Can't open library folders in Windows 8

[Carfax83]

For some damn reason, I now cannot open my library folders in Windows 8!

I have a suspicion that one of the updates did this, but when I click on my picture, video or documents folder, NOTHING happens. It doesn't open, and I get no error message of any kind.

However, I can still access the folders by going through the long route by C: \Username. I just can't using the quicker more direct method.

So far, to fix it I've tried scanning for corrupt files with chkdsk /spotfix and sfc /scannow. Chkdsk can't find anything, but sfc /scannow does find something, but is unable to fix it. I've tried three times now, and I get the same "unable to fix corrupt files" or some such.

When I get home, I might try uninstalling some of the recent update modules, because I don't recall having this problem before my last update.

Has anyone heard of this problem, and if so, any advice on how to fix it?

 

[Carfax83]

Update. Wasn't able to fix the problem, so I ended up reformatting.

I got rid of the corruption and sfc /scannow reported everything was in order, but the problem was still there.

I'm sure it was caused by my GPU stress testing, which had me experience quite a few lock ups that required a hard reset. That combined with the fact that I have Windows write cache buffer flushing turned off, certainly helped to contribute to the damaged data..

 

[Gintaras]

I don't update Win since Win98 - learned hard way, when "MS updates" screwed up OS and rest...

If computer and soft is working, why do you need updates?

Since I've turned off updates, since Win98, then Win2K, then XP, Vista and now Win8... I never had any problems.
Last Win update I did, when Vista Service Pack 1 couldn't read SDXC card - I needed Vista Serv. Pack 3...

 

[Berryracer]

I don't update Win since Win98 - learned hard way, when "MS updates" screwed up OS and rest...

If computer and soft is working, why do you need updates?

Since I've turned off updates, since Win98, then Win2K, then XP, Vista and now Win8... I never had any problems.
Last Win update I did, when Vista Service Pack 1 couldn't read SDXC card - I needed Vista Serv. Pack 3...

but isnt that dangerous coz you dont get he security updates?

 

[Carfax83]

I don't update Win since Win98 - learned hard way, when "MS updates" screwed up OS and rest...

If computer and soft is working, why do you need updates?

Since I've turned off updates, since Win98, then Win2K, then XP, Vista and now Win8... I never had any problems.
Last Win update I did, when Vista Service Pack 1 couldn't read SDXC card - I needed Vista Serv. Pack 3...

I'm pretty sure this wasn't caused by the updates, because after I reformatted, I installed all the newest updates and everything is working fine.

I only thought it was the updates, because of the timing. I remember that I had installed the latest updates the day before I noticed the problems.

When thinking on it, I'm pretty sure this problem was caused by repeated hard resets due to the stress tests I was running on my graphics cards to find the highest stable core clock speed.

Ordinarily doing a hard reset every now and then wouldn't be problematic, but because I had the "buffer flush" setting disabled (for performance reasons), it increased the likelihood of data loss and corruption.

My computer is hooked up to a UPS which protects me from power outages, which is why I had the buffer flush setting disabled to begin with, as ordinarily, it's enabled by default.

 

[Berryracer]

I have installed every single update from MS and never had a problem. Updates are there to fill those security holes in the OS and having no updates is a big no no

just my 2 cents

 

[Rhonda the Sly]

It's too late to help you but, for future reference, Libraries are actually XML-like files located at:
\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries

I've never actually edited them manually (I don't really have a need) but it might help if the issue recurs.

 

[Carfax83]

I used a registry hack I found to restore the libraries, but it never worked. Honestly, after doing so many hard resets and what not, my Windows installation was just FUBAR. I don't think anything could have restored it to proper working order, short of a reformat and reinstallation.

So the lesson to be learned is, if you have the write cache buffer flushing turned off, do not do hard resets unless you absolutely have to.