Windows Explorer Crashes

[Bob]

Hello:

I have a problem on Windows XP Home Edition. When I open Explorer with the
left pane set to Folder View and try to open a folder, Explorer freezes up.
Sometimes it just freezes up (with folder view in the left) even before I
select a folder. It's been doing this for several months and I don't know
if a program I installed caused this or not (I have alot installed -
Including Visual Studio.net with localhost, MSSQL, etc.)

I am Virus and Spyware Free (I'm pretty sure) - I use Norton Antivirus 2005,
Spysweeper, Adaware SE, Spybot and others. I am on Windows XP Home with SP2
and all Windows Updates are current. I also use Firefox for my browser.

Any help short of a reinstall is greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

To repair all system files, go to Start/Run, and type: SFC /SCANNOW

 

[Bob]

Mark, Thanks for the suggestion. I ran it but it didn't repair my problem.
I still am searching for a solution.

Thanks again, Bob

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

Long delay before files appear in My Computer in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;819017

 

[Bob]

Thanks again Mark...

I only have 1 of the programs that MS refers to in the article - WIA. I
disabled it with:

NET STOP STISVC (This stops the service)
SC CONFIG STISVC START= DISABLED (This sets the Service startup type to
disabled)

I also just ran a defrag and scandisk

It did help by causing slightly faster explorer displays, but unfortunantly
didn't fix my left tree/folders view problem.

Thanks again!... Bob

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

Its worth a try at the 'slow rightclick' problem, since you have pretty much
tried everything else.

Right-click is slow or weird behavior caused by context menu handlers:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm

Customizing Right-Click Menu Options in Windows:
http://www.jfitz.com/tips/rclick_custom.html

also:

To repair all system files, go to Start/Run, and type: SFC /SCANNOW