Cannot open any files in file explorer

Question

Hello, recently my file explorer has stopped working, whenever I try to open anything in the file explorer, on my C: or D: drives, it just shows the following error:

how can I fix this?

Answer 1

Hi Simonr1

Have you installed any new hardware or software since this started happening?

Can you try performing a system restore before this started happening?

Press Windows key + R

Type: rstrui.exe

Hit Enter

This will start the system restore wizard.

Choose an earlier point in time.

Check if you can then access the drive.

Disclaimer: Ignore when you are prompted to give a rating (Yes or No) until we actually arrive at a solution that works for you.

Answer 2

Hi Simonr1

Have you installed any new hardware or software since this started happening?

Can you try performing a system restore before this started happening?

Press Windows key + R

Type: rstrui.exe

Hit Enter

This will start the system restore wizard.

Choose an earlier point in time.

Check if you can then access the drive.

Disclaimer: Ignore when you are prompted to give a rating (Yes or No) until we actually arrive at a solution that works for you.

Hello, I have not installed anything new, and when I open the system restore there are no previous points to go back to.

Answer 3

Try these first to see if they work:

Open Start, type: CMD

Right click CMD

Click Run as administrator

Type in at the prompt OR Copy and Paste these one at a time : (Hit enter after each)

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Also run the System File Checker utility:

Open Start, type: CMD

Right click CMD

Click Run as administrator

At the Command Prompt, type: sfc/scannow

This will check for any integrity violations

Restart your system

Check your hard disk for any errors:

Click Start

Type: CMD, from the results, right click Command prompt

Click 'Run as Administrator'

At the Command Prompt, type: chkdsk /r /f

Hit Enter

When you restart your system, your computer will be scanned for errors and attempts will be made to correct them.

Answer 4

Hi Simon. I'm Greg, an installation specialist, 9 year Windows MVP and Independent Advisor, here to help you.

Right click Start button to open Task Manager, show More Details, then choose Processes tab, scroll down to Windows Processes, then further down to Windows Explorer. Right click to Restart, click OK. Restart PC.

Please post a screenshot of Disk Management, which I read like a doctor reads X-rays. Follow the steps here so I can see everything needed to advise you: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/foru...

Is your Steam Library normally on D? What changes were made just before this happened? See if you have a System Restore point to roll back before that time: http://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/computing/how-t...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

If you receive a popup asking if this solved your problem please ignore it, as it will remove my ability to help you and others may also not help. Please wait until after the issue is resolved to answer the popup or mark your question answered to help others.

______________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Answer 5

Hi Simon. I'm Greg, an installation specialist, 9 year Windows MVP and Independent Advisor, here to help you.

Right click Start button to open Task Manager, show More Details, then choose Processes tab, scroll down to Windows Processes, then further down to Windows Explorer. Right click to Restart, click OK. Restart PC.

Please post a screenshot of Disk Management, which I read like a doctor reads X-rays. Follow the steps here so I can see everything needed to advise you: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/foru...

Is your Steam Library normally on D? What changes were made just before this happened? See if you have a System Restore point to roll back before that time: http://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/computing/how-t...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

If you receive a popup asking if this solved your problem please ignore it, as it will remove my ability to help you and others may also not help. Please wait until after the issue is resolved to answer the popup or mark your question answered to help others.

______________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Hello Greg, 

Yes all the folders are in their usual places, and I did not install anything before this started happening.

Here is the Disk Management screenshot.

There is no system recovery to go back to.

Hope this helps, thank you.