Hi,
thanks for the info, I followed your suggestion and it did indeed work, the only folder now giving me the same problem is that folder with the .avi files from my camera, trying to open this folder and the computer freezes so I am thinking that the cause was this folder trying to preview the contents, so am I still needing a codec to let me open this folder? I can actually open WMP and play the .avi's from this folder although it isn't as smooth as before the fresh XP install which makes me think of a codec needed.
Thanks again,
Zetor