Windows Explorer Crashes When I Close Folder; MSN Messenger?

[Guest]

Hey all, This is my last resort. I have searched google; I have searched this
website; I've done everything I know to do when I run into a computer
problem. With nowhere else to turn, I am now posting a plea for help. Here's
the situation: About 4 months ago, I installed a fresh, legit copy of XP onto
a 2-3 year old computer. Within a week or so, I started noticing that, when I
tried to close folders, Windows Explorer would randomly lock up, and although
I press the X icon in the top-right and the window disappears, it remains on
the taskbar, and requires manual closing through Task Manager to fully exit
out - and doing so crashes Explorer. Reporting the error to MS lead to this
page:
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/response.aspx?SGD=ce4da362-0e37-438b-b7da-a25a04d2e054&SID=1894
I have since done everything I could to remove Windows Messenger - even
editing the registry to make it show up in "add/remove windows components"
and un-checking it. Despite my best efforts, folders will randomly stay open
on the taskbar, and Windows Explorer randomly needs a re-boot. Any advice,
ideas, suggestions, nudges in the right direction, ANYTHING would be most
appreciated. Thank you very much in advance for your time! I look forward to
your responses.

 

[Larry Gardner]

You mention about doing everything you could to remove Windows Messenger,
even modifying the registry to make Windows Messenger show up in Add/Remove
programs.

Since the link and error report gave instructions about MSN Messenger, why
did you do Windows Messenger.
You should see MSN Messenger in Add/Remove programs without having to change
anything in the registry.

 

[Guest]

Thank you for your reply. I have removed Windows Messenger because I can't
seem to find anything to indicate that I have MSN Messenger on my computer;
it does not appear anywhere on the Add/Remove programs list, and the closest
things I can find are "MSN Gaming Zone" and "Microsoft.NET", which I suspect
are not related. Therefore, I believe the problem to be greater than "MSN
Messenger" , but still welcome any suggestions to keep Windows Explorer from
freezing and crashing randomly when I close folders.