Windows Exporer problems

[BAW0343]

Dont come in here often as my windows system usually has simpe problems i can fix easy  ;D but recently when i load a folder the icons on my desktop occasionally get the a generic icon (white box file looking thing) while windows looks for and loads the correct icon, also my windows exporer randomly crashes and restarts, often when i load a setting panel off the control panel, or when i open a folder

my system specs (if this has anything to do with anything):
Compaq Presario laptop
AMD Athlon XP Processor
3000+
398 MHz (running off battery right now usually ALOT higher)
512 MB RAM
Windows XP SP2

I am planning to do a total reformat soon beacuse my computer is loaded with crap  60 gig HD  about 10 gig left  (wont allow myself to go below this)

Some help would be great, let me know if you need more info.

[kipman725]

well you know you could replace explorer
use lite step like i do:
http://beyondconvention.net/ohussain/lsinstaller/

there are loads of themes and it's highly tweekable and most themes will use far less memory than explorer.

[BAW0343]

i like that!!  ;D  useing it now!

[kipman725]

i like that!!  ;D  useing it now!

good to hear, I use the FBl dynamic 1.7 theme it's very sleek and has stuff like weather reports, resource meter and built in winamp controlls  ;D

[Delta_]

What exactly does lite step do?  What does it replace in explorer?  How does it perform compared to explorer?

[BAW0343]

it totally replaces explorer. And it has more functions and takes up less recources. I am haveing trouble with it however, i have lost external volume control on my laptop and the sound in fs9 is now choppy. there was no frame rate increase in my game but thats probly beacuse of my video card  not anything elce.  im looking for a new theme and i hope that will help a bit...   also its hard to figure out how to configure it, it tells me what file to edit, but not where it is  ???  lol anyway  im trying to learn