Disabling video file preview

[Arta]

I *HATE* the media player preview thing that comes up when you click on video files. It drives me crazy. Does anyone know how to disable it under Windows 2000? I've found a way in XP, but the registry key you have to modify doesn't exist under 2k.

[iago]

The easiest way is to disable the whole left bar thing, but then you lose all the common tasks and such, none of which I've ever actually used.

[Skywing]

Good question.  I think it's annoying because Explorer keeps holding handles open to the files it's trying to preview, so you have serious problems trying to delete them without dropping to cmd.

[iago]

Good question.  I think it's annoying because Explorer keeps holding handles open to the files it's trying to preview, so you have serious problems trying to delete them without dropping to cmd.

That actually explains a lot.  I have a USB harddrive that I store movies on, but a lot of times when I press "detach hardware" I get "error: in use" problems, and I couldn't figure out why.

Would you mind sharing how to do it on XP?

[Grok]

That does happen when you're viewing the drives in Explorer, and have the folder open on that drive.  To prevent it, first close the tree and click on another drive.  Now the process can detach that drive without itself being the culprit holding the open handle.

[iago]

That does happen when you're viewing the drives in Explorer, and have the folder open on that drive.  To prevent it, first close the tree and click on another drive.  Now the process can detach that drive without itself being the culprit holding the open handle.

I do close all open windows containing that drive, and it doesn't always help.  I guess explorer releases the handles when I close the window, and something else is hanging on?

[muert0]

do you close it then open another drive like he said?

[iago]

I don't remember, but next time I have the problem I will try.

[Arta]

I do like the bar, but it's mostly aesthetic. I don't remember the exact fix, but I found it at tweakxp.com, so I'm sure you can dig it out.

[Yoni]

Good question.  I think it's annoying because Explorer keeps holding handles open to the files it's trying to preview, so you have serious problems trying to delete them without dropping to cmd.

Yes, that has been annoying for me as well.

After 15-20 minutes of searching Google, I think I found the solution.
Go to: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations
(What is this key? Never heard of it until today.)
In this key, delete the subkey ".avi" and whatever other subkeys that may be bothering you.
I deleted .avi, .mpg and .mp3.
So far so good... I think. Report back if it works for you or if it doesn't.

[Arta]

hmm, IIRC, that was the XP fix. Are you running XP or 2k? That key doesn't seem to exist on my system.

[Yoni]

hmm, IIRC, that was the XP fix. Are you running XP or 2k? That key doesn't seem to exist on my system.

Oh, ok. Sorry.

[iago]

hmm, IIRC, that was the XP fix. Are you running XP or 2k? That key doesn't seem to exist on my system.

Although it worked grok on xp, though!

*smiles*

[Naem]

I deleted the subkey but the previews still pop up.

[Skywing]

What's even more annoying is when you have a buggy codec that crashes on certain data, and that data is used for the preview thing in explorer...