diff --git a/backend.c b/backend.c
index 2f29b2c..6850323 100644
--- a/backend.c
+++ b/backend.c
@@ -145,12 +145,13 @@ void get_dir_content(char *path, unsigned long *dir_file_count, file *dir_conten
 
 }
 
-void print_dir(WINDOW *win, char print_info, unsigned long *line_width, unsigned long *dir_file_count, file *dir_content){
+void print_dir(WINDOW *win, char print_info, unsigned long *dir_file_count, file *dir_content){
 	/* i am not proud of this function */
+	unsigned long line_width = getmaxx(win);
 
-	char *bg = malloc(*line_width);
-	memset(bg, ' ', *line_width);
-	bg[*line_width] = '\0';
+	char *bg = malloc(line_width+1);
+	memset(bg, ' ', line_width);
+	bg[line_width] = '\0';
 
 	unsigned long i = 0;
 	float file_size;
@@ -159,7 +160,7 @@ void print_dir(WINDOW *win, char print_info, unsigned long *line_width, unsigned
 	char is_selected = 0;
 	static const char sizes[6] = { 'B', 'K', 'M', 'G', 'T', 'P' };
 
-	unsigned long offset_back;
+	unsigned long offset_back = 0;
 	unsigned long offset_front = 2;
 	if (*dir_file_count > 9) {
 		offset_front = (snprintf(NULL, 0, "%ld", *dir_file_count)) + 1;
@@ -178,11 +179,11 @@ void print_dir(WINDOW *win, char print_info, unsigned long *line_width, unsigned
 			}
 			size_char = sizes[size_index-1];
 			if (dir_content[i].file_type == FILE_TYPE_DIR || dir_content[i].file_type == FILE_TYPE_SYMLINK) {
-				offset_back = *line_width - (snprintf(NULL,0,"%ld", dir_content[i].file_size) + 1);
+				offset_back = line_width - (snprintf(NULL,0,"%ld", dir_content[i].file_size) + 1);
 			} else if (size_char =='B') {
-				offset_back = *line_width - (snprintf(NULL,0,"%0.0lf %c", printed_size, size_char) + 1);
+				offset_back = line_width - (snprintf(NULL,0,"%0.0lf %c", printed_size, size_char) + 1);
 			} else {
-				offset_back = *line_width - (snprintf(NULL,0,"%0.2lf %c", printed_size, size_char) + 1);
+				offset_back = line_width - (snprintf(NULL,0,"%0.2lf %c", printed_size, size_char) + 1);
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -224,19 +225,21 @@ void print_dir(WINDOW *win, char print_info, unsigned long *line_width, unsigned
 					file_name[strlen(extension)] = '\0';
 				}
 			} else {
-				file_name = malloc(dir_content[i].file_name_width);
-				strcpy(file_name, dir_content[i].file_name);
+			file_name = malloc(dir_content[i].file_name_width+1);
+			memcpy(file_name, dir_content[i].file_name, dir_content[i].file_name_width);
+			file_name[dir_content[i].file_name_width] = '\0';
 			}
 
 		} else {
-			file_name = malloc(dir_content[i].file_name_width);
-			strcpy(file_name, dir_content[i].file_name);
+			file_name = malloc(dir_content[i].file_name_width+1);
+			memcpy(file_name, dir_content[i].file_name, dir_content[i].file_name_width);
+			file_name[dir_content[i].file_name_width] = '\0';
 		}
 
 		mvwaddstr(win, i, 0, bg);
 		if(print_info) {
 			mvwprintw(win, i, 0, "%ld", i);
-			mvwaddnstr(win, i, offset_front+is_selected, file_name, *line_width-offset_front-is_selected-2);
+			mvwaddnstr(win, i, offset_front+is_selected, file_name, line_width-offset_front-is_selected-2);
 			free(file_name);
 
 			if (dir_content[i].file_type == FILE_TYPE_DIR || dir_content[i].file_type == FILE_TYPE_SYMLINK) {
@@ -247,7 +250,7 @@ void print_dir(WINDOW *win, char print_info, unsigned long *line_width, unsigned
 				mvwprintw(win, i, offset_back, "%0.2lf %c", printed_size, size_char);
 			}
 		} else {
-			mvwaddnstr(win, i, 0, file_name, *line_width);
+			mvwaddnstr(win, i, 0, file_name, line_width);
 			free(file_name);
 		}
 
diff --git a/backend.h b/backend.h
index 3b3a71c..b0bc9cf 100644
--- a/backend.h
+++ b/backend.h
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@
 
 unsigned long get_dir_size(char *path);
 void get_dir_content(char *path, unsigned long *dir_file_count, file *dir_content);
-void print_dir(WINDOW *win, char print_info, unsigned long *line_width, unsigned long *dir_file_count, file *dir_content);
+void print_dir(WINDOW *win, char print_info, unsigned long *dir_file_count, file *dir_content);
diff --git a/colors.c b/colors.c
index 042d275..7992bbc 100644
--- a/colors.c
+++ b/colors.c
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ extern file *rgt_content;
 extern unsigned long rgt_file_count;
 
 extern unsigned int settings;
-extern unsigned int status;
+extern volatile unsigned int status;
 
 void parse_colors(char *line, short *fg, short *bg){
 	int tmp;
diff --git a/interactions.c b/interactions.c
index 423f8f9..107de85 100644
--- a/interactions.c
+++ b/interactions.c
@@ -12,14 +12,14 @@
 #include "config.h" 
 
 
-extern unsigned long selected_file_current;
-extern unsigned long selected_file_last;
+extern volatile unsigned long selected_file_current;
+extern volatile unsigned long selected_file_last;
 
 extern unsigned int file_modifiers;
 extern pthread_mutex_t mutex_selection;
 extern pthread_mutex_t mutex_rgt;
 extern pthread_mutex_t mutex_mid;
-extern file *mid_content;
+extern volatile file *mid_content;
 extern file *lft_content;
 extern file *rgt_content;
 extern file *file_current;
@@ -33,13 +33,12 @@ extern char *rgt_buffer;
 extern char *btm_buffer;
 extern unsigned long mid_file_count;
 
-extern unsigned int status;
+extern volatile unsigned int status;
 
 unsigned int timeout_time = 0;
 extern char *input;
 unsigned int input_pass;
 int parsed_input_number;
-extern char *terminal_width_empty_line;
 extern char *start_path;
 
 int read_string(WINDOW *win, int y, int x, char *str);
@@ -65,9 +64,6 @@ void user_interactions() {
 	unsigned long binding_matches = 0;
 	static char binding_pass = 0;
 
-	free(terminal_width_empty_line);
-	terminal_width_empty_line = malloc(terminal_width);
-	memset(terminal_width_empty_line, ' ', terminal_width);
 
 	ch = getch();
 	if(ch != ERR) {
@@ -118,12 +114,10 @@ void user_interactions() {
 			} else if (strncmp(input+number_length, key_binding[i].key, cmp_len) == 0) {
 				binding_matches++;
 				attron(A_UNDERLINE);
-				mvaddstr(terminal_height-binding_matches-2, 0, terminal_width_empty_line);
 				mvaddstr(terminal_height-binding_matches-2, 0, "input");
 				mvaddstr(terminal_height-binding_matches-2, sizeof("input"), "\t\t\t");
 				mvaddstr(terminal_height-binding_matches-2, sizeof("input") + sizeof("\t\t\t"), "command");
 				attroff(A_UNDERLINE);
-				mvaddstr(terminal_height-binding_matches-1, 0, terminal_width_empty_line);
 				mvaddstr(terminal_height-binding_matches-1, 0, key_binding[i].key);
 				mvaddstr(terminal_height-binding_matches-1, 0, key_binding[i].key);
 				mvaddstr(terminal_height-binding_matches-1, sizeof(key_binding[i].key), "\t");
diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index c278515..a94ecfa 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ unsigned int temp_heigth = 0; /*used for screen refresh*/
 unsigned int temp_width = 0; 
 unsigned int settings;
 unsigned int file_modifiers;
-unsigned int status; 
+volatile unsigned int status; 
 char *start_path;
 
 WINDOW *win_t;
diff --git a/threading.c b/threading.c
index 96c5d57..914541c 100644
--- a/threading.c
+++ b/threading.c
@@ -21,14 +21,14 @@ pthread_cond_t cond_wait;
 volatile char wait_count; /* this is used to determine how many threads are waiting for cont_wait */
 
 file *rgt_content;
-file *mid_content;
+volatile file *mid_content;
 file *lft_content;
 char *rgt_buffer; /* used for file previews, unlike rgt_content, which is used for directory previews */
 char *btm_buffer;
+char *top_buffer; /* current path */
 
 file *file_current;
 
-char *top_buffer; /* current path */
 
 unsigned long rgt_file_count;
 unsigned long mid_file_count;
@@ -37,13 +37,13 @@ unsigned long top_width;
 
 	
 
-unsigned long selected_file_current=0;
-unsigned long selected_file_last=0;
+volatile unsigned long selected_file_current = 0;
+volatile unsigned long selected_file_last = 0;
 extern unsigned int terminal_width;
 
 
 void *thread_mid(void *data){
-	unsigned int status = *(unsigned int*)data;
+	volatile unsigned int status = *(unsigned int*)data;
 	pthread_mutex_lock(&mutex_mid);
 
 
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ void *thread_mid(void *data){
 				memset(mid_content, ' ', mid_file_count * sizeof(file));
 				get_dir_content(path, &mid_file_count, mid_content);
 			} else {
+				selected_file_current = 0;
 				mid_content = malloc(sizeof(file));
 				mid_content->status = FILE_STATUS_DIR_EMPTY;
 				mid_content->file_type = 0;
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ void *thread_mid(void *data){
 				mid_content->color_pair = 0;
 				mid_content->file_name_width = sizeof("empty dir");
 				mid_content->file_name = "empty dir";
+				/*
 
 				file_current->file_name = mid_content->file_name;
 				file_current->file_name_width = mid_content->file_name_width;
@@ -80,6 +82,7 @@ void *thread_mid(void *data){
 				file_current->color_pair = mid_content->color_pair;
 				file_current->permissions = mid_content->permissions;
 				file_current->status = mid_content->status;
+				*/
 				mid_file_count = 0;
 
 				while(wait_count < 2){
@@ -95,25 +98,28 @@ void *thread_mid(void *data){
 			}
 		}
 
-
 		pthread_mutex_lock(&mutex_selection);
 		if (selected_file_current >= mid_file_count) {
 			selected_file_current = mid_file_count-1;
+			selected_file_current = mid_file_count-1;
 		}
-			mid_content[selected_file_current].status |= FILE_STATUS_HOVER;
-			if (selected_file_current != selected_file_last) {
-				mid_content[selected_file_last].status &= ~FILE_STATUS_HOVER;
-			}
-			selected_file_last = selected_file_current;
+		if (selected_file_current != selected_file_last) {
+			mid_content[selected_file_last].status &= ~FILE_STATUS_HOVER;
+		}
+		selected_file_last = selected_file_current;
+		free(file_current);
+		file_current = malloc(sizeof(file));
 
-			file_current->file_name = mid_content[selected_file_current].file_name;
-			file_current->file_name_width = mid_content[selected_file_current].file_name_width;
-			file_current->file_size = mid_content[selected_file_current].file_size;
-			file_current->file_type = mid_content[selected_file_current].file_type;
-			file_current->color_pair = mid_content[selected_file_current].color_pair;
-			file_current->permissions = mid_content[selected_file_current].permissions;
-			file_current->status = mid_content[selected_file_current].status;
+		file_current->file_name_width = mid_content[selected_file_current].file_name_width;
+		file_current->file_name = malloc(file_current->file_name_width);
+		memcpy(file_current->file_name, mid_content[selected_file_current].file_name, file_current->file_name_width);
+		file_current->file_size = mid_content[selected_file_current].file_size;
+		file_current->file_type = mid_content[selected_file_current].file_type;
+		file_current->color_pair = mid_content[selected_file_current].color_pair;
+		file_current->permissions = mid_content[selected_file_current].permissions;
 
+		mid_content[selected_file_current].status |= FILE_STATUS_HOVER;
+		file_current->status = mid_content[selected_file_current].status;
 		pthread_mutex_unlock(&mutex_selection);
 
 		while(wait_count < 2){
@@ -172,7 +178,8 @@ void *thread_rgt(void *data){
 	free(rgt_content);
 	rgt_content = malloc(sizeof(file));
 	rgt_content->file_name = malloc(file_current->file_name_width + 1);
-	strcpy(rgt_content->file_name, file_current->file_name);
+	memcpy(rgt_content->file_name, file_current->file_name, file_current->file_name_width);
+	rgt_content->file_name[file_current->file_name_width] = '\0';
 	rgt_content->file_name_width = file_current->file_name_width;
 	rgt_content->file_size = file_current->file_size;
 	rgt_content->file_type = file_current->file_type;
@@ -192,7 +199,7 @@ void *thread_rgt(void *data){
 
 		free(rgt_buffer);
 		rgt_buffer = malloc(sizeof(char));
-		memset(rgt_buffer, ' ', sizeof(char));
+		rgt_buffer[0] = '\0';
 	} else {
 
 		rgt_file_count = 0;
@@ -266,23 +273,23 @@ void threading_init(){
 	top_buffer = malloc(sizeof(char));
 	rgt_buffer = malloc(sizeof(char));
 	btm_buffer = malloc(sizeof(char));
-	memset(top_buffer, ' ', sizeof(char));
-	memset(rgt_buffer, ' ', sizeof(char));
-	memset(btm_buffer, ' ', sizeof(char));
+	memset(top_buffer, '\0', sizeof(char));
+	memset(rgt_buffer, '\0', sizeof(char));
+	memset(btm_buffer, '\0', sizeof(char));
 
 
-	rgt_content[0].file_type = 0;
-	rgt_content[0].file_size = 1;
-	rgt_content[0].file_name_width = 1;
-	rgt_content[0].file_name = malloc(sizeof("a"));
-	strcpy(rgt_content[0].file_name, "a");
+	rgt_content->file_type = 0;
+	rgt_content->file_size = 0;
+	rgt_content->file_name_width = 0;
+	rgt_content->file_name = malloc(sizeof(char));
+	rgt_content->file_name[0] = '\0';
 
 	file_current = malloc(sizeof(file));
 	file_current->file_type = 0;
-	file_current->file_size = 1;
-	file_current->file_name_width = 1;
-	file_current->file_name = malloc(sizeof("a"));
-	strcpy(file_current->file_name, "a");
+	file_current->file_size = 0;
+	file_current->file_name_width = 0;
+	file_current->file_name = malloc(sizeof(char));
+	file_current->file_name[0] = '\0';
 
 	volatile char vol; /* needed to make sure higher optimization steps dont move these around */
 	vol = pthread_mutex_init(&mutex_top, NULL);
diff --git a/window.c b/window.c
index 1ff3b9b..ab9b704 100644
--- a/window.c
+++ b/window.c
@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include "defines.h"
 
-extern unsigned int status;
+extern volatile unsigned int status;
 extern char *input;
 
 extern unsigned int timeout_time;
 extern unsigned int color_count;
 extern color *colors;
 
-extern file *mid_content;
+extern volatile file *mid_content;
 extern file *lft_content;
 extern file *rgt_content;
 extern char *top_buffer;
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ void window_lft(WINDOW *win){
 	unsigned long local_height;
 	getmaxyx(win, local_height, local_width);
 	if (pthread_mutex_trylock(&mutex_lft) == 0) {
-		print_dir(win, 0, &local_width, &lft_file_count, lft_content);
+		print_dir(win, 0, &lft_file_count, lft_content);
 		pthread_mutex_unlock(&mutex_lft);
 
 	} else {
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ void window_mid(WINDOW *win){
 		if (mid_file_count == 0) {
 			mvwprintw(win, 0, 0, "empty");
 		} else {
-			print_dir(win, 1, &local_width, &mid_file_count, mid_content);
+			print_dir(win, 1, &mid_file_count, mid_content);
 		}
 		pthread_mutex_unlock(&mutex_mid);
 	} else {
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ void window_rgt(WINDOW *win){
 
 
 		} else {
-			print_dir(win, 0, &local_width, &rgt_file_count, rgt_content);
+			print_dir(win, 0, &rgt_file_count, rgt_content);
 		}
 		pthread_mutex_unlock(&mutex_rgt);
 	} else {