Windows Explorer Hangs On Close

[Guest]

I run a squeeky clean Windows XP Pro System, with ALL of the latest SPs and
Updates installed. Have had this problem for well over a year now.

Virtually every attempt to CLOSE Windows Explorer, either with the X button,
or by means of Main Menu File => Close, results in Windows Explorer hanging,
and many times causing a complete hang and freeze of cursor and windows
desktop.

If I leave the Windows Explorer OPEN, and simply execute a normal SHUTDOWN
or RESTART, it seems to close normally.

Any ideas?

Jusletgo

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP]

I run a squeeky clean Windows XP Pro System, with ALL of the latest
SPs and Updates installed. Have had this problem for well over a
year now.

Virtually every attempt to CLOSE Windows Explorer, either with the X
button, or by means of Main Menu File => Close, results in Windows
Explorer hanging, and many times causing a complete hang and freeze
of cursor and windows desktop.

If I leave the Windows Explorer OPEN, and simply execute a normal
SHUTDOWN or RESTART, it seems to close normally.

Any ideas?

Jusletgo

First eliminate any spyware.
What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/devioussoftware.mspx

CAUTION!!!!! Removing some spyware can damage the Winsock stact. Before
you try to remove spyware using any of these programs , download a copy of
LSP-Fix - a free program to repair damaged Winsock 2 stacks (all Windows
versions)
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm
Winsockfix for W95, W98, ME, NT, 2000, XP
http://www.tacktech.com/pub/winsockfix/WinsockFix.zip
Directions here: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=257
WinXP:
Get WinSockxpFix
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html
How to Reset Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/299357
In WinXP SP2: You can fix Winsock by going to Start | Run and typing
CMD
In the command window type
netsh winsock reset

See
Dealing with Unwanted Malware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search Engines
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Note that AdAware and SpyBot S & D will each catch some things the other
won't. Also, each needs to be updated with the program's update function
before every use, even when just downloaded. There's also a lot more to do
than just those two programs. CWShredder is also available here:
http://www.intermute.com/products/cwshredder
**Post your HijackThis log to
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/ or the Spyware forum at
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not here.**
Alternative download pages for Ad-Aware, Spybot, HijackThis and CWShredder
may be found on this page:
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.

See this link for information about malware:
http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/malware.ars

If nothing there helps, please post back to this thread.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

 

[Guest]

Frank --

Thank you for your comprehensive response.

I failed to mention in my previous post that I have also religiously used
always current Ad-Aware anti-spyware scans. I did, however, install the new
Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta, which seems to be a pretty impressive gizmo in
its functionality.

After a careful review of the WinSock fixes, I elected to use only the WinXP
SP2 fix which requires:

In WinXP SP2: You can fix Winsock by going to Start | Run and typing:
CMD
In the command window type:
netsh winsock reset

The execution of this command sequence was successful. I rebooted my puter
as requested, and attempted a series of OPEN and CLOSE functions on my
WINDOWS EXPLORER, all of which were successful.

Thank you !

I wish to note, just for the record, that my issue addressed WINDOWS
EXPLORER and NOT my INTERNET EXPLORER browser.

For the time being, I would like to keep this thread open, just to give us a
couple of days of sea trials on the fix, to verify the fix is "permanent."

Jusletgo

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP IE/OE]

Frank --

After a careful review of the WinSock fixes, I elected to use only
the WinXP SP2 fix which requires:

In WinXP SP2: You can fix Winsock by going to Start | Run and typing:
CMD
In the command window type:
netsh winsock reset

The execution of this command sequence was successful. I rebooted my
puter as requested, and attempted a series of OPEN and CLOSE
functions on my WINDOWS EXPLORER, all of which were successful.

Thank you !

I wish to note, just for the record, that my issue addressed WINDOWS
EXPLORER and NOT my INTERNET EXPLORER browser.

For the time being, I would like to keep this thread open, just to
give us a couple of days of sea trials on the fix, to verify the fix
is "permanent."

Jusletgo

You're welcome.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

 

[Guest]

I can now confirm that the XP SP2 Winsock fix of executing the CMD line as
admin:

netsh winsock reset

totally cleared the Windows Explorer hang and freeze on Close. It is
working beautifully now, like its original install.

We can close this thread as successfully resolved.

Frank, thank you again.

Jusletgo

 

[Guest]

i have ahd exactly the same problems and this does seem to work for a few
windows but invariably, i get the hang up and get the iexplorer hang on
closing after having to end the non responding program.

any further help would be appreciated

 

[Guest]

FYI

Are you using NAV or SAV?

I just got the following from symantec chat line regarding this same issue
that we are having on 6 machines.

Our error various between both explorer and iexplorer must close.

read this from our chat tech session at symantec:

Hemantha(Fri Sep 14 00:42:16 EDT 2007)>

yes, this is a problem that we have seen recently. There is a DLL file of
Norton associated with the Internet Explorer settings, this causes the error
and the Internet Explorer crashes and closes.


Hemantha(Fri Sep 14 00:47:02 EDT 2007)>

Yes, that problem can be resolved by 1 ,By disabling or Unchecking the
Norton Product protection under the Miscellanous option 2,Closing all the
Internet Explorer windows, 3, search for hidden files and folder for nppw.dll
files and remove them, 4 , Run LiveUpdate and 5, Restart the computer the
issue would be fixed.


Best regards,
Ben