Windows Explorer constantly crashes.

DJGM · Mon 04 Jul, 2005 21.18

I'm running Windows XP Pro with Service Pack 2 and all the latest updates. My problem is this:

Whenever I open a Windows Explorer window to any folder, then context click (right click) on
any file or folder within, the egg timer appears, Explorer stops responding, then after about
twenty seconds or so, it just crashes. The entire Explorer UI shell, and the desktop just
disappears, then reappears and the Explorer windows I had open is gone.

This happens each and every time, and is now getting more annoying than the Crazy Frog!

I've run scans with Ad-Aware SE 1.06, Spybot S+D 1.4 and AVG Antivirus 7.0, to make sure
nothing nefarious has managed to sneak into the system. Ad-Aware SE found a handful of
tracking cookies sourced from a few web based ad-banner servers, most of which are
rarely malicious. Spybot S+D found one tracking cookie, while AVG found nothing.

So, there seems to be nothing insecure or malicious causing this problem, what gives?

Gavin Scott · Mon 04 Jul, 2005 21.41

My explorer crashes when looking at network (predominantly) or local folders.

I also run xp with sp2 and all of the patches.

I don't know what gives. Often it's my patience.

Dr Lobster* · Mon 04 Jul, 2005 21.44

try using the system file checker to ensure there aren't any issues with the windows system files being overwritten by the wrong versions.

start > run > cmd

sfc /scannow

also, try reapplying the service pack again and see if that helps.

edit: i've had this issue a lot at work when internet explorer becomes broken by random active x controls (such as file download managers etc)

tools > manage add ons > and disable anything which looks dodgy.

i've only got 4 loaded in my ie:

DJGM · Mon 04 Jul, 2005 22.05

I'll try the "sfc /scannow" solution, and/or reapplying SP2.

I doubt this issue is caused by dodgy add-ons in IE, since I hardly ever use it, except for Windows Update.

(It's times like this, I'm glad to have Windows 2000 installed on this machine alongside Windows XP.)

Chris · Tue 05 Jul, 2005 11.42

Hmm - have you installed any programs that appends stuff to the context menu such as Winzip or an antivirus program?

I seem to remember having a similar problem ages ago with my right click menu taking ages to appear and it was the fault of a badly written shell extension for some program I'd downloaded. Either that or it'd crash Explorer completely which it is doing in this case - the symptoms with all your Explorer windows disappearing, your desktop disappearing momentarily and your desktop re appearing again with everything loading up is a classic sign of a crashing Windows Explorer.

Although I find Windows Explorer is reasonable stable, I always find it seems to hang whilst doing a search across all drives. Plus I have odd problems - for example if I have Outlook 2003 open and minimised to the tray and try and open a word file on the desktop it hangs for around 30 seconds before opening up. But opening Word from the start menu does not have this effect. Bizarre.

DJGM · Tue 05 Jul, 2005 13.37

The only context menu extensions I have are for AVG 7.0, WinRAR, and multimedia apps. I have
all the same security and multimedia apps installed in Windows 2000 as I do in Windows XP, so
this seems to be a problem exclusive to my current installation of Windows XP.

I did recently uninstall Norton AV2003, due to it becoming a major resource hog, and my update
subscription had expired. That has since been replaced by the free version of AVG Antivirus 7.0

Comparing both Windows 2000 Explorer and Windows XP Explorer in their current state on this
machine, stability wise, Windows 2000 Explorer is solid as a rock, while Windows XP Explorer
appears to be about as a stable as a rabid rottweiler on crack!

Strangely, using Netscape 8.0.2 in IE mode, accessing files and folder is quite stable!

DJGM · Tue 05 Jul, 2005 16.02

Now context clicking on a file or folder in Windows XP Explorer presents me with this . . .

Yet another of those oh so helpful (NOT!) Windows error messages!

James Martin · Tue 05 Jul, 2005 18.35

I reccomend a clean reinstall, make sure you have installed the following before connecting it to the outside world:

1. Service Pack 2
2. ZoneAlarm Firewall (Don't use the built in XP one, it's pants)
3. Spybot
4. Adaware
5. AVG

DJGM · Tue 05 Jul, 2005 19.05

James Martin wrote: I reccomend a clean reinstall . . .

Considering how much software I've got installed on this OS, I'll leave that as a strictly "last resort" option.
Aside from the unstable Windows XP Explorer issue, everything else works fine. Re-installing everything
would take several days, especially when I have a job to go to during the day. I only have access to
my own computer(s) after 19:30, overnight, and first thing in the morning before I go to work.

James Martin · Tue 05 Jul, 2005 21.47

System Restore?

DJGM · Tue 05 Jul, 2005 21.50

James Martin wrote: System Restore?

That's one the first things I disable. IMHO, it's a resource hog!