Right-click on desktop causes a crash / freezes system

  • Thread starter Thread starter Blaine
  • Start date Start date
B

Blaine

I have one Windows XP machine at home that anytime I right-click on the
desktop and choose 'Display properties', it crashes. If I go to the option
via the control panel, there is no problem; I can set display properties fine.

The machine is running Windows XP Pro, has only the onboard Intel graphics
chip, is pretty vanilla. The display options choice has worked fine
previously, even after I bought a new LCD flatpanel. Since that time I can't
think of anything unusual I've have done or any strange software I've loaded,
but of course it has been several months since I paid attention.

If this was something that happened recently, I'd try a system restore, but
I don't really want to go back 6 mos. at this point.

Any suggestions on how to diagnose the problem?
 
Blaine, did the LCD come with a Software CD? If so , did you install the
software and drivers for the LCD? Are you using the correct refresh rate
I think LCD's are usually 60?
 
Yes, I did load drivers with the LCD and at the time everything was
running fine (to the best of my memory). And yes, the resolution is
set to the native resolution of the LCD display and the refresh rate
is 60Hz.

Since you posted, I have done some more researching. I downloaded a
tool called ShellExView. I started by disabling all the non-Microsoft
Shell Extensions listed in ShellExView. That made the symptoms go
away and returned my right-click behavior so there was no crash of
Explorer. I then enabled them one by one until I found the culprit.

Intel Graphics Shell Extension (igfxpph.dll) 3.0.0.4396

I'm leaving it disabled for the moment, but I might eventually try
reinstalling the graphics drivers (along the lines of what you
recommended) since that might let me have the Display Adaptor
extensions, but without the crashing. Either way, I have a solution.

Thanks for your help; and for others with this problem, try
ShellExView.
 
See also:

Right-click is slow or weird behavior caused by context menu handlers:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Yes, I did load drivers with the LCD and at the time everything was
running fine (to the best of my memory). And yes, the resolution is
set to the native resolution of the LCD display and the refresh rate
is 60Hz.

Since you posted, I have done some more researching. I downloaded a
tool called ShellExView. I started by disabling all the non-Microsoft
Shell Extensions listed in ShellExView. That made the symptoms go
away and returned my right-click behavior so there was no crash of
Explorer. I then enabled them one by one until I found the culprit.

Intel Graphics Shell Extension (igfxpph.dll) 3.0.0.4396

I'm leaving it disabled for the moment, but I might eventually try
reinstalling the graphics drivers (along the lines of what you
recommended) since that might let me have the Display Adaptor
extensions, but without the crashing. Either way, I have a solution.

Thanks for your help; and for others with this problem, try
ShellExView.
 
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