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Resolved Question

How can I install DivX without Windows Explorer crashing?

Jan 11, 2012 8:25AM PST

Hi

I have had Windows 7 for about 2-3 months now. I installed DivX codec/player & all the stuff that comes with it after about 1 month use.

For the last few weeks I have been experiencing frequent crashes of my Windows Explorer whenever I try to open any folder or anything that uses explorer.exe. It would go like "Windows Explorer has stopped working..." & then it goes away & then restarts again automatically.

Then I went online to look for issues that may have been at the root of this problem. I found that DivX is the one, uninstalling it would resolve the issue.

I uninstalled DivX after that to find that it does work. The problem is no more.

But the problem is I need to use DivX to encode videos that I generally edit sometimes. Without DivX, I'm missing out on one of the common formats of video gallery.

I was wondering that if I can install/use DivX while also not facing any Windows Explorer crashes. I tried looking up this solution on the net for some time now. But no help! So I thought the only place I could probably get good answers to this problem is here, CNET.

Thanks in advance!

Discussion is locked

ppdjoy has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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There are few workarounds.
Jan 11, 2012 9:25AM PST

You found ONE. Another is to never view the folder except in some list mode. NO THUMBNAILS!

Another is to unregister a dll but I don't like that one.

Try OTHER versions of DIVX and be very sure your OS and video drivers as well as DirectX are up to date.
Bob

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How to unregister dll?
Jan 11, 2012 9:56PM PST

Not viewing the file, in general, is an option. But that doesn't really resolve the issue.

How can I unregister dll?

Everything is up to date.

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Smile.
Jan 12, 2012 2:47AM PST
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Well...
Jan 12, 2012 4:38AM PST

I don't think the problem is from preview. It's like anytime I go into any folder, Windows Explorer crashes. When I uninstalled DivX & all its components, the problem was no more. So I think it has something to do with DivX.

I thought the dll that you were talking about has to do something with DivX. I don't want to unregister the preview dll.

If there is any other way to have DivX installed in my system while having no crashes from Windows Explorer, please tell me that.

Thanks!

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I have to give you time to learn more about Explorer?
Jan 12, 2012 7:57AM PST

That dll looks at the file type, then off to see what decoder to use and then the decoder (divx?) may crash.

Since MSFT didn't give you granular control over this area we only have this.

I know that folk that are new to Windows or just users need time to figure this out. I'll subscribe when you are ready I'll get a note.
Bob

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I understand ... but
Jan 14, 2012 12:57AM PST

I may have not explained the problem correctly or you may have misunderstood me. My problem is whenever I try to open Windows Explorer (meaning any kind of folder besides Desktop which I can just see), it just crashes & then restarts. I googled the problem & found that DivXMFsource.dll is at the root of the problem. Here's some of the places where I found this: 1, 2.

Now, since I do some video editing, I need to use DivX codec to encode my videos. Uninstalling DivX solves the problem for me like the people from those links. But I need to use DivX. How can I not have any crashes but still have DivX installed in my system? That is my question.

Hope it's clear now.

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I know this issue well.
Jan 14, 2012 5:14AM PST

And it's why I have to unregister that dll on such systems. It's an enduring bug that MSFT never squashed. And they have no reason too since it's not their code that crashed. It's the divx that was rendering some thumbnail or being called when Explorer runs and sends a message to see what the divx is going to do.

If MSFT can't fix this, and I could, I'd not be here.
Bob

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Thanks anyway
Jan 16, 2012 3:05AM PST

Thanks anyway, then.

I'll try to contact Microsoft or DivX about the issue. It seems like a popular problem among users. So they should do something about it.

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How long have you worked with their products?
Jan 16, 2012 3:14AM PST

My history is pre-DOS 1.0. Look up the GE-210 and that was the first computer I wrote software for.

Microsoft in that many years has consistently not responded when it's not their code. This case and why is very well known. So are the fixes. You have to get a good DivX CODEC. It's that simple and I hope you don't lose any time or money on this.

Since I'm in the know about how to get Explorer to behave, I thought I'd share that with you. But I can't fix what is not my code.
Bob

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What is good DivX codec?
Jan 16, 2012 9:00AM PST

What do you mean by good DivX codec? I thought the codec that comes from DivX website is good.

Thanks again for the continued feedback in this matter.

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I'd try to post there.
Jan 16, 2012 11:17AM PST
http://labs.divx.com/forum also noted there is DivX 6 and DivX Plus.

I have used Codec Sniper to delete a bad codec.
I've also used GSPOT to see what it suggests for a replacement.
Bob
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Thanks
Jan 18, 2012 4:06AM PST

Thanks for all the information.

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Answer
Thanks for the discussion.
Jan 18, 2012 4:13AM PST

It brought up a few areas that I found out the hard way. CODECs, how Explorer calls them and how to unregister and also tools I use to snipe out a bad one and a tool to find another.

In parting let me share a few other favorites in this area.

VLC PLAYER - Plays almost everything. Rarely crashes. Very rarely!
MEDIAINFO - When I need a little more information about that encoding.

Bob