Name column missing... please help!

sarahsummer · Sep 17, 2010

Hi, Since i can't find any forums on this problem i thought i'd start a new post.

A couple of days ago my vista stopped showing all my folder and file names throughout my ENTIRE computer, however, i figured out that whats actually happened is on windows explorer the columns which organise the details of documents along the top (e.g. Name, Size, Author, etc...) are all present except the Name column! which means i can't see any file or folder names! does anyone know how to get this back?
Thanks in Advance!

Lorien · Sep 17, 2010

The normal procedure to add columns is to right click on the column title bar and click on more and then search for the column you want to add (in your case, Name) and check the box to add it and click OK and then it should show up. You may need to move it as it will probably add to the end and I imagine you'd prefer it at the beginning. Just click and hold on the column and drag it to where you want it and release the mouse button and that should do it. I hope this works in your case as Name should be there by default unless somehow it got removed and I don't know how or why that would occur.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

sarahsummer · Sep 17, 2010

Lorien said:
The normal procedure to add columns is to right click on the column title bar and click on more and then search for the column you want to add (in your case, Name) and check the box to add it and click OK and then it should show up. You may need to move it as it will probably add to the end and I imagine you'd prefer it at the beginning. Just click and hold on the column and drag it to where you want it and release the mouse button and that should do it. I hope this works in your case as Name should be there by default unless somehow it got removed and I don't know how or why that would occur.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

Hi Lorien, Unfortunately i've tried this and 'name' isn't an option to add. This has me so confused, since i've no idea how this has happened! Thanks anyway

Lorien · Sep 17, 2010

Do you know when this problem began? Try a System Restore to a point in time BEFORE the problem began. Here's the procedure: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html. Be sure to check the box to show more than 5 days of restore points. If the first attempt fails, then try an earlier point or two. NOTE: You will have to re-install any software and updates you installed between now and the restore point, but you can use Windows Update for the updates.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

sarahsummer · Sep 17, 2010

I've just done a system restore, but it only gave me two options of restoring upto last night or earlier on today. The problem problem started a couple of nights ago. Sorry to be such a pain! I did a system restore to the earliest time i could (last night) however the problems still not resolved, i imagine because i coudn't restore to an earlier date.
Thank you for your help

Lorien · Sep 17, 2010

In that case, I don't know what else to do except a generic troubleshooting process to try to identify the cause and then a solution (or maybe both at the same time). I realize this is a bit long (maybe more than a bit), but I want to cover every option before suggesting the more drastic alternatives.

If the System Restore doesn't work, do a Startup Repair by booting to the genuine Windows Vista Installation Disk (or one you can borrow from ANYONE) or from a Recovery Disk with recovery options included on it. Here's the procedure: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial148.html. To boot to the CD you may need to change the BIOS to make the CD-drive first in the boot sequence. To do that, wait for the screen that tells you the F key to push to access the boot menu or boot setup. Push it quickly. Make the changes, save your work, and exit. Put the CD in the drive and reboot. When prompted, push any key to boot from the CD.

If you don't have either disk, you can make a bootable Recovery Disk using http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/ along with burning software like: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/active-isoburner.html and, of course, a blank CD (perhaps made on a different computer or perhaps in safe mode with networking if that is working).

If that doesn't work, try to boot into safe mode (repeatedly click the F8 key while booting and go to safe mode with networking – or do so from the command prompt on the disk). Then let's check some of your system files:

Go to Start / All Programs / Accessories / Command prompt and right click on command prompt and click run as Administrator (you can skip this step if using the disk).

If using the disk, cd to C:\Windows\System32. Type sfc /scannow and enter and let it run. It will scan and try to fix some of your system files. Hopefully it will complete with no corruption it could not repair (if there is such corruption post back here or try to analyze it to find the problem file(s) using http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228. Try to post any corrupted files here so we can see if they can be repaired with good copies from the installation disk (unless there are too many). You can also copy CBS.LOG and attach it to your next reply if it comes up with anythng but "no integrity violations found."

While in Command Prompt, type chkdsk /f /r and enter and let it run. It will want to schedule itself to run at the next restart. Answer yes and then reboot to run the program. It will scan and try to fix any corruption or bad sectors on your hard drive and mostly remove that as a potential cause.

If that doesn't work, then please post any error messages from the Event Viewer concerning Windows Explorer (Start / Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Event Viewer). Here's how to use Event Viewer: http://www.petri.co.il/vista-event-viewer.htm. Look in the System section. This may not show up as a recurring error, but it may have shownup when it first occurred if you can find that.

You may be infected with malware. Try to run anti-malware programs (in safe mode with networking if necessary). To fix this problem (if it is a problem) download, install, and run the following two programs: http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php and http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html. You may also want to try a free trial of Pandasoft (http://www.pandasecurity.com/usa/homeusers/solutions/global-protection/). Before downloading pandasoft, uninstall whatever anti-virus program you are currently using (because installing and running two at the same time can cause conflicts, freezes, and all sorts of problems). Use removal tools when appropriate http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2009/05/05/comprehensive-list-of-uninstallers-or-removal-tools-for-antivirus-software/. Once you've uninstalled your current AV program, download, install, update, and scan using Pandasoft. I think you might be amazed at how much it finds that the other software missed. Once complete, uninstall pandasoft and re-install your current AV program (unless you decide to switch which I did when I first tried it about 4 years ago). You may also want to try the new, free Microsoft Security Essentials http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-Download-131683.html (with the same caveat that only ONE AV program can be installed and running on your system at any one time). You may also want to try the free Avira at: http://www.free-av.com/ and Avast at: http://www.avast.com/index. Reboot after completing all the scans. You may also want to try the free OneCare at http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/whatsnew.htm and let it run all the options (except the registry cleaner) because that’s good maintenance (it will take some time to complete but can be done in the background).

If that doesn't work, try a clean boot http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135. If the problem goes away then it's just a matter of tracking down the culprit causing the problem. Follow the procedures in the article. Once found, delete, remove, deactivate, or uninstall it. Once done be sure to reset Vista back to normal status as explained in the procedures. If the problem occurs in clean mode then just restore the system to normal status and reboot - this solution is not going to work.

Boot into Safe mode with networking and see if the problem occurs there. Either result helps us narrow down the search for the cause.

You may be having troubles with your device drivers, firmware, and/or software. Go to Device Manager by going to start / search box and type device manager and enter and then double-click on the program icon that appears. Check each device for a red x, yellow ! or white ?. These identify devices with problems (probably drivers, but also conflicts or something else). Click on each for further details and troubleshooting tips. If you need to get drivers (and you should do any you have time to do - they may help in ways beyond just resolving this problem), do so from the computer vendor or device manufacturer (NOT from Microsoft Updates). In fact, you should turn off automatic driver updates from Windows Update as follows: http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/how-to-disable-automatic-driver-installation-in-windows-vista/. Proceed as follows to get the drivers: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/driverssupport/ht/driverdlmfgr.htm. Once you have the drivers, you can install them through Device Manager as follows: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/193584-device-manager-install-driver.html.

If that doesn't work, we'll need to do a system repair/upgrade using the genuine Windows Vista Installation Disk (one you own or one you can borrow from ANYONE). To do this you have to also be able to boot normally. Here's the procedure: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html. Although this will not affect your data, settings, or programs, you should still backup your data before starting just to be on the safe side. You may have a lot of updates to re-install (including any service packs you had to remove). If the version on the system came with SP1 or SP2 pre-installed and the disk is an earlier version, then you'll need to make a slipstream disk as follows: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/151606-vista-sp1-slipstream-installation-dvd.html. Please reply before doing the next step as it is a radical option and I’d like to make sure we’ve ruled out all other options before taking that step.

If that doesn't work (or you don’t have the disk), then I'm afraid the only option is a clean install. You can use Knoppix http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html with a good ISO copier like: http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm along with a blank CD. This should give you enough access to the system (if you can't get in any other way) to backup your important data. If that doesn’t work, try slaving the drive to another computer and recovering the data using that other computer to access the disk. Once done, you can do a clean install either using the genuine Windows Vista Installation Disk or the Recovery Disk or the Recovery Partition (whatever process is dictated by your computer manufacturer – you may need to contact them for the procedure and perhaps to get recovery disks). To do a clean install proceed as follows: http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_install_03.asp (adapted as necessary by the procedures of your computer manufacturer). Then you will need to re-install all your programs, reset all your preferences, reconfigure your network and email settings, restore your backed up data, run Windows Update with possibly nearly 150 updates pending,...
Hopefully one of these procedures will resolve or at least identify the cause of your problem.

Good luck!

Name column missing... please help!

sarahsummer

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Lorien

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sarahsummer

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Lorien

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My Computer

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sarahsummer

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Lorien

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