Windows 7: Explorer.exe crashed twice this week

I randomly got two crashes from explorer.exe and this is whats in the event vewier

Faulting application name: Explorer.EXE, version: 6.1.7601.17567, time stamp: 0x4d672ee4
Faulting module name: msvcrt.dll, version: 7.0.7600.16385, time stamp: 0x4a5bdfbe
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x0000000000001087
Faulting process id: 0x6e8
Faulting application start time: 0x01cc5f09f52b08eb
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
Report Id: 5172771b-cb42-11e0-ba32-1c6f65c70515

Explorer.EXE
6.1.7601.17567
4d672ee4
msvcrt.dll
7.0.7600.16385
4a5bdfbe
c0000005
0000000000001087
6e8
01cc5f09f52b08eb
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
5172771b-cb42-11e0-ba32-1c6f65c70515

Anyone know how to fix/prevent this ?

Couple of things you can try. First, manually refresh Windows Explorer.

Open Task Manager > Processes tab > left click explorer.exe to highlight it.
(NOTE: Do not confuse explorer.exe with iexplore.exe!)
Click End Process and again on the "are you sure" prompt.
All desktop icons and taskbar will disappear. This is normal
Task Manager is still open. Click File (upper left corner) > New Task (Run...)
Type explorer.exe in the box that appears > OK your way back out.
Desktop icons and taskbar will reappear, Windows Explorer has been refreshed.

If this doesn't fix things you could try running a System File Checker scan. This scan will check all protected system files and replace incorrect, corrupted, changed, or damaged filess with the correct versions if possible. If SFC finds any problems, run the scan 3 more times.

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

Windows automatically restarts the crash for me at the expense of loosing system tray icons, I've done the sfc /scannow and it didnt find any errors, anything else worth trying ?

According to some different forum threads I've read (including a Microsoft Answers forum) some people have discovered it's a display driver issue. They determined that by disabling Aero. Make sure you have the latest display driver.

Disable Aero

You could also check the Event Viewer Log to see if anything is showing around the time of your last explorer.exe crash.

What information appears in event logs? (Event Viewer)

Ok, This usually happens when Im running a certain game in window mode.. I'll set the game to run the game with the option of disabled desktop composition ( Im guessing this is for aero ) and will reprot back.

So i tried to run the game with aero disabled, still getting the explorer crash.. must be a driver issue in window mode then ?

I think it's very possible that you're experiencing a driver issue. I'd make sure you have the latest driver for the GTX285. And I might also contact Nvidia tech support to see if they think it's a graphics issue.

GeForce GTX 285

Im currently using a GTX580 btw.. I'll update to the 280.xx WHQL, still using 275.xx

Updated to the 280.xx WHQL still getting the same error once in a while.. I'll put my CPU back to stock speed and see if this is causing it but oddly enough I've never encountered such an error if I didnt play the game.

Just for the heck of it try running a couple of free anti-malware scans that tend to pick up things traditional antivirus suites miss.

Malwarebytes : Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a free download that removes viruses and malware from your computer

Hitman Pro 3 - SurfRight

In the case of Malwarebytes, update the database and then run the full scan (even though it says the quick scan is recommended.) A full scan could take an hour or more depending on the size of the HDD. Hitman Pro will automatically install its latest version but if you're still running 7 Ultimate x64 make sure you download the 64-bit Hitman. If either scan detects anything and you're not sure what to do you can post the scan logs here.