Windows Explorer/avi file problem, please help

[Crofty]

Can anyone please tell me why .avi files cause windows explorer and windows media player to encounter a problem and need to close? Most times when I open My Videos in windows explorer I get that error message, and when I look in my video library in windows media player 11 I get it, though never straight away. The files play fine, if I open them from my videos before windows explorer closes, but the problem is really bugging me when I'm trying to organise my folders and my videos is open for a long time, or when I try to access the file through my media library. Can any of you computer literate folks tell me what's wrong and how I can fix it please?
Oh, and if it helps, I'm on Windows XP.
Thanks very much.

 

[Fanboy]

I had this bug with my XP machine a while back. I fixed it by disabling media preview (Thumbnail preview images for video files). They're pretty useless anyways since most of them only show a black screen.

To do this, Go "Start" > "Run" > Type in "cmd" and hit enter. This opens a command window.

Type in "regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll" and hit enter. Restart your computer to be sure, then check and see if it works.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

a better solution is to not use windows media player for your videos, there's tons of other great video players, such as videolan or media player classic

 

[capitaloss]

try GOM player. It's really good.

http://www.gomlab.com/eng/

 

[Crofty]

Thanks guys. Fanboy, your suggestion has sorted the problem with explorer, but media player still has issues. I'd rather not get a different video player as the problem was explorer as well so I don't think a different video player would help.

 

[grimsprice]

Thanks guys. Fanboy, your suggestion has sorted the problem with explorer, but media player still has issues. I'd rather not get a different video player as the problem was explorer as well so I don't think a different video player would help.

Edit: nevermind. Miscommunication to the n^th degree.

 

[Crofty]

Thanks guys. Fanboy, your suggestion has sorted the problem with explorer, but media player still has issues. I'd rather not get a different video player as the problem was explorer as well so I don't think a different video player would help.

Maybe you might want to try not using Explorer. As it is universally consider to be shite compared to something like google chrome. I used to have loads of problems with Explorer until i switched over. Now i can solar surf at the speed of light without a single hiccup.

Windows explorer, for viewing My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, etc, not Internet Explorer