VERY Annoying Explorer.exe Issues - Running XP Pro SP2

[Guest]

I have an explorer.exe issue that’s driving me crazy. I’ve been getting
crashes when exploring folders and drives. Dr. Watson pops up and tells me
explorer.exe has generated errors…the screen flashes and the taskbar and
desktop slowly comeback. Before I switched out my wallpaper (which I had for
a few years) I would also get the “active desktop recovery†error and screen.
It included the IE Script error, line 65, char 1. I used to get this once
and a while, and could click active desktop recovery and it would be fine.
But after several tries to do this recently – it wouldn’t work – the desktop
wallpaper didn’t return. I switched wallpaper and I don’t get that error
now. But explorer.exe crashes a lot. Sometimes it requires I restart the
computer through the reset button.

The only other symptom I can think of is that sometimes when I explore a
drive or folder, the computer freezes for about 5 seconds, then I get about ½
second of cursor time, then freezes again – repeatedly until I restart the
computer through the reset button.

I’ve tried uninstalling/reinstalling various software, doing a system
restore point (for some reason I can’t go back before December even thought I
know there were system points created), and nothing works. I’ve seen some
posts that suggest everything from uninstalling and reinstalling SP2 to
replacing just the explorer.exe from the original Windows CD. Are there any
other ideas out there? What would be the safest? Any input would be really
appreciated. I’m running XP Pro, SP2. All Windows updates are current
except for IE7 which I tried to install, had problems with (even spoke with
someone at MS IE7 support who forwarded the case - I never heard from the
other department) I uninstalled IE7. I don't THINK that alone caused the
problem. Thanks in advance!

 

[Pennywise]

I have an explorer.exe issue that’s driving me crazy. I’ve been getting
crashes when exploring folders and drives. Dr. Watson pops up and tells me
explorer.exe has generated errors…the screen flashes and the taskbar and
desktop slowly comeback. Before I switched out my wallpaper (which I had for
a few years) I would also get the “active desktop recovery” error and screen.
It included the IE Script error, line 65, char 1. I used to get this once
and a while, and could click active desktop recovery and it would be fine.
But after several tries to do this recently – it wouldn’t work – the desktop
wallpaper didn’t return. I switched wallpaper and I don’t get that error
now. But explorer.exe crashes a lot. Sometimes it requires I restart the
computer through the reset button.

The only other symptom I can think of is that sometimes when I explore a
drive or folder, the computer freezes for about 5 seconds, then I get about ½
second of cursor time, then freezes again – repeatedly until I restart the
computer through the reset button.

An AVI file on your drive or in a folder that explorer accesses can
cause this.

I’ve tried uninstalling/reinstalling various software, doing a system
restore point (for some reason I can’t go back before December even thought I
know there were system points created), and nothing works. I’ve seen some
posts that suggest everything from uninstalling and reinstalling SP2 to
replacing just the explorer.exe from the original Windows CD. Are there any
other ideas out there? What would be the safest? Any input would be really
appreciated. I’m running XP Pro, SP2. All Windows updates are current
except for IE7 which I tried to install, had problems with (even spoke with
someone at MS IE7 support who forwarded the case - I never heard from the
other department) I uninstalled IE7. I don't THINK that alone caused the
problem. Thanks in advance!

You can scan your system to insure the proper files are still in place
http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

 

[Guest]

Thanks. That's a good call on the AVI file - but that isn't it. (It would
be nice if it were that easy!) I'll give the scan you recommend a run
tomorrow and hope it takes care of it. Anymore suggestions are welcome.
Thanks.

 

[Guest]

I did the scannow and some files from SP2 were replaced. It still hasn't
fixed the problem though. When I try to explore a drive, things freeze, then
slow, then may go back to normal or crash - whether there are .avi files on
that drive or not. Any suggestions please?

 

[Malke]

I did the scannow and some files from SP2 were replaced. It still
hasn't
fixed the problem though. When I try to explore a drive, things
freeze, then slow, then may go back to normal or crash - whether there
are .avi files on
that drive or not. Any suggestions please?

Yes, you've apparently been only doing software troubleshooting. Time
now to do the hardware troubleshooting. Start with the RAM, then the
hard drive.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out suspected parts
with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine to a professional
computer repair shop (not your local equivalent of BigStoreUSA). Have
all your data backed up before you take the machine into a shop.

Malke

 

[Guest]

So fat I've run Memtest with no errors reported. I'll do the other two
listed on your site as I can. I have no problem getting in the computer and
ripping stuff out. I built it a few years ago. Is it possible to replace
the explorer.exe itself or was that done during the scannow sfc? I haven't
seen Dr Watson in a while - but I still get hesitations and momentary,
intermittent freezes with really small intervals of mouse control. During
this time I can only see what was going on in task manager with the CPU usage
and what process might be causing the problem for the 1/8th of a second the
screen is unfrozen and so far that isn't working to my advantage..
It seems as though it's taking longer than usual for the computer to start
up too - even though I've cleaned up the start programs.

I'm open to any advice and thank you for the help so far.

 

[Malke]

So fat I've run Memtest with no errors reported. I'll do the other
two
listed on your site as I can. I have no problem getting in the
computer and
ripping stuff out. I built it a few years ago. Is it possible to
replace
the explorer.exe itself or was that done during the scannow sfc? I
haven't seen Dr Watson in a while - but I still get hesitations and
momentary,
intermittent freezes with really small intervals of mouse control.
During this time I can only see what was going on in task manager with
the CPU usage and what process might be causing the problem for the
1/8th of a second the screen is unfrozen and so far that isn't working
to my advantage.. It seems as though it's taking longer than usual for
the computer to start up too - even though I've cleaned up the start
programs.

Explorer.exe is the graphical user interface for Windows. The problem is
not being caused by that particular file. Of course, there is no way
for me to know what your issue is, but there are more than two
suggestions in my troubleshooting steps. Overheating, bad psu, bad
motherboard, bad processor, bad video card... etc. Any hardware
component could be causing your problem.

Malke