Rick Rogers [MVP] on possible causes for Explorer
crashes:
Explorer doesn't just crash without reason, it does so because something is
interfering with the process. It could be antivirus software, it could be
malware (you may not be as clean as you think), or some other process. You
might also check installed plugins for IE, as IE and Explorer share several
modules and bad addons can interfere with explorer. Disabling them from
loading may help.
Additional information by Malke that could be useful:
1. First try updating your drivers. See below for general drivers
information.
2. If the drivers are already correct, then do a clean-boot to make sure
the problem isn't being caused by something running in the background.
How to perform a clean boot in Vista and XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/331796
3. Look in Event Viewer for clues. MS TechNet link on how to run Event
Viewer -
http://tinyurl.com/2jejzc
4. If none of the above helps, do hardware troubleshooting.
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot
*****
Drivers - The First Law of Driver Updates is "if it ain't broke, don't
fix it". Normally if everything is working you want to leave things as
they are. The exception is that heavy-duty gamers will usually want to
update their video and sound drivers to squeeze every last bit of
performance out of the hardware to get the fastest frame rates. If
you're not one of those people, you don't need to update your drivers if
there are no problems you are trying to solve.
Never get drivers from Windows Update. Get them from:
1. The device mftr.'s website; OR
2. The motherboard mftr.'s website if hardware is onboard; OR
3. The OEM's website for your specific machine if you have an OEM
computer (HP, Dell, Sony, etc.).
Read the installation instructions on the website where you get the drivers.
To find out what hardware is in your computer:
1. Read any documentation you got when you bought the computer.
2. If the computer is OEM, go to the OEM's website for your specific
model machine and look at the specs (you'll be there to get the drivers
anyway)
3. Download, install and run a free system inventory program like Belarc
Advisor or System Information for Windows.
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html - Belarc Advisor
http://www.gtopala.com/ - System Information for Windows
If you have installed drivers from Windows Update, you can roll them back:
Roll Back Troublesome Device Drivers in Windows Vista from the How-To
Geek -
http://tinyurl.com/346lox