Explorer refuses to index or show thumbnails.

[Dangles]

My explorer seems to be having a strange issue where the sidebar never shows major file locations and thumbnails never show (only the file name and an empty spot (not even a default icon). Even when the progress/queue bar is full/complete, nothing happens. I thought this might be an indexing issue but re-indexing my main drive didn't help. Restarting the computer was a temporary fix but the issue comes back after the system has been running for a few minutes.

Here is what it looks like when I try to access Computer using explorer: http://imgur.com/yl5zhhQ

 

[MostWantedSoulRider]

Maybe virus is making this issue to happen often?

1) Download and Install Free Version of Avast -

http://www.avast.com/

Scan Full PC.

2) Download Trial Version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, Install and scan the PC.

https://www.malwarebytes.org/

3) Some PUPs and harmful data could still bug you even though antivirus and antimalware softwares show positive results in full system scan. Download this .exe file and scan your system (no installation required)

http://www.techsupportall.com/adware-removal-tool/

Note: And TURN YOUR INTERNET OFF while scanning your machine with all the three applications.
I know this is a pain but worth trying.

 

[Dangles]

Maybe virus is making this issue to happen often?

1) Download and Install Free Version of Avast -

http://www.avast.com/

Scan Full PC.

2) Download Trial Version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, Install and scan the PC.

https://www.malwarebytes.org/

3) Some PUPs and harmful data could still bug you even though antivirus and antimalware softwares show positive results in full system scan. Download this .exe file and scan your system (no installation required)

http://www.techsupportall.com/adware-removal-tool/

Note: And TURN YOUR INTERNET OFF while scanning your machine with all the three applications.
I know this is a pain but worth trying.

Thanks for the tips, but I've been running both Avast and MAM regularly for a long time now.

 

[MostWantedSoulRider]

but what about adware removal tool?

 

[Dangles]

but what about adware removal tool?

MAM = Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware

I don't think this is simply an issue of cleaning up the PC.

 

[kenrivers]

Below are links to things you can try if you haven't tried them already:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-pictures/pictures-do-not-display-as-thumbnail-preview/f0c429b7-d7dd-4535-a8e7-c3f5e8c42939
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/4285/windows-7-how-to-reset-the-thumbnail-cache/

 

[Dangles]

Thanks for all the help, but it turns out that this is a more insidious problem than I anticipated. The problem got worse and eventually crashed the system and now occurs every few days (unless I restart the computer, which is a pain).

I scheduled a disk-error check to try and clear it (extends normal operation for about another 2 days) but it keeps coming back (and disk checks take FOREVER). I think my hard drive is dying, which just means it's time to get a new one.