Windows Explorer has stopped working

Rillington · 03-04-2011, 03:03

Hi all,

Need some help please because a major fault has developed with my computer, running Windows Vista.

Basically, since around teatime yesterday I have been unable to run major processes within the control panel, as when I have tried I got the message "Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working." I think I may have been infected with a virus but all scans, from both my anti-virus programme and malwarebytes, run from safe mode, reveal no infected objects and I have no way of knowing if a virus is still on the harddrive and still causing these issues. Among the processes which I cannot run are Windows Updates, backup/restore, programmesand features, network sharing and many others. Everytime I click on one of those commands I get told that Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working. It then restarts the entire screen of the desktop icons but when I try again, same problem.

For the last eight hours I have tried all sorts of things, including the recommended changing of the viewing methods from Network, Organise, and clicking show icons. What was strange is that for one minute Windows Explorer did work but then went back to what it was doing before.

If anyone has any thoughts as to what has gone wrong and how I can fix this then I'd be grateful of any help because I really have no clue as to how to sort this problem out apart from replacing the harddrive.

grim reaper · 03-04-2011, 15:31

sounds like you have a corrupted file within the windows system files .... use your vista install disk .... make sure your pc is set to boot from cd-rom (might need to set this in the bios) start your pc with the vista disc in the cd/dvd drive ... once it has finished loading the set up files choose the repair option and allow it to do its stuff ..... problem should then be fixed

Rillington · 03-04-2011, 15:40

Many thanks for your reply.

Windows Update now appears to be working - righted itself on its own - and in fact 2/3 of the functions seem to work with only a few of the major ones not working.

A corrupted file may well be the cause. If it is then hopefully it should be easy to fix. However, scans done indicate that there didn't appear to be any corrupted files and if there were then none were automatically fixed. I would prefer not to put in the Vista disc if at all possible and am hoping I might be able to repair any corrupted files without the Vista disc.

Dai · 03-04-2011, 16:50

Might be worth running the system file checker.

Open CMD window as administrator, SFC /SCANNOW

however, that may well ask for Vista dvd, so you may have to use your disk.

Rillington · 03-04-2011, 17:01

I agree, and I'm doing that right now

Just done it and it says "no integrity violations."

I've also found out that what is happening each time that Windows Explorer stops working. It tells me that these problems are a result of an APPCRASH.

Rillington · 05-04-2011, 01:24

Just a quick note to say that I've managed to sort out the issues by doing a system restore. Many thanks for your help GR and David.

Dai · 05-04-2011, 06:23

A strange issue, but thanks for reporting back. Glad to hear restore fixed it, whatever it was.