Vista, can't access drive C:\

Hello,
I have this problem, I can't access drive C: (system drive) in windows explorer. I can access D:, I can access c:\download, c:\music, c:\windows, c:\whatever, but everytime I try to open C:\, explorer just freezes. I had this problem several times before, and I usually just used latest restore point. I've also noticed, last 2 times this happend after I've visited c:\windows\system32 folder (when I open this folder, C:\ folder open instead, then after few moments system32 opens as it should). Nothing was touched there.
The problem is that I've just installed VISTA SP1, and latest restore point was made right before the update, and the problem occured just right before this. I was hoping that SP will fix the problem, but it didn't.
So, any ideas?

 

Cross posting is not allowed by the forum rules.
Thank you.

 

I know, I just couldn't delete message posted in wrong forum.

 

Tough one... reinstall?

I guess first I would open a command prompt and do:

c:
cd \
dir

just to see if anything in there looks really bizarre. But otherwise I don't know.

 

It looks ok.
The problem is JUST with Windows Explorer. I can access C:\ with Total Commander, CuteFTP, Opera, anything else. But not Explorer.
I have the same problems (explorer freezes) with some folders on my computer, but problem is easily solved after I rename these folders. I just give them other name and somehow I can open em after that. Too bad, I can't rename drive C:\ that easily.

 

And here's the message I get
Description:
A problem caused this program to stop interacting with Windows.

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: AppHangB1
Application Name: explorer.exe
Application Version: 6.0.6001.18000
Application Timestamp: 47918e5d
Hang Signature: decb
Hang Type: 0
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1049
Additional Hang Signature 1: 0525ae836253b57145f1be2bd6b38f26
Additional Hang Signature 2: b2cd
Additional Hang Signature 3: 865d7dd31639403ba1ff42e35a9aa6c7
Additional Hang Signature 4: decb
Additional Hang Signature 5: 0525ae836253b57145f1be2bd6b38f26
Additional Hang Signature 6: b2cd
Additional Hang Signature 7: 865d7dd31639403ba1ff42e35a9aa6c7

 

What did you install or change when the problem started?

 

Absolutely nothing, just opend c:\windows\system32

 

So, you made absolutely no changes to the OS, didn't apply any tweaks, or add/remove any programs? The problem just appeared out of the blue?

 

Do you have administrative rights? I'm curious as to whether or not Windows would allow you access to system folders without these rights.

 

Of course I do. I'm the only one who uses this computer.
And, by the way, I can't open system32 folder now too.

 

Create a new user with admin rights. Log into the new account. If you can access all drives, then you know you have a problem with your profile.

 

Yep, this solves the problem, thanks.
But now I've lost all my startup settings, desktop and start menu... and some programs might not work.

 

Use your new account to make your old account a plain user account, apply the changes, and reboot. Then, log back in as the admin, change the old account back to an admin account (remove the user accont - the only account visible should be admin), apply the changes, and reboot. Log into the old account and see if things are fixed.

 

Nope, the problem is still there.
Another fact: everything is ok if I boot in safe mode.

 

Now how would I know that?

 

Standart users can't make any changes to the system, I even doubt that they are allowed to view system32 folder


By the way, is there a way to re-install windows explorer?

 

I'm pretty sure any user can traverse folders. If that was not the case, software wouldn't work because applications need access to all of the Windows environment.

You can't reinstall Explorer, and that isn't the problem anyway. There's a problem with your old profile. You could try doing a system repair, as long as you have your Vista install disc.

You could always sit down and compare each and every setting between accounts and see if you can discover the actual problem. Personally, I would just start using the new profile and migrate files and folders to the new profile.

 

Ok, here's what worked for me:

1. Create second administrator account (thanks for an advice, kegobeer). Let's name it "NewAcc"
2. Reboot, login as new user, not the old one
3. Go to Control panel -> System
4. Click on Advanced System Settings
5. Find User Profiles tab and click Settings
6. Find 'Bad' account, choose it and click "Copy to..", chose "C:\Users\NewFolder" (create a new folder there)
7. Close everything and reboot
8. Login as old user ('Bad' account)
9. Go to c:\users and delete NewAcc folder
10. Rename NewFolder to NewAcc
11. Login as NewAcc

That's it. All you documents and setting are here, ecxept of Gadgets, and if Security Center was turned off before, it will be turned on.


Thank you guys!