Windows Explorer Failures w/ .jpegs

> About a week ago, my system starting shooting craps when
> I browse my folders with .jegs in them. No other
> viewing, sorting, etc. in Windows Explorer does this with
> any other file type. I'm not even opening the files;
> just reviewing them in Explorer.
>
> I get errors such as "Windows Explorer has encountered a
> problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the
> inconvenience.
>
> or
>
> The instruction of "0x77f58db" referenced memory
> at "0.006c006e". The memory could not be "written".
>
> Click OK to terminate the program.
>
> I added a couple of updates right before this started to
> happen; Q817606 and KB823559. My latest attempt to
> resolve was to restore the system to a date before these
> changes with the System Restore tool. This didn't work.
>
> Got a clue???