Search crashes Windows Explorer

[Tom H.]

Hello All,
Yesterday my Windows search function was working fine. This morning it
crashes, bringing Windows Explorer down with it. Saying yes to the error
reporting dialog did not bring up any advice. I was doing a search for "all
files and folders" including hidden files and system files. The problem
happens each time, and I have tried doing a system restore to a time when I
know search was still working. The restore did not help.

Does anyone have any advice on how to fix or investigate this problem?

TIA,
Tom

 

[Elmo]

Hello All,
Yesterday my Windows search function was working fine. This morning it
crashes, bringing Windows Explorer down with it. Saying yes to the error
reporting dialog did not bring up any advice. I was doing a search for "all
files and folders" including hidden files and system files. The problem
happens each time, and I have tried doing a system restore to a time when I
know search was still working. The restore did not help.

Does anyone have any advice on how to fix or investigate this problem?

Windows XP Search Problems
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_search_probs.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Doug Knox]

 

[Tom H.]

The web page suggested by Elmo does not cover the problem that I have. I get
no error messages, Windows Explorer just stops responding.

Tom

Hello All,
Yesterday my Windows search function was working fine. This morning it
crashes, bringing Windows Explorer down with it. Saying yes to the error
reporting dialog did not bring up any advice. I was doing a search for
"all files and folders" including hidden files and system files. The
problem happens each time, and I have tried doing a system restore to a
time when I know search was still working. The restore did not help.

Does anyone have any advice on how to fix or investigate this problem?

Windows XP Search Problems
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_search_probs.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Doug Knox]

 

[Tom H.]

Well, there is an error message, but it is just the general one of "Windows
Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close........." Sometimes
if I click the box to send an error report I then get a message saying
something like "The Dr. Watson error debugger has encountered a problem and
needs to close...."

Tom

The web page suggested by Elmo does not cover the problem that I have. I
get no error messages, Windows Explorer just stops responding.

Tom

Hello All,
Yesterday my Windows search function was working fine. This morning it
crashes, bringing Windows Explorer down with it. Saying yes to the error
reporting dialog did not bring up any advice. I was doing a search for
"all files and folders" including hidden files and system files. The
problem happens each time, and I have tried doing a system restore to a
time when I know search was still working. The restore did not help.

Does anyone have any advice on how to fix or investigate this problem?

Windows XP Search Problems
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_search_probs.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Doug Knox]

 

[Elmo]

Well, there is an error message, but it is just the general one of "Windows
Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close........." Sometimes
if I click the box to send an error report I then get a message saying
something like "The Dr. Watson error debugger has encountered a problem and
needs to close...."

Tom

Run Chkdsk and see if it fixes any errors. Then try the Search utility
again. And maybe:

Click Start, Run, type SFC /SCANNOW, click OK. If any files are damaged
or missing, they'll be replaced. You may need to reboot afterwards so
damaged files will be replaced.

 

[Guest]

i have the same problem and seeems to be accociated with a specific file my
daughter received,go figure,lol,i was wondering if you have tried the
suggestions here and did they work,my computer seems to still run ok but it
bothers me as to what this can be

thx terry

 

[Guest]

will this suggestions to fix search errors cause me to lose any saved dataIE:
pictures files music etc would like to know before i try


thx terry

 

[Elmo]

will this suggestions to fix search errors cause me to lose any saved dataIE:
pictures files music etc would like to know before i try


thx terry

If Chkdsk removes a file, it was inaccessible anyway. SFC only repairs
system files, comparing them to the compressed versions in the hidden
\dllcache folder.