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General discussion

windows explorer has stopped working

Aug 30, 2010 3:14AM PDT

Yesterday my computer started doing this, and it's pretty annoying. The message windows explorer has stopped working appears. Windows searches for a solution, then windows explorer restarts. Also, when I go to the start menu and click on computer it takes way longer for the icons and everything to load than it used to. Going to my computer is a sure way to get the error to appear as well. I have restarted in safe mode and the problem happens there as well. I have also ran a couple different virus/spyware scans and am fairly sure the computer is clean. Any ideas on how to fix this? I would like to avoid reinstalling windows and starting from scratch. Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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Common causes
Aug 30, 2010 5:39AM PDT

A couple of common causes.

1] Explorer, (which includes your Desktop, Documents folders, Windows Explorer), is attempting to render either a video thumbnail or an image thumbnail which is corrupted.

If this happens directly at startup, there may be a corrupted video or image file, (the actual file, not a shortcut icon), on your Desktop. If it happens when trying to use Windows Explorer to manage files, make sure the files are listed in Details or List option, and not thumbnails or icons option. WE doesn't try to render files in either Details or List options.

2] A bad or corrupted IE Add-on. Internet Explorer is now closely integrated into Explorer and what affects one can affect the other. Look at IE's Add-ons, (IE > Tools > Manage Add-ons), and star elimination testing. A quicker way is to Reset IE, (Tools > Internet Options > Advanced tab, then Reset), but you may lose all favorites, history, cookies, and web site logins if you use that.

Mark

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Still happening
Aug 30, 2010 8:02AM PDT

I did a reset of IE, but I mostly use chrome now. The way I can always get the problem to happen when I go to computer in the start menu. That screen takes forever to load, then windows explorer quits working.

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OK, just as an exercise...
Aug 30, 2010 8:52PM PDT

Since it's the Start Menu that seems to be causing most of the problems, have a go at opening this in Windows Explorer

There are two paths;
C:\Users\{Username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu, where {username} is the account name you are logged in to, and
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

Why two? The first is the Start Menu shortcuts for your account, and the second is the Start Menu shortcuts for all users, (they appear whichever account you are logged into).

The easiest way to do it is to right click the Start Menu, then select "Explore", then right click again and select "Explore All Users". This opens two WE windows so you can display them side by side and explore each.

See if there are any problems as you explore each of the folders.

Mark

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It seems like it's just the computer part
Aug 31, 2010 2:39AM PDT

I can go to the start menu fine, and I seem to have no trouble with programs and folders already on my desktop, but when I go to computer that screen and the icons for the different drives take much longer than usual to load. Windows explorer usually quits working before I can even click on a drive and open folders.

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Different drives?
Aug 31, 2010 2:55AM PDT

That could be a big clue.

Tell us more about these different drives, partitions off the C drive, or additional internal hard drives, external USB hard drives, networked drives from a home or office computer network, or 'mapped' drives from a network? or any combination of those.

Mark

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drives
Aug 31, 2010 3:04AM PDT

There is the C: drive and a D: drive which came with the computer as a boot drive but I now use for storage. I have the DVD E: drive, and there is an icon for an iPhone that appeared when I installed my ipod backup program. These have all been there for a while. Thanks for your help!

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the problem is accessing the computer
Aug 31, 2010 3:30AM PDT

I think the problem isn't that windows explorer stops working, it's that there is a problem accessing the computer. I just tried to open a file while in a program, and when I clicked on my computer it wouldn't open and froze the program. Any ideas?

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iPhone.
Aug 31, 2010 5:33AM PDT

Disconnect all USB devices, reboot and see how that affects the system.

What is this iPod backup software and why was it installed when you connected the iPhone?

Is this backup software working in the background continuously, scanning drives?

You said you did a couple of anti-virus scans. With what? Try installing and scanning with both Malwarebytes' Anti-malware and SUPERAntiSpyware, one at a time.

Mark

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Thanks!
Aug 31, 2010 6:04AM PDT

Thanks for your help. I went through each item in the computer and the ipod software had quit working correctly. I uninstalled it and cleaned it out of the registry, and it works now. This was driving me crazy! Thanks

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Ahh well done.
Aug 31, 2010 7:45PM PDT

Nice work in finding and solving the problem.

Thanks for letting us know.

Mark

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i think my problem is the 1st one.!
Jan 29, 2013 12:39AM PST

"1] Explorer, (which includes your Desktop, Documents folders, Windows Explorer), is attempting to render either a video thumbnail or an image thumbnail which is corrupted.

If this happens directly at startup, there may be a corrupted video or image file, (the actual file, not a shortcut icon), on your Desktop. If it happens when trying to use Windows Explorer to manage files, make sure the files are listed in Details or List option, and not thumbnails or icons option. WE doesn't try to render files in either Details or List options."
i ma not able 2 do this..! before i do it, it crashes..! i tried it 100 times but again when i open it, it is in thumbnails!! pls help ur my last hope..! Happy