Recovering From a Failed Internet Explorer Upgrade in Windows 98:
http://tinyurl.com/r5ba
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Peter" wrote in message
...
I opened Windows explorer and tried control and plus sign on keypad, but it does
nothing to solve the problem. ANy other ideas?

Is this a known symptom of failed IE installs, Glen?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

"glee" wrote in message
...
In addition to Gary's suggestions, you might try running a repair on
Internet
Explorer:

Click StartRun, type the following and click Enter, for IE5x:
RUNDLL32 SETUPWBV.DLL,IE5Maintenance

or this, if you have IE6x installed:
RUNDLL32 SETUPWBV.DLL,IE6Maintenance

If you do not know which you have, run the former first...if it says it
can't find
it, run the latter one, for IE6 instead.

Choose the Repair option, and continue.

If the repair says it cannot complete, or it does not fix the problem,
reinstall
Internet Explorer:

Recovering From a Failed Internet Explorer Upgrade in Windows 98:
http://tinyurl.com/r5ba
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Peter" wrote in message
...
I opened Windows explorer and tried control and plus sign on keypad, but
it does
nothing to solve the problem. ANy other ideas?

On Mon, 7 Jun 2004 19:46:02 -0700, "Peter"
wrote:

I opened Windows explorer and tried control and plus sign on keypad, but it does nothing to solve the problem. ANy other ideas?

First select the right pane with the left mouse button then hold
down the ctrl key and press the plus key on the number pad.

Regards,

Bill Watt
Computer Help and Information http://home.epix.net/~bwatt/

Are you the same Peter that posted,yesterday,about
loosing "unwise"? If so? You need to really think about
getting a good AV program. Also get Adaware,SpybotS&D.
Plus a good firewall. And all these need to be kept
updated constantly.
I believe Computer Associates has a beta version
available that is both AV and firewall.
www.ca.com


-----Original Message-----
Whenever I open any folder to view its contents there are
no listings in any view (large, small icons or list). The
contents are present they just don't show up.All the
software works properly, I have scanned for viruses and
have none.

The problem appeared after I tried to install
NortonAntiVirus 2004 and then uninstalled it. This
software never installed properly after going through a
host of Symantec's suggestions. Each time I would
uninstall it the problem appeared. When the software was
installed (even though I got a Symantec error message that
it wasn't installed completely) the problem disappeared.

I finally reloaded my old version of NortonAntivirus 2001
which works fine, but the problem of blank folders is
still present. Any suggestions?
.

I have tried the solutions that you all have offered to no avail. Folders appear empty on opening them. As suggested I installed adaware, spyblaster and the my-etrust AV. (There is not a problem with internet explorer by the way.)

I am at a loss as what to do from here.

Unfortunately, it happens with Views other than Detail view, so column width
is not the problem.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

"Bill Watt" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 7 Jun 2004 19:46:02 -0700, "Peter"
wrote:

I opened Windows explorer and tried control and plus sign on keypad, but
it does nothing to solve the problem. ANy other ideas?

First select the right pane with the left mouse button then hold
down the ctrl key and press the plus key on the number pad.

Regards,

Bill Watt
Computer Help and Information http://home.epix.net/~bwatt/