Windows Explorer crashes(?) repeatedly

  • Thread starter Thread starter mr_unreliable
  • Start date Start date
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mr_unreliable

hi group,

I have a new dell with winxp (media edition) installed.

It seems to work well, except for one thing. Every half-hour
or so, I get a dialog telling me that explorer has done something
bad, and must be closed. Then I get another dialog asking me
whether I want to inform microsoft of this. If I am online,
I answer yes, otherwise no. At this point, microsoft has most
likely received over 100 notifications from me, but I have
heard nothing from them.

With older systems, I would have just gotten out my os
distribution disk, and re-loaded a fresh copy of explorer,
but (as you probably know) dell is not sending out distribution
disks any longer. You get a copy of the system, but it is
resident on a hidden partition -- I haven't figured out how
to get at it yet -- and I'm not sure that I'm supposed to. The
instructions say if you have a problem contact dell support.

So finally, I have two questions:

1). Is anybody else having this problem? If so, have you
found a solution? If so, are you willing to share?

2). Can anybody explain how I could get a fresh copy of
windows explorer (for xp media ed). Also, it occurs to me
that windows explorer itself may not be the problem, it may
be with one of the dll's that explorer is using. But anyway
the question is the same, I may have to reload one (or more)
of the dll's.

Also, maybe a third and forth question. If you _do_ send
a notification of a problem to microsoft, do you get back
anywhere a "problem number" that you can use to track if there
if any "fix" forth-coming from ms. And, if you have some
problem, and you are not online and don't wish to connect, is
there any way you can "log" the problem (or problems) such
that when you do get online, you can then send the notifications
to ms all at once.

Finally, a fifth question. Is there some other (more appropriate)
newsgroup where I should be asking this question(s).

thanks in advance for any help, jw
I should be asking this question
 
mr_unreliable said:
hi group,

I have a new dell with winxp (media edition) installed.

It seems to work well, except for one thing. Every half-hour
or so, I get a dialog telling me that explorer has done something
bad, and must be closed. Then I get another dialog asking me
whether I want to inform microsoft of this. If I am online,
I answer yes, otherwise no. At this point, microsoft has most
likely received over 100 notifications from me, but I have
heard nothing from them.

With older systems, I would have just gotten out my os
distribution disk, and re-loaded a fresh copy of explorer,
but (as you probably know) dell is not sending out distribution
disks any longer. You get a copy of the system, but it is
resident on a hidden partition -- I haven't figured out how
to get at it yet -- and I'm not sure that I'm supposed to. The
instructions say if you have a problem contact dell support.

So finally, I have two questions:

1). Is anybody else having this problem? If so, have you
found a solution? If so, are you willing to share?

2). Can anybody explain how I could get a fresh copy of
windows explorer (for xp media ed). Also, it occurs to me
that windows explorer itself may not be the problem, it may
be with one of the dll's that explorer is using. But anyway
the question is the same, I may have to reload one (or more)
of the dll's.

Also, maybe a third and forth question. If you _do_ send
a notification of a problem to microsoft, do you get back
anywhere a "problem number" that you can use to track if there
if any "fix" forth-coming from ms. And, if you have some
problem, and you are not online and don't wish to connect, is
there any way you can "log" the problem (or problems) such
that when you do get online, you can then send the notifications
to ms all at once.

Finally, a fifth question. Is there some other (more appropriate)
newsgroup where I should be asking this question(s).

thanks in advance for any help, jw
I should be asking this question
Click to expand...

Q 1. please post error message verbatim.

Q 2. IE explorer has been patched several times by SP1 , SP2 etc.
....installing an original over the top may not be the way to go.

Q 3. - 4. those notifications are for MS use , don't expect a tracking
number or reply (to get those , you would need to call and 'probably' pay
:> )

as always ...wait for more people to chime in with more info :>
 
hi Haggis (is that the Scots dish that is inedible for anybody else?)

You seem to have inferred that _Internet_ Explorer (IExplore.exe) is
the same as windows explorer (explorer.exe). Is that what you meant?

cheers, jw
 
mr_unreliable said:
You seem to have inferred that _Internet_ Explorer (IExplore.exe) is
the same as windows explorer (explorer.exe). Is that what you meant?
Click to expand...

MS "should" have named their "browser" ie.exe
 
Q 1. please post error message verbatim.

Q 2. IE explorer has been patched several times by SP1 , SP2 etc.
...installing an original over the top may not be the way to go.

Q 3. - 4. those notifications are for MS use , don't expect a tracking
number or reply (to get those , you would need to call and 'probably' pay
:> )
Click to expand...

#1 I have seen SEVERAL "notes" from Microsoft that while
they ask for users of their products to send "bugs", and
"this is what happened" notices, they do not respond. The
information is for their input only, and the communication
is one-way.

The 2nd issue you raised is the key here. Having worked at
Microsoft on several occasions as a "consultant" at various
levels (documentation, writing/editing/proofreading, help
desk), Microsoft will not give you (tech advice) they can
SELL you.

And IF you call Microsoft, count on a LONG wait if you are
seeking advice, and expect to be asked for a credit card #
and to pay upwards of $100 per half/hour.

(how Microsoft typically handles their "help" desk is that
they farm your question out to the nearest available tech
who happens to be up on your issue. They will interview him
to be sure he can handle you competently, and then they send
you on. If all that "pre-interviewing" and "advance work"
takes you waiting on the phone for an hour, so be it.

And when you think the end cost to you is PROHIBITIVE, I've
heard corporate users (executives with expense accounts) say
that one question took 2 hrs to resolve, and cost several
HUNDRED dollars (2 ZEROS).

Why the price per half hour is so expensive is that you may
be in Chicago, and the person you are talking with (finally)
may be in Portugal. Microsoft doesn't want you to know it's
long distance, so they build the exorbitant LD charges into
the rate YOU pay Microsoft.

If you're paying Microsoft $50, you won't notice that your
call cost $15 in Long Distance charges.

byword:
"I'm here to de-mystify Microsoft."


Good luck!


Tallahassee
 
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