windowsXPpro explorer crash

[Benedictum]

everytime I access a folder I get the explorer crashing. I do not understand
why and Microsoft has taken no effort to solve the problem despite me
sending the reports everytime it happens for about a year now. Can someone
tell me why explorer is crashing?

 

[Malke]

everytime I access a folder I get the explorer crashing. I do not
understand why and Microsoft has taken no effort to solve the problem
despite me sending the reports everytime it happens for about a year
now. Can someone tell me why explorer is crashing?

The reports that you send will not get you tech support. If you want
tech support, you can make a post in the newsgroup (as you've done) or
call MS Tech Support or take the machine to a good local computer
repair shop (not a BestBuy or CompUSA type of store).

Now, you haven't given us enough information to get a good answer. We
don't know anything about your computer, the hardware or the software
you have on it. We don't know your Windows version and Service Pack
level. If you want help, you must provide a lot more details. In the
meantime, here are some general troubleshooting steps to go through:

First check for malware, as follows (links follow step below):

1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
antivirus using updated definitions.

2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.

Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).

HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and disable hijackers, but
it requires expert skill. See below for HijackThis links. A combination
of HijackThis and About:Buster works well in removing the About:Blank
homepage hijacker. Again, this is an expert tool and novices should get
help with it.

3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).

Links to help with malware:

Software/Methods:
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware
http://www.majorgeeks.com - good download site
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. - SilentRunners

HijackThis:
http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm - HijackThis tutorial by Jim
Eshelman
http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5 - Spyware Warrior HijackThis
forum
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/

General:
http://forum.aumha.org/ - look under "Security" for various forums
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Then move on to general maintenance:

1) Delete temporary and Temporary Internet Files.
2) Stop unnecessary services/programs from starting with Windows - see
www.blackviper.com for services info and
www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm for programs info.
3) Look in Event Viewer for clues (Start>Run eventvwr.msc [enter])
4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.
5) Run a firewall.

Malke

 

[Benedictum]

OK, my system runs on WinXPPro Sp2 (fully updated). When I indicated that
Microsoft is not doing anything about this is because sometime back I have
seen reports from most users directed to MS. They have records of these
complaints.

Anyway, I am not sure about those freewares. Some of them have done me harm
than good. What I really need to know is why explorer crashes when
scrolling thru a folder.

everytime I access a folder I get the explorer crashing. I do not
understand why and Microsoft has taken no effort to solve the problem
despite me sending the reports everytime it happens for about a year
now. Can someone tell me why explorer is crashing?

The reports that you send will not get you tech support. If you want
tech support, you can make a post in the newsgroup (as you've done) or
call MS Tech Support or take the machine to a good local computer
repair shop (not a BestBuy or CompUSA type of store).

Now, you haven't given us enough information to get a good answer. We
don't know anything about your computer, the hardware or the software
you have on it. We don't know your Windows version and Service Pack
level. If you want help, you must provide a lot more details. In the
meantime, here are some general troubleshooting steps to go through:

First check for malware, as follows (links follow step below):

1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
antivirus using updated definitions.

2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.

Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).

HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and disable hijackers, but
it requires expert skill. See below for HijackThis links. A combination
of HijackThis and About:Buster works well in removing the About:Blank
homepage hijacker. Again, this is an expert tool and novices should get
help with it.

3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).

Links to help with malware:

Software/Methods:
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware
http://www.majorgeeks.com - good download site
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. - SilentRunners

HijackThis:
http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm - HijackThis tutorial by Jim
Eshelman
http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5 - Spyware Warrior HijackThis
forum
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/

General:
http://forum.aumha.org/ - look under "Security" for various forums
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Then move on to general maintenance:

1) Delete temporary and Temporary Internet Files.
2) Stop unnecessary services/programs from starting with Windows - see
www.blackviper.com for services info and
www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm for programs info.
3) Look in Event Viewer for clues (Start>Run eventvwr.msc [enter])
4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.
5) Run a firewall.

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"

 

[Malke]

OK, my system runs on WinXPPro Sp2 (fully updated). When I indicated
that Microsoft is not doing anything about this is because sometime
back I have seen reports from most users directed to MS. They have
records of these complaints.

Anyway, I am not sure about those freewares. Some of them have done me
harm than good. What I really need to know is why explorer crashes
when scrolling thru a folder.

As I said to you in my first answer, we don't know because we don't know
anything about your computer, its age, its hardware, although now we do
know the operating system details. What "freewares" are you not sure
about? Any programs I suggested in the malware removal steps are
legitimate and work well for thousands of people. Things to checkand/or
answer:

1. What changed between the time things worked and the time they didn't?
2. Is your computer 100% spyware and virus-free? If you think so, how
did you determine this?
3. Is this an old computer? What is the processor, amount of RAM, and
wattage of the power supply? How many drives are in the machine?
4. What troubleshooting - including hardware troubleshooting - have you
already done?

Malke