XP explorer crashes while looking at files

[Rodney Atkins]

I'm using XP Home SP 1.

For a while now, when I open an explorer window (either by pressing
WinKey + E or double-clicking My Computer), the resulting window
crashes explorer within minutes to seconds (usually about 20 seconds)
of opening it. By crash, I mean the window and the taskbar disappear.
The taskbar returns a few seconds later; the tasktray icons repopulate
gradually, and some of them never return.

This happens only when I'm looking at the contents of HD, CD,
removable disk, etc.

Reinstalling XP is not an option, so I'd appreciate any ideas.

Thanks!

Rodney

 

[Ferris]

why isn't re-installing XP an option...oh, pirated copy...no disks...now we
understand....

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Rodney

What Error message?

Make a note of the precise text of any error message. You can always look at these in Event Viewer. Start, Administrative Tools, Event Viewer. When researching the meaning of the error, information regarding Event ID: and Source Description are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308427&Product=winxp

Post details of the Error Report and we can see if we are able to help.

Please let the newsgroup know how you get on.

~~~~~~


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FCA
(e-mail address removed)
Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please tell the newsgroup how any
suggested solution worked for you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Rodney Atkins]

No, not a pirated copy, an OEM copy. No install CD, only restore CDs.

Thanks for assuming the worst.

Now go back under your bridge.

 

[Rodney Atkins]

Gerry:

Thanks for the response.

There is no error message. Explorer just goes away. Sort of the same
behavior that would occur if I selected "explorer.exe" from the
Processes tab of the Task Manager and ended the process.

However, in the application log, I see this event at about the last
time this problem occurred:

Event Type: Information
Event Source: Winlogon
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1002
Date: 3/28/2004
Time: 2:32:59 PM
User: N/A
Computer: ZE5185
Description:
The shell stopped unexpectedly and Explorer.exe was restarted.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.


Clicking on the link takes me to a page in the Help and Support Center
suggesting that this is not a significant problem. It may not be, but
it's a pain when I'm looking for a file and can't find it because the
explorer window keeps disappearing. Oh, and it does the same thing
when I'm using the Search feature---just craps out right in the middle
of a search.

Hope this is enlightening. Thanks.

Rodney

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Rodney

Stone not bridge where I come from <g>.

With an OEM version you can sometimes find a copy of Windows stored on your hard disk. In Windows 98 it is in a C:\windows\ options\cab folder. I am not certain of how the convention applies to Windows XP. They will be hidden files. Whenever you buy a new computer with an OEM version installed you should insist on a CD being provided.

Some information on your error message to look through:
http://www.eventid.net/display.asp?eventid=1002&source=Winlogon

A lot of problems today are caused by spyware. If you have not already done so download Adaware (freeware version) from http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/ and use it to remove parasites. Update the reference file before running Adaware and do so each time you run the programme.

--

~~~~~~


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FCA
(e-mail address removed)
Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please tell the newsgroup how any
suggested solution worked for you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Roy Smith]

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why isn't re-installing XP an option...oh, pirated copy...no disks...now we
understand....

Wish you would quote part of what you're replying to... makes it easier
to follow a discussion.

They may mot have a pirated copy, they could be like me and have bought
a HP or Compac PC that didn't have restore CD included in the box. All
the restore software is on a hidden partition on the hard drive, and
they may not know that it's there or how to use it...


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