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Whenever I right click on a file in Windows Explorer I get a message that Windows Explorer has stopped working and then it shuts downto the desktop. I am running Windows Vista Home Premium on a Gateway GT5228. It has 2 GB of ram and 140GB unused on the hard drive. I have been running Vista for about a year and the problem just started about a week ago. I hope somebody has a suggestion because at the moment I can't delete or rename anything. I have run an antivirus and antispyware programs and have found nothing. Any ideas will be greatly appreaciated.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Hi ranma100,
Right-click crashes are caused by third-party shell extensions. You may use the excellent ShellExView tool to isolate the problem. For more information, see "Method 2" in article Right-click is slow or weird behavior caused by context menu handlers.
Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Desktop Experience]
Brilliant!!!!
Thank you soo much for this.
I struglle to find the file that caused the problem for me so I disabled the latest shellx files installed and sure enough, that was the problem.
In my case it was sugar sync.
Wrote to them a not so happy, but constructive email...
Thanks for the feedback, Ganixe.
Brilliant!!!!
Thank you soo much for this.
I struglle to find the file that caused the problem for me so I disabled the latest shellx files installed and sure enough, that was the problem.
In my case it was sugar sync.
Wrote to them a not so happy, but constructive email...
Explorer
Explorer (explorer.exe) is the program that is the Start menu and taskbar, folder windows, and the desktop (which is a folder window).
To See if a Fix is Available
In Control Panel (and select Classic view in the left hand pane) choose Problem Reports and Solutions (type problem in Start's search box), go to Problem History, right click your error and choose Check For Solution.
You may also right click and choose Details for more info. **Post those details here.**The Fault Module Name is the important information.
If the problem affects Control Panel press Winkey + R and type wercon(or type it in a command prompt).
Close Explorer and Start a Command Prompt
Then to restart explorer after trying each of the following
If You Can't Start Explorer at All
If you can't start a folder window use the Browse button in the New Task dialog. Remember you need to right click and choose Open rather than double clicking.
Reregister the Shell's Registry Entries
It's important that each command is sucessfull. If the command fails it means the file is corrupted and needs repair.
Close Explorer as above then type in the command prompt (or copy and paste by right clicking in the Command Prompt window and choosing Paste).
> > > regsvr32 /i shell32 > > regsvr32 /i urlmon.dll > > regsvr32 RPCRT4.dll > > regsvr32 PROPSYS.dll > > regsvr32 MSCTF.dll > > regsvr32 cscui.dll > > regsvr32 rsaenh.dll > > regsvr32 timedate.cpl > > regsvr32 ATL.DLL > > regsvr32 OLEACC.dll > > regsvr32 actxprxy.dll > > regsvr32 USERENV.dll > > regsvr32 msshsq.dll > > regsvr32 NaturalLanguage6.dll > > regsvr32 thumbcache.dll > > regsvr32 WINTRUST.dll > > regsvr32 MMDevAPI.DLL > > regsvr32 audioses.dll > > regsvr32 audioeng.dll > > regsvr32 ExplorerFrame.dll > > regsvr32 msi.dll > > regsvr32 FirewallAPI.dll > > regsvr32 netshell.dll > > regsvr32 pnidui.dll > > regsvr32 QUtil.dll > > regsvr32 wpdshserviceobj.dll > > regsvr32 WINHTTP.dll > > regsvr32 QAgent.dll > > regsvr32 PortableDeviceApi.dll > > regsvr32 wbemprox.dll > > regsvr32 wbemsvc.dll > > regsvr32 fastprox.dll > > regsvr32 imapi2.dll > > regsvr32 wshext.dll > > regsvr32 gameux.dll > > regsvr32 msxml6.dll > > regsvr32 vbscript.dll > > regsvr32 jscript.dll > > regsvr32 wshext.dll > > regsvr32 wshom.ocx > > regsvr32 wshcon.dll > > regsvr32 scrrun.dll>
Delete Folder and Menu Settings
This will delete the settings that are saved for each folder you visit. Also the Start menu order.
Close Explorer as above then type in the command prompt (or copy and paste by right clicking in the Command Prompt window and choosing Paste).
> > > reg delete "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell" /f>
> > > reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams" /f>
reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects2" /f
reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder" /f
Delete The Thumbnail and Icon Caches
Close Explorer as above then type in the command prompt (or copy and paste by right clicking in the Command Prompt window and choosing Paste).
attrib -r -s -h "%userprofile%\AppData\Local\.db"*
attrib -r -s -h "%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\.db"*
del "%userprofile%\AppData\Local\.db"*
del "%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\.db"*
Turn off Thumbnails and Previews
Corrupted documents, and particularly corrupted pictures or videos, can cause Explorer to crash while trying to generate a thumbnail or a preview. This turns thumbnails and previews off.
If you can start Explorer, Previews is Organise on the command bar - Folder and Search Options - under Tasks frame Use Windows Classic Folders.
Thumbnails are Organise on the command bar - Folder and Search Options - View tab - and tick under Advanced Settings - Always show icons, never thumbnails and clear Display file icon on thumbnails.
If you can't start Explorer close Explorer as above then type in the command prompt (or copy and paste by right clicking in the Command Prompt window and choosing Paste).
> > > reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "IconsOnly" /t Reg_DWord /d 00000001 /f>
> > > reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "ShowPreviewHandlers" /t Reg_DWord /d 00000000 /f>
> > > reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "ShowTypeOverlay" /t Reg_DWord /d 00000000 /f>
To turn back on after testing Explorer.
> > > reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "IconsOnly" /t Reg_DWord /d 00000000 /f>
> > > reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "ShowPreviewHandlers" /t Reg_DWord /d 00000001 /f>
> > > reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "ShowTypeOverlay" /t Reg_DWord /d 00000001 /f>
A Clean Boot for Explorer
It might be caused by a shell extension.
Explorer (explorer.exe) is the program that is the Start menu and taskbar, folder windows, and the desktop (which is a folder window).
Explorer is built on addin programs called Shell Extensions. The standard ones are supplied by Microsoft but programs add their own.
If it helps, reenable ½ at a time to identify which one. If it doesn't help, restart AutoRuns and go to the Everything tab and untick everything there and reboot. If it helps, reenable ½ at a time to identify which one.
Run Microsoft's Fixit
Microsoft have a range of automatic programs to fix common problems. For Explorer problems see
http://support.microsoft.com/mats/windows\_file\_and\_folder\_diag/en-us
For the full list visit
http://support.microsoft.com/fixit/en-us
When you choose to download it, choose the option to run on another computer. Then you can save it to your harddisk. Open the folder, open the folder Fix it Portable, and run Launch Fix It. It will contain all 27 Fixits.
*** * ***
Recycle Bin
If the problem affects the Recycle bin delete the storage folders. It will be automatically recreated next time you delete a file or open the Recycle Bin. It will delete the Recycle Bin, and files it contains, for all users.
Close Explorer as above then type in the command prompt (or copy and paste by right clicking in the Command Prompt window and choosing Paste).
rd C:$RECYCLE.BIN /s /q
then repeat for each drive changing the drive letter, eg
rd d:$RECYCLE.BIN /s /q
rd e:$RECYCLE.BIN /s /q
If the Desktop Doesn't Start
This will create a new empty per user and common desktop. This will test if a file on your desktop is preventing Explorer from starting.
Close Explorer as above then type in the command prompt (or copy and paste by right clicking in the Command Prompt window and choosing Paste).
md "%userprofile%\DesktopTest"
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders" /v Desktop /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "%USERPROFILE%\DesktopTest" /f
md "%public%\desktopTest"
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders" /v "Common Desktop" /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "%Public%\DesktopTest" /f
To set back to defaults after testing if Explorer now starts.
set ExpFix1=%User
set ExpFix2=Profile%
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders" /v Desktop /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "%ExpFix1%%ExpFix2%\Desktop" /f
set ExpFix1=%Pub
set ExpFix2=lic%
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders" /v "Common Desktop" /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "%ExpFix1%%ExpFix2%\Desktop" /f
You may need to log off then on.
Missing New Folder Entry
If the above doesn't help.
Download NewFolder.reg from https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E2F0CE17A268A4FA!121.
Click Start - All Programs - Accessories - Right click Command Promptand choose Run As Administrator. Type Regedit and File menu - Import and import NewFolder.reg.
I've disabled all non-Microsoft context menu handlers with ShellExView but Windows Explorer is still crashing.
