FIX
start task manager (ctrl+alt+del)

go to new task (applications tab)

browse-> on the left go to computer>C>windows

search “control” stuff will come up but type c and click on the blue control panel icon (it might only say control)

user accounts>add or remove> create a new administrator account my first was troubleshoot until i messed it up as well so i did the same thing as above and named it troubleshit, whatever you deem appropriate. this will be your new account and can be renamed later on

once created use task manager to logoff the account youre on and log into your troubleshit. it will work fine, open computer navigate to troubleshit (or whatever you call yours). open another explorer (my computer) folder and navigate to your old user account that you ruined. bring old folders over one by one (EXCLUDING DESKTOP thats how i messed up troubleshoot). you should have all your stuff from your old user account and the rest of your stuff should be in program files which will remain after you kill the old user. delete old account rename new one and re-create your desktop.

Its not the right way but it works just as well and is much much less of a headache if you don’t know which file did it or its in system files.

Educational upgrade to 7 is $30 from windows. GO GET IT all you need is a .edu address which isn’t so hard to come by. vista is shit, its full of holes and even microsoft deemed it unfixable. get rid of this garbage.

if you need a recovery disc and computer wont let you make one you can go to neosmart which has a free one or replace your recdisc file which is whats telling your computer you already made one (http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/141820-create-recovery-disc.html).

Thank you Microsoft for this lovely software.

I didn’t want to delete my desktop folder because I have a large amount of valuable files on there, so here’s what I did:

apparently, the the REASON why it’s crashing at all is because Windows automatically previews the files that appears on the menu as shortcuts and generates icons for them.
During the preview, it comes across some codec/glitch/error problem and that’s what causes explorer to crash.
All you have to do is disable it — it’s really simple actually. Just go to the folder CONTAINING the folder with the messed-up file. (So for me, I went to the folder containing the “Desktop” folder: C:\Users\[username]).
Then, “Organize” (top left)> “Folder and Search Options” > “View” Tab > fiddle around with the settings. I unchecked a bunch of things. Then, Click “Apply to Folders” > OK.
Now you should be able to access the folder with the file without crashing explorer. Delete it from there, restart explorer.exe, and problem solved.
If that doesn’t work, go to
“Organize” > “General” Tab > under “Tasks”, check “Use Windows classic folders” > click OK.
Now there should be a gray/silver bar with “File, Edit, View, Tools, Help, etc.” above the “Organize, View, Burn” Vista bar.
Click on the folder with the messed-up file to highlight/ select it. (DO NOT DOUBLE CLICK TO ACTUALLY OPEN IT).
Then click “View” ON THE GRAY/SILVER BAR > “Choose Details” > uncheck everything > press “OK”
Again, now you should be able to open the folder with the file without crashing explorer. Delete it from there, restart explorer.exe, and problem solved.

there might be more information here as well:
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/03/17/how-to-enable-or-disable-media-and-video-thumbnail-preview-in-windows-xp/

if my procedures did not work, try finding some other way to disable the media/video thumbnail preview. it’s really easy to do.

hope that helped! worked for me.

thanks once again

You dont know how much your solution help me…:)

THANKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I delete the videos using command prompt.
Now my problem is what is the solution ?I want to be able to download, save and play youtube videos. Why is a downloaded youtube video crashing anything I try to open it with ? How do I fix this ?