.avi files crashing in XP

[andy37142]

After a hard disk crash and a clean install I now find the following problem.
When I take some photos I put the SD card into my Epson RX420 printer's card reader and this works well.
If I record a short video (in .avi mode) and put the SD card into the printer then ask Windows to send the video to a folder in 'My Documents' it throws a wobbly and puts up a Windows Explorer error telling me that Windows Explorer has encountered a problem and do I want to send the error report to Microsoft. If I ignore the Windows Explorer error box the video still transfers but the box is always present. If I click 'Don't send' everything stops and the computer locks up and sometimes CTL, ALT, DEL (twice) doesn't work and I have to restart manually.
If I let the video transfer whilst the Windows Explorer error box is still present, and even after reboot, every time I double click them to run in Windows Media Player they run OK but the Windows Explorer error appears every time and when I click 'Don't send' I get a lock up again.
This didn't happen before the hard disk crashed and with the previous copy of Windows XP (without SP3). I have downloaded and installed SP3 on the clean install so could it be that or if not I would be grateful for any suggestions how to fix this annoying problem.
Many thanks
andy37142

[Sylvander]

"then ask Windows to send the video to a folder in 'My Documents'"
How exactly did you do this? ["Move" the avi file]
Copy & paste?
Drag 'n drop?
Is there a shortcut to the [destination] folder in your "Send To" folder?

[andy37142]

Sylvander
Thanks for you reply.
I have tried both Cut and Pasting and using the Send To method of moving the file and whichever method I use the process fails (as I described earlier).
Many thanks
andy37142

[Sylvander]

Drag 'n drop uses different methods and registry settings to do the job and will often succeed when the other methods fail.
Give it a try.

I notice when I copy a large file to another drive [external USB HDD], Explorer.exe %CPU usage jumps up to about 25% [as displayed by Process Explorer (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx)].

Perhaps you should install that and study the process usage on your own PC?
Perhaps Explorer.exe is corrupted?
Repair of Windows needed?

[andy37142]

Sylvander
Many thanks for your reply.
Come to think of it Explorer does behave strangely on rare occasions, closing itself for no apparent reason and putting error messages up. Could you please tell me how I reinstall this? Do I put the Windows XP CD in and choose 'Repair' or is there another easier method. Possibly Explorer.exe has become corrupted by the SP3 update as I have had no viruses/trojans/spyware since the new installation.
If this isn't the problem I will look at your other suggestions.
Thanks again
andy37142:)

[Sylvander]

"Could you please tell me how I reinstall this?"
I think you need to do the following:
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install (http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm).
You need to pay particular attention to Slipstreaming Windows (http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm#slipstreamxpcd) with Service Pack 3 (http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/xpsp3_slipstream.asp).
Otherwise when you do the repair you would lose the SP3 improvements already installed, and would need to repeat the update to SP3.

The above will leave all your data files untouched. :)

[andy37142]

Sylvander
Many thanks for this. I will try it on Sunday when I return from a short break.
Thanks again
Andrew:) :)