First right-click in Win Explorer freezes computer

[Peabody]

This is XP Home, SP2. I boot up the computer, go into Windows
Explorer. The first time I right-click on anything, everything
freezes. Well, I can still mover the cursor around, but it's the
hourglass, and I can't do anything. The context menu does not come
up.

So I have to Ctl_Atl-Del. But after that, everything works fine as
long as I don't reboot. So it's just the first right-click in
WE after booting.

If anyone can suggest what might be wrong, that would be helpful.
This has been going on a couple months, and my sense of it is that
it started after an Update Tuesday, but I'm not sure about that.

Also, is there a way to find out what the error is?

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

NB: Computers running WinXP SP2 will NOT be offered any further critical
security updates, Automatic Updates will cease to function, and Windows
Update website will not be available after 12 April 2010 until SP3 is
installed.

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP2 fully patched
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b

 

[ju.c]

You can find the shell extension that is causing the problem
with "ShellExView". Simply disable half the items then test
your right-click. Keep halving them until you narrow it down
and find the one causing the crash, then disable it.

ShellExView ~70 KB (Freeware)
Web: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html
Download: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.zip
Installer: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview_setup.exe
Windows 64-Bit: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview-x64.zip


ju.c

 

[Richard]

NB: Computers running WinXP SP2 will NOT be offered any further critical
security updates, Automatic Updates will cease to function, and Windows
Update website will not be available after 12 April 2010 until SP3 is
installed.

Hi Robear,

The SP2 date has apparently been extended to 13 July 2010.

http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?C2=1173
Windows XP Service Pack 2 retires: 7/13/2010 <=== LOOK <===
Windows XP Service Pack 3 retires: 4/8/2014
Windows XP extended support ends: 4/8/2014

Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ [#19 Service Packs]
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifepolicy

FWIW. --Richard