Windows 7 ult can't see files that are right there...

When manipulating files (copy, move, rename) I'm getting the error message .. Item not found ~in this location~ please verify the file and try again.. I try again (enter key) and poof.. it works - whatever operation I was trying to do. It's not that big a problem I guess since just hitting the enter key a second time does the job but it is an annoyance.

Yesterday I did a fairly complete system cleaning - which I do I would guess about 3x a year.. got a load of garbage out of my system.. I'm thinking maybe something I cleaned out disrupted a search function..
(not that windows 7 has what I'd call a stellar search system to begin with but I digress)
thoughts?

oh.. and the computer info...






Computer Profile Summary

Profile Date: Thursday, November 06, 2014 12:05:46 AM
Advisor Version: 8.4
Windows Logon: xxxxxxx



Operating System System Model
Windows 7 Ultimate (x64) Service Pack 1 (build 7601)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United States)
Installed: 2/22/2013 1:18:23 PM
Boot Mode: BIOS (Secure Boot not supported) No details available
Processor a Main Circuit Board b
2.80 gigahertz Intel Core i7 860
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache
8192 kilobyte tertiary memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (4 total)
Hyper-threaded (8 total) Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. Maximus III Formula Rev 1.xx
Serial Number:
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 2104 12/15/2010
Drives Memory Modules c,d
500.00 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
126.37 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S ATA Device [Optical drive]
Optiarc DVD RW AD-7240S ATA Device [Optical drive]

Generic USB CF Reader USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 2
Generic USB MS Reader USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 4
Generic USB SD Reader USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 1
Generic USB SM Reader USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 3
WDC WD5001AALS-00L3B2 [Hard drive] (500.11 GB) -- drive 0, s/n WD-WCASY7811096, rev 01.03B01, SMART Status: Healthy 4094 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'DIMM0' has 2048 MB
Slot 'DIMM1' is Empty
Slot 'DIMM2' has 2048 MB
Slot 'DIMM3' is Empty
Local Drive Volumes


c: (NTFS on drive 0) 500.00 GB 126.37 GB free
Network Drives

 

I get this as well from time to time.
Have you run a discheck? Schedule one for your next reboot and see if it finds errors. This has cleared things up for me in the past. Post what else you try and results please.

 

well.. it seems I got some malware.. and a disc problem along the way. My HD has been in service since 09 so I guess I'm due for some new hardware.

I did the whole malware removal thing.. btdt so got cleaned out properly. My only lingering problem seems to be reinstalling google earth.. the installer crashes before I get anywhere with it... and I reeeeeeally miss google earth.

Other programs (the malware removing set) download and install properly but not google earth. I opt out of chrome.. don't have it.. don't want it.
I use waterfox, palemoon Kmelon or Opera as my backup browsers and somewhere in here there's an IE 9 version lurking but it's never used.
Anyone know if google earth is somehow dependant on having chrome installed with it?