Windows XP right click hangs system (not responding)

[Cindy Tittle Moore]

I must have changed a setting while I was "improving" the performance of my
Windows XP machine but somehow I killed the right-click menu.

Everything else seems to be working but I turned off so many services and
killed so many startup items that I don't know WHICH of the performance
tweaks killed the right click menu.

All I get when I right click on a folder is a permanent hourglass.

I can still right click inside a program (such as Internet Explorer), and I
can right click on things like "My Computer" but any folder, even those on
the desktop, causes the right click to hang (not responding) until I reboot
the system. Again and again and again and again.

Do you know how I can debug WHAT killed my WinXP right click service?

 

[Cindy Tittle Moore]

Do you know how I can debug WHAT killed my WinXP right click service?

I think maybe I found the problem!
I believe there is a severe bug in PGP Corporation PGP 8.1.0 for Windows.
I can reproduce problem at will.
Can you?

Since I use PGP only monthly to wipe slack & free space, among other things
bad, I had recently turned off (ie set to MANUAL) the obnoxious PGPServ
(C:\WINDOWS\system32\PGPserv.exe PGPserv) service which manages public key
operations between PGP modules based on astute advice from alt.security.pgp
users.

Turning off that wasteful PGP service elicited this error every time I
rebooted "Cannot establish connection with the PGP SDK service" which the
alt.security.pgp team helped me solve by removing the pgptray.exe from the
Windows XP "Start -> Programs -> Startup" location.

However, my folder right click hanged ever time thereafter.

I ran the http://www.nirsoft.net NirSoft ShellExView program which reported
that there was an orphan "PGPdisk Shell Extension"
C:\WINDOWS\system32\PGPdiskSE.dll context menu handler still running.

I strongly suspect that the PGP Corporation PGP 8.1.0 for Windows has a bug
in that a context menu handler is written so poorly it can't handle its
service being turned off (set to manual by default) and the startup items
for it removed.

As a proof, my folder right click finally returned the minute I uninstalled
PGP Corporation PGP 8.1.0 for Windows!

Oh my! I guess you get what you pay for but it sure seems bad for all those
millions of users out there if they don't fix this eggregious bug in PGP
soon!

My recommendation: Don't use PGP as it will hang your folder right click or
at least turn off this eggregious "PGPdisk Shell Extension" context menu
and the wasteful "PGPServ" service and the error-prone "pgptray.exe"
startup menu entry!

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Right-click is slow or weird behavior caused by context menu handlers:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootlist/208.htm#4

Right-click is extremely slow only when Network is enabled:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/rcdelay.htm

Right click crashes Explorer.exe after installing Windows XP SP2?:
http://www.winxptutor.com/sp2/divxcrash.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I must have changed a setting while I was "improving" the performance of my
Windows XP machine but somehow I killed the right-click menu.

Everything else seems to be working but I turned off so many services and
killed so many startup items that I don't know WHICH of the performance
tweaks killed the right click menu.

All I get when I right click on a folder is a permanent hourglass.

I can still right click inside a program (such as Internet Explorer), and I
can right click on things like "My Computer" but any folder, even those on
the desktop, causes the right click to hang (not responding) until I reboot
the system. Again and again and again and again.

Do you know how I can debug WHAT killed my WinXP right click service?

 

[Guest]

Hi I had the same problem, I used the same software as you but I didnt
manage to narrow down what the core problem was. Ive never used PGP. Using
Shell Ex View v1.14 I ordered all of the function by whom the maker was.
Selected everything that wasnt MS and disabled them. Then went through and
put back all the functions that i wanted. Example, WinRAR etc and its fine,
however there are still loads of misc shell extension that I have left
disabled. I only starting having this problem when i started using a mapped
network drive, any thoughts?

 

[Superman]

This issue is caused by latest update released by Microsoft for Windows
XP / 2000 on Apr 21, 2006. Update # is KB908531.

If you remove this update from your computer through the Add/Remove
window & restart your computer, it will fix the issue. I removed it and
everything works fine now.

 

[calhoun]

I have tried the HP_fix mentioned in this group. I have tried the webshare
download mentioned on another group. They both added something to the
registry. I reboot and I still have the right click on desk top hanging
problem. I guess I will remove this update.
I have auto update. How do I prevent this from being downloaded again?
What was this "update" supposed to fix anyway?
Do I need it for some reason?

 

[Ottmar Freudenberger]

I have tried the HP_fix mentioned in this group. I have tried the webshare
download mentioned on another group. They both added something to the
registry. I reboot and I still have the right click on desk top hanging
problem.

Please feel free to reread the whole posting that follows:

Problems in Windows Explorer or the Windows shell after you install
security update MS06-015
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918165/en-us
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-015

Vulnerability in Windows Explorer Could Allow Remote Code Execution
(908531)
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms06-015.mspx

For those who have Hewlett Packard's Share to Web Software, there
are two registry patches to choose from (run either one or the
other) not both:

I've made a "patch" back on Saturday available at:
http://patch-info.de/WinXP/Downloads/KB908531_Share-To-Web.zip
(Note this is a Zip file and will need to be extracted. It contains
a REG file which needs to be imported into the registry via double
clicking the contained REG file. You may have to reboot Windows
afterwards.)

or

Kelly has made a patch with exact same functionality available at:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Line #383 - this is a vbs file and instructions on how to use such
files are at the top of the page.

If you're using a Nvidia video card, you may want to update the driver
for that card: http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp

In case you're running a Kerio firewall software, please reread
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918165/en-us cloesly.

HTH,
Freu"F'up2 windowsxp.general set"di

 

[Ulrich Windl]

Having used PGP 8.10 with /XP SP2 as well, I never had that type of
problem. Could be something else...

Ulrich