windows explorer crashes on right click

Anonymous
2009-03-30T20:59:37+00:00

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.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Ramesh 181.2K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2009-03-30T21:40:54+00:00

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]

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

99 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2012-01-19T21:36:17+00:00

    This helped immensely - my culprit was the Adobe SmartSelect Class.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2012-01-23T09:46:46+00:00

    I know your post a few years old but your "Method 2" was the solution for right-click crashes in Windows 7 Ultimate.  I used ShellExView and found that two extensions in Norton 360 2012 were causing explorer crashes whenver I right clicked on any  folder. In ShellExView I disabled:

    BUContextMenu Class

    IEContextMenu Class

    and it resolved the problem. Thanks!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2012-01-23T11:58:43+00:00

    Thanks for this hint

    The guilty part here was a Context Menu from FormatFactory

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2012-03-07T05:50:49+00:00

    got the same problem few days ago.. After few moments of allowing my brother to use my PC, I just notice problem whenever I right-click files on windows explorer/desktop.. Found this solution and I'm so thankful.. Problem solved! thumbs up

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments