[SOLVED] Windows Explorer Filepath glitching, causing various other issues?

[Sad Computerman]

After about a days worth of use, the file path in windows explorer becomes glitched, rendering completely incorrectly and bringing in bits of other application icons, the clock, etc. When this happens, Copy/Paste functionality is lost from ShareX's screenshot utility. It also seems to break certain start menu options, as I can no longer directly click on "restart/power off/sleep", however using the TAB key and enter will allow them to be selected as normal. Occasionally this also stops the windows clock from updating as well, and it will get "stuck" on the time the issue occurred.

I have tested this with a GTX 1080 as well as my RTX3080, I have run multiple antivirus scans, including a remote OS scan via kaspersky's rescue disc, all of which have come up clean. The problem is fixed with a reboot however I'd like to get to the root cause of why this would be happening. I posted a thread on this before and people suggested changing the Nvidia display resolution when it happens, which also did not work. A different windows theme also did not fix the issue.

Below are two images attached, showcasing both the discord icon and steam being rendered in the file path:

https://imgur.com/ZSBu1s9

View: https://i.imgur.com/ZSBu1s9.png

https://imgur.com/xEKHatN

View: https://i.imgur.com/xEKHatN.png


if anyone has any insight into what could be causing this and/or a fix, it would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

 

[Colif]

I wonder if its windows search that is glitching out. You could try this:
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/58569-rebuild-search-index-windows-10-a.html

can try this
right click start button

choose powershell (admin)

copy/paste this command into window:

Repair-WindowsImage -Online -RestoreHealth
and press enter

Then type SFC /scannow
and press enter

Restart PC is SFC fixes any files as some fixes require a restart to be implemented

First command repairs the files SFC uses to clean files, and SFC fixes system files

SFC = System File Checker. First command runs DISM - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/what-is-dism?view=windows-11

 

[Sad Computerman]

I wonder if its windows search that is glitching out. You could try this:
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/58569-rebuild-search-index-windows-10-a.html

can try this
right click start button

choose powershell (admin)

copy/paste this command into window:

Repair-WindowsImage -Online -RestoreHealth
and press enter

Then type SFC /scannow
and press enter

Restart PC is SFC fixes any files as some fixes require a restart to be implemented

First command repairs the files SFC uses to clean files, and SFC fixes system files

SFC = System File Checker. First command runs DISM - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/what-is-dism?view=windows-11

The windows image apparently was fine, Scannow says it "found corrupted files and succesfully repaired them"

Unfortunately do to the nature of the issue, I may not know if it's fixed for a few days. I'd appreciate if you could leave the thread open, but if not I will bookmark it and add it to my list of things I tried! Thank you so much for the reply!

 

[Colif]

thread stays open until you finished with it.
You don't need to bookmark, you probably get an email for every replay on it

 

[Sad Computerman]

thread stays open until you finished with it.
You don't need to bookmark, you probably get an email for every replay on it

Howdy hey.

Unfortunately, the issue does not seem to have been fixed by repairing the windows image and the SFC Scan. woke up this morning to a glitchy filepath and some other minor inconveniences.

Edit: As of going to reboot the PC to fix this, on the windows login screen, the PC bluescreened with error "Paged_fault_in_nonpaged_area" for file ntfs.sys

Unsure of what that might mean in relation to the issue.

 

[Colif]

Try a clean boot and see if it changes anything - make sure to read instructions and make sure NOT to disable any Microsoft services or windows won't load right - https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/929135/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows

It doesn't remove anything, it just stops things running at startup. Its easily reversed

if clean boot fixes it, it shows its likely a startup program. You should, over a number of startups. restart the programs you stopped to isolate the one that is to blame.

Wonder if its GPU drivers?
seems unlikely but since its graphical.

 

[Sad Computerman]

Try a clean boot and see if it changes anything - make sure to read instructions and make sure NOT to disable any Microsoft services or windows won't load right - https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/929135/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows

It doesn't remove anything, it just stops things running at startup. Its easily reversed

if clean boot fixes it, it shows its likely a startup program. You should, over a number of startups. restart the programs you stopped to isolate the one that is to blame.

Wonder if its GPU drivers?
seems unlikely but since its graphical.

Right, I've tried updating GPU drivers previously, or swapping out GPUs entirely, to no avail, but seems to make the most sense since it's a graphical bug.

I just hopped back in from a chkdsk /f reboot, so will try this next. Unfortunately due to the given nature of the issue, it's gonna be a few days before I'll be able to tell if clean boot fixed the issue. Here's hoping this goes (relatively) quickly.

 

[Colif]

clean boot just shows if its a start up program, its more a work around. If you can identify program to blame, its a matter of seeing if its a setting inside program or if there is an updated version. Can also look on Google to see if I can find similar cases.

try this and reinstall GPU drivers - https://forums.tomshardware.com/faq...n-install-of-your-video-card-drivers.2402269/

 

[Sad Computerman]

clean boot just shows if its a start up program, its more a work around. If you can identify program to blame, its a matter of seeing if its a setting inside program or if there is an updated version. Can also look on Google to see if I can find similar cases.

try this and reinstall GPU drivers - https://forums.tomshardware.com/faq...n-install-of-your-video-card-drivers.2402269/

I'll try a clean install of the video drivers as well. And yeah, I'm somewhat familiar with what a clean boot does, I've never tried one before myself. I was mostly saying I'll have to stay in a clean boot environment for several days, as it takes 2-3 days before the issue appears.

I tried googling profusely when the issue first appeared, couldn't find anything quite like it. I wish you the best if you can find someone that had a similar problem.

Thank you so much, you're being a tremendous help and I really appreciate it.

 

[Colif]

well, it might be easier if i know what program is causing it. I can't find any one with icons showing in the address bar

did you try resetting search?

 

[Sad Computerman]

well, it might be easier if i know what program is causing it. I can't find any one with icons showing in the address bar

did you try resetting search?

No, I missed rebuilding the search index, I'll do that now.

checking programs through clean boot is going to take some time, as the issue doesn't manifest until after 2 or 3 days of use. if it doesn't occur I'll try re-enabling half and seeing what I can find, and narrow it down from there.

 

[Colif]

no rush, I know random occurring errors are a pain to solve. I have one

 

[Sad Computerman]

no rush, I know random occurring errors are a pain to solve. I have one

Much appreciated for all the help, I'll get back to you as soon as I have more info for you. thanks again!