Windows explorer crashing

[mikeS]

I just saw another post with the same problem I've had for a month or so. I
thought I would elaborate a bit more.

Currently using Windows Vista Business, sp1.

Windows Explorer, Not IE7, will put up an error message (Windows explorer
has encountered a problem and will restart). Blue screen comes on then
Windows Explorer immediately restarts. Any other program running, such as
IE7, Word, FoxIt Reader, will remaining running while Windows restarts in
the background. The whole reset takes about 3 seconds. The crash is
usually associated with doing "file work", such as moving or renaming files
within folders. Any operations or renaming, etc. that immediately precede
the crash are completed correctly.

I have removed any context menu add-ons but that seems to make no
difference. This is not hardware related.

I was wondering if Windows Explorer can be reinstalled but downloading its
exe file from somewhere. Since my Sony laptop will only allow a complete
reinstall as per original factory specs, that is not an option.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Malke]

I just saw another post with the same problem I've had for a month or so.
I thought I would elaborate a bit more.

Currently using Windows Vista Business, sp1.

Windows Explorer, Not IE7, will put up an error message (Windows explorer
has encountered a problem and will restart). Blue screen comes on then
Windows Explorer immediately restarts. Any other program running, such
as IE7, Word, FoxIt Reader, will remaining running while Windows restarts
in
the background. The whole reset takes about 3 seconds. The crash is
usually associated with doing "file work", such as moving or renaming
files within folders. Any operations or renaming, etc. that immediately
precede the crash are completed correctly.

I have removed any context menu add-ons but that seems to make no
difference. This is not hardware related.

I was wondering if Windows Explorer can be reinstalled but downloading its
exe file from somewhere. Since my Sony laptop will only allow a complete
reinstall as per original factory specs, that is not an option.

How do you know for sure that it isn't hardware related? Probably it isn't,
but have you done some real testing to determine this? Aside from removing
context menu entries, you didn't tell us what (if anything) you've already
done to troubleshoot.

Windows Explorer is the Windows graphical user interface so no, it can't be
reinstalled separately. Something is causing it to fail and you (or someone
skilled who is looking at the machine) need to find out what that thing is.
Since I don't know what you've already tried, here are some general
suggestions:

1. Look in Event Viewer for clues. Start Orb>Search box>type: eventvwr.msc.
Click on the program when it appears in the Results box above. In Event
Viewer, click on items in the left pane to see the entries in the right
pane. In the right pane, look for yellow and red warnings. To see an
entries detail, double-click it in the right pane.

2. Make sure all your drivers are updated. Go to Sony's tech support website
for your specific model laptop to get them.

3. You say you've had the issue for around a month. Unfortunately, waiting
that long to get help makes it very hard to answer The First Question of
Troubleshooting, but try.

The First Question Of Troubleshooting: what changed between the time things
worked and the time they didn't?

4. If you really haven't done any hardware troubleshooting and are just
assuming that things are fine because the machine is new, it would not go
amiss to do tests of your hard drive and RAM.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

5. To find out if some program or third-party process you have running in
the background is the culprit, do clean-boot troubleshooting. If everything
is fine when in a cleanly booted system, add things back one at a time to
find out which item is the cause and then address that accordingly.

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;929135

Standard disclaimer: I can't see and test your computer myself, so these are
just suggestions based on many years of being a professional computer tech;
suggestions based on what you've written. You should not take my
suggestions as a definitive diagnosis. If you can't do the work yourself
(and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea), take the
machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local equivalent
of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). If possible, have all your data backed up
before you take the machine into a shop.

Malke

 

[oscar]

Just to concur with Malke:

I had a similar problem with my Sony laptop after downloading SP1 a few
months ago. Windows Explorer crashed and came back up right away in 3
seconds. It didn't seem to matter what applications I was using at the time.
I lost data only one time. I went to Sony website for drivers and BIOS
updates that were available to address other SP1 and my Sony model conflicts.
The Sony updates cleared up the SP1 conflict problems. (I never got a
bluescreen, though.)

-
oscar

....Right click is your best friend...

 

[mikeS]

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions. I certainly was hoping I could
download and reinstall Windows Explorer. The computer is over a year old
and had been running fine, in fact I had never had a system crash. I will
specifically examine the events log and I have not booted in safe mode, but
I have disabled most programs for testing for conflicts.

The problem arose after insuring all my drivers and recommended updates
including those on the Sony site, were updated prior to downloading sp1 for
a manual install. I had been vigilant over the last few months keeping
drivers and Windows updates current waiting for sp1 to appear in Windows
update. (Sp1 never has appeared on AutoUpdate). There were zero problems
with the sp1 install. I pursued the sp1 thinking it might correct whatever
the problem was.

So bottom line. Probably one of the driver updates (or failed driver
updates), caused the problem. So in that regard, it is a hardware problem.
Unless someone has a suggestion for is a better way, perhaps I'll have to
begin rolling back some drivers.

 

[mikeS]

Been checking off your suggestions. The events viewer is a great tool. And
the clean boot procedure is a great methodology. I've been manipulating
folders and files to get a crash and I'm hopeful it will show up in the
events viewer. Yesterday's crash wasn't logged. Sort of like going to the
doctor. The "hurt" stops when you get there. But of course, if this hurt
stops I'll be pleased.

If I find a diagnostic procedure that did the trick and the root cause of
this problem in a reasonable timeframe I will post it for other users future
reference.

Thanks again.

 

[Malke]

Been checking off your suggestions. The events viewer is a great tool.
And the clean boot procedure is a great methodology. I've been
manipulating folders and files to get a crash and I'm hopeful it will show
up in the
events viewer. Yesterday's crash wasn't logged. Sort of like going to
the
doctor. The "hurt" stops when you get there. But of course, if this hurt
stops I'll be pleased.

If I find a diagnostic procedure that did the trick and the root cause of
this problem in a reasonable timeframe I will post it for other users
future reference.

Thanks and good luck. Will be watching.

Malke