Windows Explorer crashing

[Frank D. Nicodem, Jr.]

For several months, I've been having problems with random crashes of Windows
Explorer. The typical scenario is that I have a Windows Explorer window
open, and I click (or right-click) on a file or folder. Instantly, the
Windows Explorer window disappears, and all of the icons are gone from my
desktop -- it's totally blank. After a half-minute or so, the icons seem to
return. However, from that point on (until I reboot), strange things happen
when I try to access Windows Explorer again.

Sometimes I can open an Explorer window. But then when I try to
drag-and-drop files, nothing happens. Another symptom is that, after one of
these crashes, many of the icons in my System Tray have disappeared -- even
though the programs they represent are still running!

I cannot say for sure that the problems started with a particular Windows
Update. However, I do tend to download and install all Updates as they
appear, to keep my system as current as possible. (This is a Windows XP
Home Edition, if it matters.)

Has anyone else experienced these types of random crashes? Does anyone know
the cause? Or, more specifically, the cure???

 

[roger]

Hi,

For several months, I've been having problems with random crashes of Windows
Explorer. The typical scenario is that I have a Windows Explorer window
open, and I click (or right-click) on a file or folder. Instantly, the
Windows Explorer window disappears, and all of the icons are gone from my
desktop -- it's totally blank. After a half-minute or so, the icons seem to
return. However, from that point on (until I reboot), strange things happen
when I try to access Windows Explorer again.

Sometimes I can open an Explorer window. But then when I try to
drag-and-drop files, nothing happens. Another symptom is that, after one of
these crashes, many of the icons in my System Tray have disappeared -- even
though the programs they represent are still running!

I cannot say for sure that the problems started with a particular Windows
Update. However, I do tend to download and install all Updates as they
appear, to keep my system as current as possible. (This is a Windows XP
Home Edition, if it matters.)

Has anyone else experienced these types of random crashes? Does anyone know
the cause? Or, more specifically, the cure???
-----------------------------------------------

Try going to IE > Tools > Internet Options > Advanced Options and
disable third-party browser extensions.

If this works you might want to use BHODemon to disable foreign
Browser Helper Objects.
http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm

Good luck

 

[Frank D. Nicodem, Jr.]

Try going to IE > Tools > Internet Options > Advanced Options and
disable third-party browser extensions.

If this works you might want to use BHODemon to disable foreign
Browser Helper Objects.
http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm

Will this really affect Windows Explorer? I'm not having a problem with
Internet Explorer, only the file management within Windows Explorer. (I
don't think I've ever had an Internet Explorer window crash -- just Windows
Explorer windows.)

 

[roger]

Hi,

On Thu, 27 May 2004 15:43:49 -0400, "Frank D. Nicodem, Jr."

[...]

Will this really affect Windows Explorer? I'm not having a problem with
Internet Explorer, only the file management within Windows Explorer. (I
don't think I've ever had an Internet Explorer window crash -- just Windows
Explorer windows.)

Windows Explorer is highly integrated with IE.

You can also perform a scan looking for malware, if you have not done
so already, with updated ad-aware and spybot:
Ad-aware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/

Spybot S&D
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=download


Good luck

 

[roger]

You're welcome
Glad to help.

Can I just say cheers very muckle for sorting out my control panel, 'other places' shortcut crashes (not responding) with that bit of advice! I will indeed look out for bhodemon or similar proggies to disable whatever caused this in the first place!

There seem to be quite a few similar 'not responding' threads in this forum... perhaps they haven't seen your 'global?' solution?

Cheers!

----- roger wrote: -----

Hi,


Try going to IE > Tools > Internet Options > Advanced Options and
disable third-party browser extensions.

If this works you might want to use BHODemon to disable foreign
Browser Helper Objects.
http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm

Good luck

 

[Frank D. Nicodem, Jr.]

Try going to IE > Tools > Internet Options > Advanced Options and
disable third-party browser extensions.

If this works you might want to use BHODemon to disable foreign
Browser Helper Objects.
http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm

I thought I had posted a reply to this yesterday, but I don't see it now, so
here goes again...

I'm curious why muddling with the Browser Helper Objects will affect a
Windows Explorer window. I'm not talking about my IE crashing -- in fact,
it's been very stable. It's Windows Explorer that's crashing. (Ironically,
as I write this, I'm sitting here with a completely blank desktop. Not only
did Windows Explorer just crash recently, but *all* of my desktop icons are
gone. Completely. And even though running programs -- such as Outlook
Express -- continue to function, I have no Task Bar, no desktop icons, and
my only option - short of rebooting - is to use keyboard shortcuts to
navigate around.)