Task bar disappears when explorer crashes

[M Skabialka]

Sometimes either My Computer or Windows Explorer is too slow at doing
something so I try to close it with the X in the corner. I then get a
message that something has failed unexpectedly, do I want to send a message
to Microsoft. I say no, but after that all explorer windows of any kind
close, and the task bar at the bottom of the screen either loses most of the
icons in the system tray near the clock, or the task bar completely
vanishes. I can alt-tab to anything open, but the windows flag key won't
activate the start menu, nor will opening explorer through the task manager.
Short of alt-tab and save everything then reboot, is there another way to
get back the start menu/task bar without starting over?

Thanks,
Mich

 

[All Things Mopar]

M Skabialka commented courteously...

Sometimes either My Computer or Windows Explorer
is too slow at doing something so I try to close it
with the X inthe corner. I then get a message
that something has failed unexpectedly, do I
want to send a message to Microsoft.

Happens to me all the time. The fix, for me, is easy: I
bring up Task Manager, go to Processes, and kill
anything named "explorer". Then I begin a new process
called "explorer" and I'm golden again. I used to re-
boot when this happens, but this little work-around has
been pretty successful.

Meanwhile, ever wonder what M$ does with the /tens of
millions/ of crash reports they get everyday?

 

[Galen]

In M Skabialka <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

Sometimes either My Computer or Windows Explorer is too slow at doing
something so I try to close it with the X in the corner. I then get a
message that something has failed unexpectedly, do I want to send a
message to Microsoft. I say no, but after that all explorer windows
of any kind close, and the task bar at the bottom of the screen
either loses most of the icons in the system tray near the clock, or
the task bar completely vanishes. I can alt-tab to anything open,
but the windows flag key won't activate the start menu, nor will
opening explorer through the task manager. Short of alt-tab and save
everything then reboot, is there another way to get back the start
menu/task bar without starting over?
Thanks,
Mich

Ctrl + Alt + Del > file > new task > explorer.exe often works. If not you
can log off and log back on again from the task manager.

Galen
--

"And that recommendation, with the exaggerated estimate of my ability
with which he prefaced it, was, if you will believe me, Watson, the
very first thing which ever made me feel that a profession might be
made out of what had up to that time been the merest hobby."

Sherlock Holmes

 

[M Skabialka]

I have tried staring a new explorer process, but never looked to see if
there were any others to kill - will try that next time, thanks.
Mich

 

[M Skabialka]

That's better than rebooting I suppose. I wonder why MS hasn't fixed this?
It happens to lots of us!
Mich