# I'm getting Illegal Operation messages when I navigate to AVI files **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 30, 2007, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-illegal-operation-messages-when-i-navigate-to-avi-files/390067 "2007-01-30T02:57:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vinniepaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@vinniepaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vinniepaz)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-illegal-operation-messages-when-i-navigate-to-avi-files/390067/1 "2007-01-30T02:57:35Z")
When I use My Computer to navigate to a folder containing an AVI file I get an illegal operation error and explorer shuts down. I also can’t play them in any player. Any idea wahts up? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-illegal-operation-messages-when-i-navigate-to-avi-files/390067/2 "2007-01-30T03:06:12Z")
I don’t know, but the police have been called and should be paying you a visit shortly. Tee-hee. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-illegal-operation-messages-when-i-navigate-to-avi-files/390067/3 "2007-01-30T06:28:50Z")
[QUOTE=vinniepaz] When I use My Computer to navigate to a folder containing an AVI file I get an illegal operation error and explorer shuts down. I also can’t play them in any player. Any idea wahts up? [/QUOTE] There is a known bug involving AVI files that IIRC was corrected by service pack 2, do you have SP2 installed? ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-illegal-operation-messages-when-i-navigate-to-avi-files/390067/4 "2007-01-30T06:30:18Z")
I had something similar happen when I installed a faulty codec. Uninstalling it (or updating it) fixed the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-illegal-operation-messages-when-i-navigate-to-avi-files/390067/5 "2007-01-30T06:40:10Z")
In the meantime, you might want to turn off thumbnailing in Windows Explorer. ---
**Author:** ![vinniepaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@vinniepaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vinniepaz)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-illegal-operation-messages-when-i-navigate-to-avi-files/390067/6 "2007-01-30T07:27:19Z")
[QUOTE=Sage Rat] In the meantime, you might want to turn off thumbnailing in Windows Explorer. [/QUOTE] How do I do that good sir? ---
**Author:** ![Sofaspud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@Sofaspud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofaspud)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-illegal-operation-messages-when-i-navigate-to-avi-files/390067/7 "2007-01-30T07:41:20Z")
[QUOTE=vinniepaz] How do I do that good sir? [/QUOTE] Usually, you’d open the folder in question, choose the View menu, and select something other than Thumbnail. Since the error appears when opening the folder, this may not work. I’d recommend going to Ye Olde Command Prompt and renaming the AVI files in the folder to have a different extension first. Then you should be able to open the folder and change the view settings, then finally rename the files back to what they were. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-getting-illegal-operation-messages-when-i-navigate-to-avi-files/390067/8 "2007-01-30T12:47:25Z")
Another way would be to do as mentioned above - “Usually, you’d open the folder in question, choose the View menu, and select something other than Thumbnail.” - but in a folder that doesn’t contain .AVIs. Then click on the Tools menu item \> Folder Options \> click the View tab and select Apply to all folders.