Windows XP Explorer Acting Up

[ka6uup]

It started with Explorer (Not the web browser) not remembering it's position setting. it started opening in the lower right hand corner of the screen.
Then it started opening maximized. Now, most of the time, when closing it I get the error: "Proxy Desktop: explorer.exe - Application Error.
The Exception Unknown Software Exception 0x40000015 Occurred in Application at location 0x100891lda.
It still works but is an annoyance. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Chuck

[Samson]

Open Windows Explorer > Tools > Folder Options > View >  Uncheck "Launch folder windows in a separate process" > OK > Close Windows Explorer.

[ka6uup]

That was one of the first things I did.
Made no difference

[Willy2]

- Harddisk (in the 1st stages of) failing ?
- Run GSmartControl and tell us how many red/pink(ish) lines show up in the "Attributes" tab or post a screenshot of that tab (don't post the text that's showing up).

http://gsmartcontrol.sourceforge.net/home/

[Boggin]

I've removed the duplicate thread and moved this one to replace it as it has had the most replies.

[ka6uup]

I Have run GSmartControl and find 2 lines which are pink: 197 and 198

SMART Attributes Data Structure revision number: 16
Vendor Specific SMART Attributes with Thresholds:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME          FLAG     VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE      UPDATED  WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
  1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate     0x002f   200   200   051    Pre-fail  Always       -       100
  3 Spin_Up_Time            0x0027   172   171   021    Pre-fail  Always       -       4358
  4 Start_Stop_Count        0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       958
  5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct   0x0033   200   200   140    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  7 Seek_Error_Rate         0x002e   200   200   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
  9 Power_On_Hours          0x0032   087   087   000    Old_age   Always       -       9667
 10 Spin_Retry_Count        0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
 11 Calibration_Retry_Count 0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
 12 Power_Cycle_Count       0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       958
192 Power-Off_Retract_Count 0x0032   200   200   000    Old_age   Always       -       106
193 Load_Cycle_Count        0x0032   200   200   000    Old_age   Always       -       851
194 Temperature_Celsius     0x0022   107   095   000    Old_age   Always       -       40 (Min/Max 23/40)
196 Reallocated_Event_Count 0x0032   200   200   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
197 Current_Pending_Sector  0x0032   200   200   000    Old_age   Always       -       1
198 Offline_Uncorrectable   0x0030   200   200   000    Old_age   Offline      -       1
199 UDMA_CRC_Error_Count    0x0032   200   200   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
200 Multi_Zone_Error_Rate   0x0008   200   200   000    Old_age   Offline      -       1

[ka6uup]

I just discovered something which may or may not help.
I am running Explorer.exe with the with /e added to the target under properties. i.e.: C:\windows\explorer.exe /e.
This opens explorer with the C directory expanded.
When I removed the /e the problem went away???
Thanks for the help,
Chuck

[ka6uup]

This morning I tried searching again.
I guess I phrased the search correctly because I found:

http://www.theeldergeek.com/start_explorer_in_c_drive.htmv

Start Windows Explorer In The C Drive
In the Explorer property sheet use this path and switches in the target:

C:\windows\explorer.exe /n,/e,c:\
 
Since the first days Windows Explorer appeared, the list of switches reproduced below has been floating around the internet. I'm not sure who was the first to assemble the list but here it is in its entirety. Play around with it and see if one of the views is what you're seeking. Just copy and paste the bold text into the Target line on the Property Sheet of Windows Explorer. If it's not what you expected you can always switch back to the default view by using C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe in the Target line.
•   "My Computer" highlighted in left side with all drives visible but not expanded and C: highlighted in right side: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,/select,c:
•   Desktop highlighted and nothing expanded: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,/n,/select,/root,c:
•   All drives visible and the system drive highlighted and expanded in full screen: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,/select
•   All drives visible and the system drive expanded in small screen: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,/select,%systemroot%
•   Only Windows Directory visible highlighted and expanded: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,/root,%systemroot%
•   All drives visible but only C: highlighted and expanded: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,c:
•   Nothing expanded and My Computer highlighted in right side: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n,/e,/select,
•   Opens the Windows folder as a folder: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe %systemroot%
•   Opens as "My Computer": %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe %systemroot%,
•   This opens the Desktop folder with "My Computer" highlighted: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe %systemroot%,/select,
•   "Desktop" highlighted in the left side and no drives visible:
%systemroot%\explorer.exe /e,/root,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D},/select
•   "My Computer" highlighted in left side and all drives visible but none expanded:
%systemroot%\explorer.exe /e,/root,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
•   "Desktop" in left side highlighted and "My Computer" highlighted in right side and no drives visible:
%systemroot%\explorer.exe /e,/select,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

I ran: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,c:; and that solved the problem!
Thank you for all your help.
Chuck