Windows Explorer is CRASHING!!!

[SAM]

Hi everyone,

My problem is with Windows 2000 Windows Explorer.

Whenever I start up more than one instance, it crashes most of the time.

My system:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Item Value
OS Name Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Version 5.0.2195 Service Pack 4 Build 2195
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name xxxxxxxxxxxxx
System Manufacturer VIA Technologies, Inc.
System Model KT600
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 0 AuthenticAMD ~1799 Mhz
BIOS Version Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Windows Directory C:\WINNT
Locale United States
Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 523,760 KB
Available Physical Memory 348,244 KB
Total Virtual Memory 3,758,080 KB
Available Virtual Memory 3,442,960 KB
Page File Space 3,234,320 KB
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


My error message:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Program Error
-------------------

explorer.exe has generated errors and will be closed by Windows.
You will need to restart the program.

An error log is being created.


OK

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


My System Log:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Type Date Time Source Category Event
Error 4/5/2005 8:57:58 PM DCOM None 10000
Error 4/5/2005 8:56:48 PM Service Control Manager
None 7001
Warning 4/5/2005 8:56:48 PM W32Time None 54
Error 4/5/2005 8:56:43 PM Service Control Manager
None 7000
Information 4/5/2005 8:56:37 PM eventlog None 6005
Information 4/5/2005 8:56:37 PM eventlog None 6009
Error 4/5/2005 8:56:38 PM Netlogon None 5719
Information 4/5/2005 8:55:14 PM eventlog None 6006
Information 4/5/2005 8:52:42 PM Removable Storage Service
None 160
Error 4/5/2005 8:44:16 PM Netlogon None 5719
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


The problem started after performing the latest update
on Win2k from Microsoft.

The crash happens after I open up more than
one instance of Win Explorer - 2 or more
processes with Win Exp at the same time.

In Task Manager, the system idle process is taking
up about 99% of the CPU time - so there isn’t another
process hogging time.


Does anyone have any ideas as to what the problem might be?

- Sam

 

[Guest]

I'm wondering why you have almost 4 GB of Virtual Memory with only 512MB of
RAM? Did you run any system tweak programs or did you make any registry
changes?

Also can you open up the file c:\boot.ini and paste the contents in a post?
Thanks.

Nick

 

[SAM]

I'm wondering why you have almost 4 GB of Virtual Memory with only 512MB of
RAM? Did you run any system tweak programs or did you make any registry
changes?

No - no tweaks or changes to the registry.

I set up a partition dedicated to the swap file (to reduce the effects
of fragmentation). I allocated 4 GB on an 80 GB HDD for that partition.
(Who knows? Someday I *MIGHT* put more RAM on this system.) I gave the
swap file the entire partition to play with.

Is this a problem?

Also can you open up the file c:\boot.ini and paste the contents in a post?
Thanks.

You betcha!

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional"
/fastdetect
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-


SAM
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

Nick

- Sam

 

[SAM]

I have some new info.

After booting with msconfig using selective startup
(with Process System.ini file and loading system services),
my problem with Windows Explorer crashing still persists.
From that I think that I can conclude that the problem isn’t
related to any apps being loaded, but to the Windows 2000
operating system itself.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

SAM
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Hi everyone,

My problem is with Windows 2000 Windows Explorer.

Whenever I start up more than one instance, it crashes most of the time.

My system:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Item Value
OS Name Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Version 5.0.2195 Service Pack 4 Build 2195
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name xxxxxxxxxxxxx
System Manufacturer VIA Technologies, Inc.
System Model KT600
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 0 AuthenticAMD ~1799 Mhz
BIOS Version Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Windows Directory C:\WINNT
Locale United States
Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 523,760 KB
Available Physical Memory 348,244 KB
Total Virtual Memory 3,758,080 KB
Available Virtual Memory 3,442,960 KB
Page File Space 3,234,320 KB
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


My error message:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Program Error
-------------------

explorer.exe has generated errors and will be closed by Windows.
You will need to restart the program.

An error log is being created.


OK

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


My System Log:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Type Date Time Source Category Event
Error 4/5/2005 8:57:58 PM DCOM None 10000
Error 4/5/2005 8:56:48 PM Service Control Manager
None 7001
Warning 4/5/2005 8:56:48 PM W32Time None 54
Error 4/5/2005 8:56:43 PM Service Control Manager
None 7000
Information 4/5/2005 8:56:37 PM eventlog None 6005
Information 4/5/2005 8:56:37 PM eventlog None 6009
Error 4/5/2005 8:56:38 PM Netlogon None 5719
Information 4/5/2005 8:55:14 PM eventlog None 6006
Information 4/5/2005 8:52:42 PM Removable Storage Service
None 160
Error 4/5/2005 8:44:16 PM Netlogon None 5719
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


The problem started after performing the latest update
on Win2k from Microsoft.

The crash happens after I open up more than
one instance of Win Explorer - 2 or more
processes with Win Exp at the same time.

In Task Manager, the system idle process is taking
up about 99% of the CPU time - so there isn’t another
process hogging time.


Does anyone have any ideas as to what the problem might be?

- Sam

- Sam

 

[Guest]

SAM-

Two things I would suggest - one is a possible fix and the other a workaround.

For the fix, try going to the command line and typing sfc /scannow. This
will check your System files for incorrect versions, etc and replace any that
are wrong (You will most likely be asked to insert your installation CD
during this). Reboot and see if that helps (the reboot may not be neccesary
but I'm not sure).

The workaround is to open my computer and fo to tools > folder Options.
Click the View tab and scroll down until you see launch folder windows in a
seperate process. Now if it's checked you might want to try unchecking it
because your system might be getting an error when it loads multiple
explorer.exe processes (granted that means something somewhere is not working
right). If it's unchecked try checking it as this might fix your problem by
isolating multiple explorer windows to their own process.

Please let me know the results if you try any of these steps.

Thanks,

Nick

 

[Guest]

I'm glad you're up and running, thanks for letting me know what happened!

Nick

 

[SAM]

SAM-

Hi Nick,

Two things I would suggest - one is a possible fix and the other a workaround.

For the fix, try going to the command line and typing sfc /scannow. This
will check your System files for incorrect versions, etc and replace any that
are wrong (You will most likely be asked to insert your installation CD
during this). Reboot and see if that helps (the reboot may not be neccesary
but I'm not sure).

I did this - it didn't do any good.

The workaround is to open my computer and fo to tools > folder Options.
Click the View tab and scroll down until you see launch folder windows in a
seperate process. Now if it's checked you might want to try unchecking it
because your system might be getting an error when it loads multiple
explorer.exe processes (granted that means something somewhere is not working
right). If it's unchecked try checking it as this might fix your problem by
isolating multiple explorer windows to their own process.

OK - I did this - then it crashed after 8 processes.

I tried again, and it crashed after 3 processes.

I shut down the system, then rebooted.

I then put up over 50 Windows Explorer processes before it stopped
- probably due to reaching some sort of a limit on active processes
- BUT it didn't crash.

Maybe this is the solution - so far so good.

I'll play with it some more. If it crashes again, I'll be back.


THANKS NICK!!!


- Sam

 

[SAM]

OH CRUUUUUUUUUUUDDDDD!!!

I posted too soon.

The problem persists.

SAM
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I'm glad you're up and running, thanks for letting me know what happened!

Nick

- Sam

 

[SAM]

OK - THIS is getting to be a real pain in the brain ...


If I start one - *JUST* *ONE* - instance of Windows Explorer,
then hit left arrow to collapse "My Documents" - it crashes.

... and burns ... with smouldering wreckage strewn about.


Is it time for me to wipe the hard drive and reinstall Windows 2000?


Is there anyone who can figure this one out?


- SAM
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I have some new info.

After booting with msconfig using selective startup
(with Process System.ini file and loading system services),
my problem with Windows Explorer crashing still persists.
From that I think that I can conclude that the problem isn’t
related to any apps being loaded, but to the Windows 2000
operating system itself.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

SAM
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-




- Sam

- Sam

 

[SAM]

OK - THIS is getting to be a real pain in the brain ...


If I start one - *JUST* *ONE* - instance of Windows Explorer,
then hit left arrow to collapse "My Documents" - it crashes.

... and burns ... with smouldering wreckage strewn about.


Is it time for me to wipe the hard drive and reinstall Windows 2000?


Is there anyone who can figure this one out?

OK - I've gone back to using selective startup with msconfig.

During the boot process, right after the desktop comes up
(along with all of my icons), and I can summon up
several instances of Windows Explorer - and it seems to work OK.

During that time, there is still a lot of disk activity.

Then, the message for the automatic windows update
feature pops up in a balloon from the system trey.

After that, Windows Explorer bombs out whenever I
bring up an instance of it and collapse the
"My Documents" folder. Something is being loaded
at that point that Win Exp doesn't like.

Any ideas as to what that might be?

- Sam

 

[SAM]

Hi again,

I still have the problem with Windows Explorer crashing, and I think
I have an idea as to why: It might have something to do with some Iomega stuff.

My system log was not functioning properly. After performing a reset on it,
I got some error entries that mention some Iomega services. The entries,
and their associated descriptions, are listed below:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Error 4/13/2005 2:30:48 PM Service Control Manager None 7001 N/A
------------------
The Iomega Active Disk service depends on the Iomega App Services service which failed
to start because of the following error: The system cannot find the path specified.

Warning 4/13/2005 2:30:46 PM W32Time None 54 N/A
------------------
The Windows Time Service was not able to find a Domain Controller.
A time and date update was not possible.

Error 4/13/2005 2:30:36 PM Service Control Manager None 7000 N/A
------------------
The Iomega App Services service failed to start due to the following error:
The system cannot find the path specified.

Error 4/13/2005 2:30:33 PM Service Control Manager None 7000 N/A
------------------
The avast! Antivirus service failed to start due to the following error:
The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion.

Error 4/13/2005 2:30:33 PM Service Control Manager None 7009 N/A
------------------
Timeout (30000 milliseconds) waiting for the avast! Antivirus service to connect.

Information 4/13/2005 2:30:27 PM eventlog None 6005 N/A
------------------
The Event log service was started.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I installed the Iomega stuff, then uninstalled it,
and I still got the same problem, with the same error
entries in the system log.

Can anyone tell me what path is it referring to?
... and what it is that it's looking for?
... or how to get rid of this altogether?

Iomega tells me that they do not have a cleaner,
so I'll have to do this the hard way.

- Sam

 

[Guest]

There are a few big hardware companies whose hardware I might install, but
only if it doesn't require their software. It's been my experience that if
one wants to noticibly degrade system performance and/or break Windows in
ways that just makes ya go 'huh', then it's a toss-up between IOMega,
Logitech, and Kennsington as the most irresponsible software producing high
profile company (Well IOmega really has it in the bag with the other two tie
as runner up). Just my experience and opinion.

That said I don't know if IOMega is causing the problem here (the event log
entries don't really convince me because logging errors is the most
functional feature of IOmega's software suites). Of course it might be
IOMega - I don't know.

Could you do me a favor though? Retsrat your computer in safe mode (by
pressing F8 during reboot). Then open up tons of explorer windows and see if
you can make it crash. Let me know what happens.

Thanks,

Nick Staff

 

[SAM]

Hi Nick,

I didn't have to open up tons - only a few - and it was crashing as before.

... in safe mode.

I guess I was clinging to a false hope with that one.

Perhaps it's time to admit defeat - wipe the hard drive and reinstall everything.


DAMMIT.

SAM
======================

There are a few big hardware companies whose hardware I might install, but
only if it doesn't require their software. It's been my experience that if
one wants to noticibly degrade system performance and/or break Windows in
ways that just makes ya go 'huh', then it's a toss-up between IOMega,
Logitech, and Kennsington as the most irresponsible software producing high
profile company (Well IOmega really has it in the bag with the other two tie
as runner up). Just my experience and opinion.

That said I don't know if IOMega is causing the problem here (the event log
entries don't really convince me because logging errors is the most
functional feature of IOmega's software suites). Of course it might be
IOMega - I don't know.

Could you do me a favor though? Retsrat your computer in safe mode (by
pressing F8 during reboot). Then open up tons of explorer windows and see if
you can make it crash. Let me know what happens.

Thanks,

Nick Staff

- Sam

 

[Guest]

SAM-

Do me a favor - try creating a new user account on the computer and log in
as the new user - does the problem persist...?

 

[SAM]

Yes - it does (persist) - with the new user account.


On top of THAT, I got an error message on boot up:
==============================================
regsvr32.exe - Application Error
==============================================

X The instruction at "0x77fcc39e" referenced memory at "0x00610070."
The memory could not be "written."

Click on OK to terminate the program.


OK

==============================================


On the advice of another tech on the Ziff-Davis forum,
I removed the Hotfix KB867282 from my system.

SAM
======================

SAM-

Do me a favor - try creating a new user account on the computer and log in
as the new user - does the problem persist...?

- Sam

 

[Guest]

hmmm....please understand that I'm grasping at straws right now but if you
have nothing better to do go here and download memtest and test your ram:

http://www.memtest86.com

Also, have you tried repairing by way of an upgrade? Meaning boot to
windows, put in the install disk and then choose to upgrade windows - this
will leave all (should be all) your programs//files etc intact while
installing a fresh copy of windows (but leaving an old copy of your
registry). Of course things often go awry when you least want them to so if
you value your data backup first.

Nick

 

[SAM]

hmmm....please understand that I'm grasping at straws right now but if you
have nothing better to do go here and download memtest and test your ram:

http://www.memtest86.com

I've got memtest86+ running right now. I'll give it a few hours.

I think I ran it before over this system unit - I usually do
after I put one together - but it doesn't hurt anything to
do it again.

Also, have you tried repairing by way of an upgrade? Meaning boot to
windows, put in the install disk and then choose to upgrade windows - this
will leave all (should be all) your programs//files etc intact while
installing a fresh copy of windows (but leaving an old copy of your
registry). Of course things often go awry when you least want them to so if
you value your data backup first.

No - I haven't done this as I was hoping to figure out what is wrong exactly.
You don't learn anything by using "the shotgun approach."

If there are no other alternatives, then I guess I have no recourse
other than to either do the upgrade, or to wipe the drive and perform
a complete reinstallation of everything.

SAM
=======================

Nick

- Sam

 

[SAM]

I'm logging in as administrator - this is a stand-alone machine.
I should have permission to do anything.

I'll check on this after memtest86+ completes ...

SAM
=========================

have you checked your permissions? the explorer.exe error reminded me of a
security issue i had once with the ntuser.dat file (well the hkcu key it
creates).

- Sam

 

[Guest]

I agree with you that an upgrade doesn't teach anything - if you don't mind
prolonged troubleshooting I'm happy to keep working with you (as I'd like to
figgure this out myself).

If you want, at some point maybe I could remote into the problem machine and
look around.

Nick Staff

 

[SAM]

I agree with you that an upgrade doesn't teach anything - if you don't mind
prolonged troubleshooting I'm happy to keep working with you (as I'd like to
figgure this out myself).

If you want, at some point maybe I could remote into the problem machine and
look around.

We might try this - what part of the world do you live in?

We would have to determine time difference - I'm in Texas.
The UK is 6 hours ahead of me.


Memtest86+ ran for 23 iterations, and it came up clean.


SAM
==================

Nick Staff

- Sam