Video? Problem

I have a problem with video that doesn't seem to be covered. Whenever I try to access any folder I have that contains any video files (AVI, MPEG4, etc.) Explorer encounters an error, and then crashes, restarting explorer, but not causing a complete lock up. I have scanned for viruses with AVG Free, as well as scanned for spyware with multiple programs. I am able to access the video, but only if the file is loaded on a playlist. Using Windows Media Player to open the files causes the same problem. Any Clues?

Windows XP Home Edition
NVidia G-Force 5500 Video Card
200GB Hard Drive
128 MB Ram

 

What version of Windows Media Player are your using to knows start windows
media player and click help then about.....

 

Windows Media Player 10.00.00.4036

 

Try:

Click start, then run, then type in:

regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll (press enter)

Out of curiosity, have you installed any codec packs recently (divx, beta codecs)? Or any image viewers? Photoshop?

 

That solved it! Could you possible explain what it was that it did though?