Strange right click problem ?

bopdude · 20-11-2004, 21:32

Hi all, I seem to have picked up a problem, whenever I right click on any file my pc hangs / freezes, and I get an error report saying that Dr Watson's postmortem debugger has encountered a problem, after that the pc is unuseable untill a forced reboot.
If i'm quick, I can get into taskmanager and kill Dr Watson from there, but then I loose most of my systray icons, including N.I.S.

Any ideas .... never had this /seen this before, I've ran NAV and spybot.. etc etc, came back with a couple of tracking cookies but nothing major.

TIA

Paul K · 20-11-2004, 21:38

The right click can often launch an extended menu that has different tools in it depending on what 3rd party software you have installed (image viewers, cd burning software etc). It could be that one of these pieces of software has corrupted or registry keys are damaged and when xp invokes them to complete the right click menu you end up crashing.
Does it happen no matter what type of file you click on? Have you installed anything new recently and have you tried a system restore??

bopdude · 20-11-2004, 21:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

The right click can often launch an extended menu that has different tools in it depending on what 3rd party software you have installed (image viewers, cd burning software etc). It could be that one of these pieces of software has corrupted or registry keys are damaged and when xp invokes them to complete the right click menu you end up crashing.

I haven't installed anything, kids say they've not been up to any mischief

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Have you installed anything new recently and have you tried a system restore??

I havn't thought about a restore point ...... yet, but may have to

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Does it happen no matter what type of file you click on?

Yep

Paul K · 20-11-2004, 21:56

Well there is a post here that points to a problem with divx after sp2 that can cause that problem.
Google groups
I've seen that information posted in 2-3 places so far in a quick search. Don't know if it's relevant to your situation though. I would try a system restore to see if that cures it before looking elsewhere

Edit:
Some more info here, if it is the cause

Info

bopdude · 21-11-2004, 00:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Well there is a post here that points to a problem with divx after sp2 that can cause that problem.
Google groups
I've seen that information posted in 2-3 places so far in a quick search. Don't know if it's relevant to your situation though. I would try a system restore to see if that cures it before looking elsewhere

Edit:
Some more info here, if it is the cause

Info

Well done that man, please rep him all round

I'd completely forgoten about installing divx ( it was a case of allways having it )

I'll look into it tomorrow, if i get a chance, off to inverness for a few days work

Graham M · 21-11-2004, 01:21

Also one thing to look out for is do you have antivirus software? Is it up to date? Do you have 2 x Antivirus software, they will probably conflict and fight for access to the file you right click.

bopdude · 21-11-2004, 10:58

Well I've removed the cause, just for noe ( divx ) off too Inverness soon so will have to look at a ' fix ' when I get back as I like divx

Thanks for the help / solution Paul

Paul K · 21-11-2004, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by bopdude

Well I've removed the cause, just for noe ( divx ) off too Inverness soon so will have to look at a ' fix ' when I get back as I like divx

Thanks for the help / solution Paul

Think one solution given on a site was to install the newest version of DivX again but I shall look into it for you if I get time this morning

Paul K · 21-11-2004, 11:04

http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6142-0....ssageID=539000
or
http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-623...sageID=1672444
are just two possible solutions given for the problem.
Or there is
http://www.winxptutor.com/sp2/divxcrash.htm

bopdude · 21-11-2004, 14:26

Thanks Paul, I won't be able to try anything until Wednesday when I get back, on the A66 at the moment, I'll check out the links as and when.
Thanks again

Gareth · 21-11-2004, 18:03

...on the A66 and replying to this thread at the same time?!? I'm impressed

**Paul** · 21-11-2004, 18:09

Not driving I hope

Paul K · 21-11-2004, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by bopdude

Thanks Paul, I won't be able to try anything until Wednesday when I get back, on the A66 at the moment, I'll check out the links as and when.
Thanks again

If it doesn't resolve the problem we can look again, hopefully it will sort it for you though