My desktop reset and ask me to restore my active desktop upon opening "my documents"

[mondsi]

hello guys i got this irritating problem. My desktop reset and ask me to restore my active desktop everytime I open "my documents" folder. Usually when I browse my files stored in "my documents" folder this problem occur, my desktop turned into black then after a few seconds it will ask me to restore my active desktop.

what could be the possible reason for this type of problem?

can somebody give me idea what is the problem?

Thanks in advance! :)

[Sylvander]

I wonder whether it would help to install "TweakUI" and use it to specify the correct location [or even a new location] for the "My Documents" folder and make sure the folder and contents are in that location.

I'll try using "Regmon.exe" to see what registry keys are accessed when I attempt to access the "My Documents" folder, then get back to you.

[mondsi]

would it be OK if I will install "TweakUI" to solve the problem?

thanks sylvander.. I will wait for your answer.

[Sylvander]

"would it be OK if I will install "TweakUI" to solve the problem?"
Installing "TweakUI" can do no harm; only good.
If the problem is simply caused by the registry having an incorrect location [or no location] specified for "My Documents", then this could fix that.

I ran "Registry Monitor".
Wow, it certainly looks complicated, but if you did that you might see some settings and check out some things based on what you see.
I found the key and settings...
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Exp lorer\User Shell Folders
VALUE
Name = Personal
Data = D:\ My Documents [in my case]

Lots of mention of the following files...
shell32.dll
mydocs.dll
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\BROWSEUI.DLL
If mine weren't working I'd be checking that those files were present.
You should do this.

Which OS are you running?
If Win98/ME you could run the "Registry Tool" [from outside of Windows] on the EBCD to scan & fix your registry.

I wonder whether the EBCD "File Manager" would be able to access your "My Documents" folder?
If it did, you could copy or move the contents to another location to make them safe before a "repair" reinstallation.

In the end...
Assuming you don't have an image backup of C: made when all was well...
You'd run a "repair" reinstall of Windows.

[mjc]

I would also like to see a very thorough manual antivirus scan of that folder...it almost sounds as if an on-access AV scan is occurring and then crashing.

[mondsi]

Windows XP SP1 installed on my laptop.

thanks for those interesting advice, I'll do what you guys suggested then give feedbacks on the result.

thanks a lot guys! :)

[classicsoftware]

I would not install Tweak UI. I think this is malware related. Please can with your AV and post results and post a Hijackthis log.