Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of acoker
acoker

asked on

Windows 98 SE - Windows Explorer is blank

After installing a 5.25" 1.2mb floppy drive, I am no longer able to see files in Windows Explorer.
I can see the directory structure in the left window, but the right window is blank.  On that status bar at the bottom, it lists how many files and free space.  I have seen this before, but it was due to an incorrect version of wininet.dll  I have the most recent file available.

I have also noticed that changing the view to large, small, or list will result in my files reappearing.  It is only when I vew details that it goes away.

Helllllp..
Avatar of Patricia Siu-Lai Ho
Patricia Siu-Lai Ho
Flag of Hong Kong image

acoker,
(1) First, checking the CMOS/BIOS, if the 5.25" 1.2mb floppy drive is detected as B drive.
      If there is a drive 3.5" 1.4Mb floppy drive as A drive.
     
(2) Next, checking if you've installed the TweakUi. If yes, go to the control panel, TweakUi, My computer, inspect in the drive B has been unchecked. Enabled it again by checked the box next to the drive B.
     Source path for installation of TweakUi:  Win98CDrom\tools\reskit\powertoy\tweakui.inf
     Right click tweakui.inf and to point on the [install] of the popup. Click into the [install] and follow instruction.

If you have replaced 3.5" 1.4Mb floppy drive by 5.25" 1.2mb floppy drive to be A drive, I would suggest take out the 5.25" 1.2mb floppy drive. The speed of the drive of 5.25" cannot match with the system by too slow the speed. Moreover, the format of the 5.25" floppy disks is not supporting the HD (high density).      

Let me know how you made out.      pslh
Avatar of acoker
acoker

ASKER

The problem ocurred directly after installing a 5.25 floppy with an existing 3.5 floppy, all bios settings were correct, I removed the drive and disabled in the bios and the problem is still here.
acoker,
1) Boot your computer at the safe mode.
     (a) Delete the current "ShellIconCache" file and rebuild it at the next third time of booting of the computer. This file contains the cached icons of your desktop and shell of the system.
 
     ShellIconCache is a hidden system file in the directory of C:\windows\
     Open Windows Explorer-View-Folder Options-View-checked the box for [x] Show all files.
     Locate the file name of "ShellIconCache".  It is spelled as "Shell Icon Cache" in one word without space.
     Delete the file.

(2) Shut down the computer for 15 min. and restart it again to normal mode.  
      Repeat one more time. At the next restart, the ShellIconCache file will be recreated by the system automatically.

     Inspect if the system back to normal.

(3) If after the steps of (2), boot to the safe mode, go to the control panel, device manager, expand the Disk drives, remove all the FLOPPY DISK. Expand the Floppy disk controllers, remove the Standard Floppy Disk Controller. OK.  

      Then restart by booting into the command mode,
      At C:\> prompt, run "scandisk /autofix" without the quotation mark. Press enter and start scandisk.
      Next, run "scanreg /fix" without the quotation mark. Press enter and start scan registry fixing.

      Restart the computer to safe mode. Then restart it to normal mode. Shut down the computer.

(4) After steps (3), at the normal desktop, open windows explorer, insert a 3.5" floppy disk in drive A. Point the cursor to A drive. Expand and select any one of the files on the right pane window. Then go back to shrink A drive and point the cursor and place the cursor on drive C. Then close the windows explorer.

      Restart the computer. Above steps working on windows explorer will clear the last memorized drive/directory for your 3.5" or 5.25" drivemap.

Hope these series of actions can be helpful to you.    pslh
Avatar of acoker

ASKER

The problem ocurred directly after installing a 5.25 floppy with an existing 3.5 floppy, all bios settings were correct, I removed the drive and disabled in the bios and the problem is still here.
acoker, duplicate comments at different time. Take a trial of my above suggested method and let me know any of your findings.    pslh
Does the gray title bar appear at the top of the right pane when you select Detail View? If so,are the titles 'Name','Size','Type',and 'Modified' visible? If not,thier widths may have gotten adjusted to zero.Try moving the mouse pointer to just right of the pane separator at the top, where the title bar begins, until it changes into a 4-headed arrow; then drag to the right.
Avatar of Asta Cu
The recommendation posted by Mattcei was precisely what occurred on one of our systems; never understood why since we did nothing intentionally to alter it.  Thus, listening further.
acoker ???
acoker - we would appreciate some sort of response.We do this for free.All we expect in return is at least a
reply from you indicating whether our ideas were of any help.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of MATTCEI
MATTCEI

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
acoker, What's your status?   pslh