Windows Explorer keeps crashing on me.

[Melancholy Victory]

This problem has been around for a while, but I thought it wasn't a big deal. Now it's starting to annoy me.

Whenever I go through my PC's files (My Pictures, My Computer, My Music, etc.) and try to right-click on anything, my computer lags for a half-second, and then an error message pops up on my screen saying that "Windows Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close." I don't know if this is from a virus, but it only happens when I try to right-click on anything in my computer's files.

Is there any solution to this, or is this just an error in my PC?

[neodraconum]

see if it occurs in safemode

if it still doing it in safemode then go to my computer -> highlight c: -> file -> properties -> tools -> check the hard drive for errors.

[psychic stalker]

Get the Shell Extension Viewer. Disable extensions one by one until it stops crashing. When it stops, that means you've disabled the extension that is causing the problem.

I recommend uninstalling the offending program.

[Melancholy Victory]

psychic stalker

Get the Shell Extension Viewer. Disable extensions one by one until it stops crashing. When it stops, that means you've disabled the extension that is causing the problem.

I recommend uninstalling the offending program.

So you're saying that it's an extension that's causing Windows Explorer to keep crashing?

[Melancholy Victory]

neodraconum

see if it occurs in safemode

if it still doing it in safemode then go to my computer -> highlight c: -> file -> properties -> tools -> check the hard drive for errors.

Dumb question, but...

I don't know how to change to safe mode. How do I do so?

[Chibi Alexis]

Melancholy Victory

neodraconum

see if it occurs in safemode

if it still doing it in safemode then go to my computer -> highlight c: -> file -> properties -> tools -> check the hard drive for errors.

Dumb question, but...

I don't know how to change to safe mode. How do I do so?

Restart your computer and as it's booting press F8 and you'll see a menu, pick safe mode from it smile

If you run into any issues doing this click this link, since I suck at explaining things. http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx?mfr=true

But honestly as long as you press F8 when your computer is starting, things will be fine.

[Melancholy Victory]

Chibi Alexis

Restart your computer and as it's booting press F8 and you'll see a menu, pick safe mode from it smile

If you run into any issues doing this click this link, since I suck at explaining things. http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx?mfr=true

But honestly as long as you press F8 when your computer is starting, things will be fine.

Oh, okay.

I'll probably try it in the morning, since I'm trying to do some pretty important stuff while trying to figure out this problem. If it persists, well... I'll use psychic stalker's advice.

Thanks for the help.

[psychic stalker]

Melancholy Victory

psychic stalker

Get the Shell Extension Viewer. Disable extensions one by one until it stops crashing. When it stops, that means you've disabled the extension that is causing the problem.

I recommend uninstalling the offending program.

So you're saying that it's an extension that's causing Windows Explorer to keep crashing?

It's the most common cause, yes.

A lot of software you install ends up adding those extensions, and some of them are horrendously buggy.

[Melancholy Victory]

psychic stalker

It's the most common cause, yes.

A lot of software you install ends up adding those extensions, and some of them are horrendously buggy.

All right.

But what if none of my programs/extensions are causing the problem?

[psyco_bongun22]

Have you recently installed a video player, codec..or perhaps a video converter?...

[Melancholy Victory]

psyco_bongun22

Have you recently installed a video player, codec..or perhaps a video converter?...

I installed a flash .swf flash to video converter a few months ago, but the problem only started about a month or two after I did that. Could that be it?

[psyco_bongun22]

Melancholy Victory

I installed a flash .swf flash to video converter a few months ago, but the problem only started about a month or two after I did that. Could that be it?

try uninstalling it, reboot and see if the problem still persist..

[Melancholy Victory]

psyco_bongun22

try uninstalling it, reboot and see if the problem still persist..

I uninstalled it and restarted my computer. The problem's still there.