explorer crashes when I right click on a file

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Every time I right click a file in explorer it emits a GP fault by trying to
write something to a NULL pointer. Can I edit the registry to try to isolate
this? Do you have any other suggestions as to how I can rectify this?
 
I don't get the GPF, but the window closes, the desktop disappears for a few
seconds but then comes back - it's getting damned annoying :\

Any ideas anyone ?? I have just upgraded my virus software, hoping that I
somehow got infected in between the expiration of my old software and getting
the new, which I was, but this problem still occurs.
 
I had the same issue but it was only one unnecessary file that it would
happen with. I found if I created another junk file and then highlighted
both of them it would let me right-click and copy and paste or delete it.
This probably doesn't help you guys much since it sounds like more than 1
file.
 
=?Utf-8?B?ZG9yaWFu?= said:
Every time I right click a file in explorer it emits a GP fault by trying to
write something to a NULL pointer. Can I edit the registry to try to isolate
this? Do you have any other suggestions as to how I can rectify this?

If you have recently installed SP2 on your computer then
there have been a string of folks reporting very similar problems
to what you are reporting. Some find that anything which uses
Windows Explorer (Recycle bin, folder shortcuts, control panel,
etc) all have a similar problem. Some find that right clicks are
their major problem. Some find any click. Some find it crashes
on open. Some find it refuses any clicks. There are some claims
but I've been scanning the thousands of postings on SP2 and I don't
think you will find any with "the fix" for this, at least yet.

But, some find it will work when you boot in safe mode.

And, some find it will work when you create a new user and switch
to that user to try it.

One of those might be a temporary work-around till you get an answer.

Some claim it is all spyware and viruses but I haven't seen any
posting that confirmed this for the Windows Explorer problem. I
carefully and repeatedly checked, no viruses or spyware and my
windows explorer locks up every time. <<<Late breaking news, after
hundreds of people reporting this problem, ONE person did let me
know that trendmicro actually found a WORM_SDDROP.A virus/worm, he
removed that and it appeared to solve his problem, so that's 10,000
times people chanting "it's all viruses and spyware" and one correct
diagnosis>>>

Some claim it is all "bad applications" like Divx or Spy Sweeper
being installed that is responsible for this, a few people have
confirmed this but others have these and have no problem, most
reporting the problem don't have these and still have the problem.
I don't have either and it locks up every time.

Some claim it is all "ShellExtensions", little accessory gadgets
that sort of script extra cute features. The advice for that is
to install free ShellExView and to try (carefully) disabling these
features one at a time, if turning one off doesn't do anything then
turn it back on and try again. I did that with all 75 at once and
it made no difference at all. Two people have reported that
disabling one extension he had did appear to fix their problem.

You can escalate to Microsoft, go to
http://support.microsoft.com/windowsxpsp2
and give them all the details and clues and patterns you can find.
There is no guarantee that their analysis or directions will be
correct or even not make it worse. They told me I must "have some
corrupted files, repair windows back to install state and then
reinstall SP2 twice while in Safe mode." Before I did that someone
posted the "switch user" workaround that let me get by temporarily.
I sent email saying that if it worked for one user then it seemed
less likely it was "some corrupted files" and asked if they still
wanted me to blow windows away. They have not reponded to that in
a number of days now. But I can imagine what it is like inside
now.

I hope something in this helps someone. But it appears that the
large majority of people never get a fix for the "Windows Explorer"
problem. If someone tells you to try something and it doesn't help
then please make a posting so we can start accumulating what
suggestions don't do any good. And if someone tells you something
that does work then please report it.
 
dorian said:
Every time I right click a file in explorer it emits a GP fault by trying to
write something to a NULL pointer. Can I edit the registry to try to isolate
this? Do you have any other suggestions as to how I can rectify this?

That indicates an invalid or damaged shell extension. With regedit,
look at
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*.\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
File - Export the key, then try selectively deleting sub-keys within it

Also under
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory
and
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder

for ones that would get involved on a right click of a Folder
 

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