XP Windows Explorer Avi Problem

Same symptom - some AVIs crash explorer on preview.

regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll

DONE.

HI!! i m having a problem, i dont know what it is... every time i try to open the avi file,it shows me the message...Failed to open the file.Please check it is a valid mpeg or avi file!! so plz. guide me forwrd...

thxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxa A whollllllllllle loooooooooot

Thanks everyone !!!

I have been having the .AVI explorer issue for ages, and then today after googling my problem and coming here all is fixed :-D

Many many thanks you guys are great !!

Ps - I used the regedit method for my fix, I am not concerened with seeing previews of my avi files, and dont need to see the thumbnails either, I am just so glad that windows does not crash upon opening those folders any more.

:-D

4) To remove media preview, type and hit enter
regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll

worked for me

I’ve ben having Explorer crash while trying to preview AVI Files for a long time. Just did the regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll fix and it worked! Thank You!

I had the problem with Windows Explorer crashing myself when trying to open a folder with AVI’s in it. Hadn’t tried moving them because many other online sources warned of probable torjans/spyware inside causing crashing. Used the regedit method and the problem has been solved; wondered why no virus scanner would find this susposed trojan!

Many thanks!

Awesome! I’ve been looking for a fix to this for AGES! I used the BAT file method.

This wasn’t just AVIs, either. ANY kind of video file caused crashing for me.

Nearly two years later and this is still useful to some people... thanks so much! Worked like a charm!

that fix worked and prevents from crashes every time i open my pictures and movies folders. however, i still would like to see the thumbnails. anyone ever came up with a fix? this crap started last night and never had it before.

Its fixed! thank you so much..

Thanks so much. I, like everyone here, have been trying to find a fix for this issue and have heard everything from turning off debugging programs to uninstalling codecs...but this worked beautifully and I don’t lose my codecs. I don’t need to see a preview of the videos, I need to open the folders!

i had a similar problem i could’nt open a map with avi files, without error of explorer than i did the regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll thing, but then when i opend an avi file wmp crashed so i simply putted this back regsvr32 shmedia.dll and I just reinstalled my codecs (ffdshow) and now everytingh is fine

Hey guys, i have another solution to this problem.
Sry, i havent read this thread, im in a rush and i just wanted 2 share my solution with u guys, so dont hit me if it has already been mentioned

Ok, heres my solution:

Start - Run - RegEdit - Enter
Press Ctrl + F and search for “avi”, when u`ve found 1 key, delete the whole library, then press F3 to search for the next key/library and do the same. Delete every library or key with “avi” that u find.

Finally got annoyed with a crashing explorer so i spent 5 min to fix this problem. Hope it helps some1 atleast!

thank to Renj and Xplorer4x4. i combined your help and got a fine result.
1. copy [ regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll ]. click start>run and paste the click ok. that will unregister shmedia.dll (which i think windows explorer uses to review).

2. how to remove the current .avi PropertyHandler and then set it back to nothing.

A. Remove the PropertyHandler:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

-[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.avi\shellex\PropertyHandler]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


B. Remove the PropertyHandler:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.avi\shellex\PropertyHandler]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

open notepad and copy the lines between ++++ and ++++ in A. and save it as remove_avi_PropertyHandler.reg .

then open notepad again and copy the lines between ++++ and ++++ in B. and save it as set_avi_PropertyHandler.reg .

run remove_avi_PropertyHandler.reg first to remove and set_avi_PropertyHandler.reg to set it back to nothing.

in this case u do not have the need to deep you hands in the registry.

i can email anyone these two reg files to make life easy for the non-technical mind and save lots of time.
cuthbert1za@yahoo.co.uk
copy this post and email it to me with your request and i will send you the files.
thanks again to Renj and Xplorer4x4

BarbershopJohn wrote: Hi anonymous, many tks, I found it and here’s the text for anyone else who may have the same problem sometime. “Windows XP Explorer has a 'feature' to provide a preview in the Details box on the left of the file you have selected, if it’s supported. Image files, HTML pages, video clips, MP3s, etc are all previewed (even with the folder view open).
If you have a large movie clip and it either is corrupt (ie. no index from a partial download) or it uses an unsupported codec, then Explorer tries to load the whole file. This can slow your computer a lot and prevent deleting/renaming/moving/etc the file until it’s finished.
Simply do the following steps:
1) Open a command window (Start->Run, type in 'cmd' hit enter)
2) To remove image preview, type and hit enter
regsvr32 /u shimgvw.dll
3) To readd image preview, type and hit enter
regsvr32 shimgvw.dll
4) To remove media preview, type and hit enter
regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll
5) To readd media preview, type and hit enter
regsvr32 shmedia.dll


The Credit goes to http://www.tweakxp.com/tweak2123.aspx”
regards John

Worked Great Thx

hi I had same as above,but just reduced the size of wiew to
icons, list,and not anything other than tiles and thumbnails,sorted it right away,,try this first easier,good luck

thanks for this thread,
i installed the divx codec and my problems were solved.
thank you!

Great Barbershop!!!

regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll - Simple solution.

In a forum ive read that we had to reinstall SP2 and things like that Brrr

I seem to have an unusual version of this problem. I have four hard drives and this only happens on one of them. No problems with avi files one three, but on the fourth the system hangs up if I try to copy or play avi files. I tried the solutions above, creating the bat files shimgvwoff.bat, shimgvwon.bat, shmediaoff.bat, shmediaon.bat. They had some effect, but I still could not play the files. Hanging up the system was not as bad.