File Explorer - Files all vanish, have to restart
Discussion
I have an odd issue, and it happened years ago but can't remember the fix.
If I start to edit my images or play about in the pictures folders of my computer, after a short time all the thumbnails and previews of the icons of ALL files turn to blank pieces of white paper. Then if you close file explorer and open it, all files and folders totally vanish and all I get is a green bar that moves to the right forever, saying "working on it".
I have to restart the desktop to get it all back to normal. All the updates and things are normal as far as I know, and this was a bespoke build that has been good as gold around 2 years old. Any ideas?
This is what I get when open files explorer:
If I start to edit my images or play about in the pictures folders of my computer, after a short time all the thumbnails and previews of the icons of ALL files turn to blank pieces of white paper. Then if you close file explorer and open it, all files and folders totally vanish and all I get is a green bar that moves to the right forever, saying "working on it".
I have to restart the desktop to get it all back to normal. All the updates and things are normal as far as I know, and this was a bespoke build that has been good as gold around 2 years old. Any ideas?
This is what I get when open files explorer:
Its an SSD I think - DDR4 setup according to the tech that built it. He has got me to download Crystal something or other and says that it is a Windows issue, so recommends a re install and upgraded drive vian m.2 slot on the motherboard and a clone to the new drive.
By the way I have no idea what any of that means.
By the way I have no idea what any of that means.
Matty_ said:
Windows can also do that when it's waiting for something to respond - as above, could be the SSD, but just to check, do you have any drive mappings to external devices (NAS, or another PC?)
Nothing - its just a stand along desktop which he built using saved parts from the old one that died after a long few years of abuse. Im about to take apicture of the inside to send him to make sure I have the slot for an M.2 so will post in a sec.
The first picture shows an M2 slot (next to the label A320M PRO-M2 on the PCB), and there’s no graphics card so should have the PCI bandwidth for an M.2 SSD
Edited to add a link to the manual
An NVMe 3 SSD will indeed be much faster
On the other hand, an SATA M.2 drive is the same speed as an SATA 3 SSD, and the max capacity is lower (SSDs slow down as they near full capacity)
Edited to add a link to the manual
Baldchap said:
An M.2 drive will be a significant upgrade to your large file performance
The manual states that the motherboard supports either a PCIe 3 x4 SSD or an M2 SATA SSD in the M.2 slotAn NVMe 3 SSD will indeed be much faster
On the other hand, an SATA M.2 drive is the same speed as an SATA 3 SSD, and the max capacity is lower (SSDs slow down as they near full capacity)
Edited by mikef on Saturday 7th December 18:32
eeLee said:
Is your data on that drive? Because it looks like it's going south, these are classic signs of the drive having issues.
Short-term, you could try reinstalling Windows but this depends on your data, programs and comfort in doing so.
I don't have anything I can't lose as all my media is backed up to USB thankfully. I have scheduled this "upgrade" to take place in Jan. Funny enough I had already contacted him asking for a tune up. I wouldn't know where to start doing anything, so re installing or doing anything technical is off the table.Short-term, you could try reinstalling Windows but this depends on your data, programs and comfort in doing so.
You could do a system file scan, I usually run them once or twice a year or if/when I start having strange issues.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/use-the-...
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/use-the-...
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