Windows Explorer Preview has quit working

Await response to post #10 else I'm unsubscribing.

Thanks. Please create a new user account for test purposes (you can delete it afterwards).

See if the same problem exists. If it does, an in-place upgrade repair install may fix this (it keeps all progs and data like any upgrade.

It seems some registry data has been changed for certain file types, but as I showed above, this is a complex feature in the registry.

@NTN - it's not a problem of the entire preview pane as you are suggesting- this is file type specific.

No, you can create a local account. Tutorial available. Many have.

Now, given also the SFC failure, you may as well do an in-place upgrade repair install to deal with that.

However, first do a couple of basic checks.

a. Check your disk.
You can do that with Crystal Diskinfo (free) as basic SMART check.

b. If ok, run
chkdsk c: /scan
from an admin command prompt.

If that passes, proceed to the in-place upgrade repair.

Once again....
Use the MS media creation tool to download an iso file for Win 10.
Rt click iso file, click Mount.
Open new drive letter created.
Double click setup.exe

(Yes there's a tutorial, but it looks exceedingly complicated),

While I have this to hand, here's the Preview Config tool should you still have problems after the above:
PreviewConfig tool registers file types for the Preview Pane in Windows 7/Vista >> Winhelponline

@NTN - I really think you're misunderstanding what's needed here. Malware? Well, I hope not.. but let's try to get the O/S back into an intact state. As I said, the preview pane is stated to work with some file types, but not others.

This is far too specific an issue for a generalised malware and ... everything else tool.. I can't see anything there that would help.

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UVK is a multi-featured malware removal and system repair professional tool. It easily detects and removes adware and malware from all user accounts. It can also be used to fix errors and optimize the registry for better overall performance.
Features

Process manager

Filter all the running processes by their executable path.
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Kill all the listed processes except the system processes.
Kill all non trusted processes.
Pause and resume processes.
Verify the processes files signatures.
Search information about a process over the internet.
Submit one or more processes MD5 to VirusTotal using the VT API.
Open the processes files locations.
View the processes executable files properties.

Startup entries and scheduled tasks

Delete startup entries, scheduled tasks and corresponding files simultaneously.
Select and manage several entries at once.
Verify the startup entries files signatures.
Hide Microsoft signed files from the list.
Search information about a startup entry file over the internet.
Submit one or more startup entries files MD5 to VirusTotal using the VT API.
Jump to the registry key where the startup entry is located.
Open the startup entries files locations.
View the startup entries files properties.
Maximizable window in this section for a more comfortable view.

Windows services and drivers

Delete services or drivers, and the corresponding files simultaneously.
Perform all common service management tasks: Stop, start, pause, resume services, and set their startup type.