Windows 7 - Windows Explorer crashing

Hi,

So my friend Google has directed me to these fine fourms and I discover I'm not the only one with this extremely annoying problem.

When I try to do things such as right click on files/folders, the recycle bin or delete files using the delete key - Windows Explorer will often crash (though not all the time). Once it has crashed (and restarted), it seems far more prone to then recrashing.

I've read plenty of threads on this and I know it's widespread, but one thread said to start my own so I have done. Here are some example crash logs, I'm computer literate so any other things you want you can have!

Log Name: Application
Source: Application Error
Date: 05/12/2009 13:51:14
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: (100)
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: nathan-PC
Description:
Faulting application name: explorer.exe, version: 6.1.7600.16404, time stamp: 0x4a765771
Faulting module name: msvcrt.dll, version: 7.0.7600.16385, time stamp: 0x4a5bdfbe
Exception code: 0xc000041d
Fault offset: 0x000000000000117a
Faulting process id: 0xaac
Faulting application start time: 0x01ca75b1fd8696c8
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\explorer.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
Report Id: 40923da3-e1a5-11de-b229-002219fb0610

***************************

Faulting application name: explorer.exe, version: 6.1.7600.16404, time stamp: 0x4a765771
Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 6.1.7600.16385, time stamp: 0x4a5be02b
Exception code: 0xc0000374
Fault offset: 0x00000000000c6cd2
Faulting process id: 0x1e4
Faulting application start time: 0x01ca75b1e1f0b901
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\explorer.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
Report Id: 267dd561-e1a5-11de-b229-002219fb0610

***************************

Faulting application name: explorer.exe, version: 6.1.7600.16404, time stamp: 0x4a765771
Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 6.1.7600.16385, time stamp: 0x4a5be02b
Exception code: 0xc0000374
Fault offset: 0x00000000000c6cd2
Faulting process id: 0x988
Faulting application start time: 0x01ca74d384f92a0e
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\explorer.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
Report Id: c906666e-e0c6-11de-bcb8-002219fb0610

***************************

I literally have hundreds of these!

So some information about my PC:

OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
Commonly blamed programs which I have installed: Firefox 3.5.5 and 7Zip 4.65 (although no context menu)

Any more information you need, I will provide

Cheers,

Casey

Do you have 'Private mode' or 'Never remember history' selected in Firefox?
That's the first thing I would check, and if you do, try selecting 'Remeber history' instead.

This has cured the problem for many users including myself.

Mozilla have a proposed workaround in place and Microsoft are apparently working on a permanent fix.

It has to do with the clipboard and the way in which data is handled, which in turn causes any context menu with 'Paste' in it, to crash.

I would imagine, and am fairly confident, that the next updates for Firefox, mainly 3.5.6 and 3.6.5 should resolve this issue.

That is, providing no other application effects the clipboard in this way.
At the very least until Microsoft push out an update.

P.S. I followed the instructions here: http://www.sevenforums.com/crash-loc...g-process.html

But when I got a warning in the cmd window saying something about '_NT_environment_variable' not set and then when I got my first crash after that I don't get a 2nd_chance file - only a 1st_chance?

Cheers

Hi Casey and welcome


Frequently event id 1000 source 100 is caused by DEP. Date Exrcution Prevention is used to prevent launching an exe into protected memory (like a virus).

It is located in cpanel>system cpanel>advanced>performance>DEP. Default is NOT all applications. If you are getting the IE freezes you can add it as an exempt app and it will stop the freezes.

Good luck and let us know if you need help with that

Ken

Hi Dazeon

Sorry I didn't see your post when I put my P.S.Yes, I did have private mode on - I have now turned it off, so fingers crossed

Cheers,

Casey

Hi Ken,

The crashes relate to Windows Explorer not Internet Explorer. As such I can't disable DEP for it.

Cheers,

Casey

Hey Caseyboy, no worries.

Try that and see how it goes, it's a little annoying if you like your privacy/paranoia (which I do/am), however, you can always use something like CCleaner to clear your history. I tend to steer clear of the registry cleaner though.

Mozilla have confirmed they have a workaround in place, and we should get the fix in a new release fairly soon.

If you do manage to get a proper dump, and would like it analysed, then I would definately ask 'H2SO4' nicely.

He's extremely helpful and nothing short of a genius!

I have a strong feeling though that your dump would point to 'Heap Corruption', as most others have.

Is not obvious what causes craash but try out all types of devices, analog modem or an additional slot, and all that still does not support Vista or Win 7th
possible that no space on the hard disk is not enough.
If you give more detailed specification of PC configurations may be obvious but it's possible and I will understand the problem ..

try it put up in safe mode ... it seems that the problem could be the graphics card ...

@ Dazeon, I managed to find your bug report to Mozilla. Typical "not us, but them" problem. At least they've acknowledged a problem and are working on a fix with MS.

@new1, thank you for your post. If Dazeon's suggestion does not work - I will post back with more detailed information about my system.

Casey

Sorry mate, I should have posted the link, but alas, you found it anyway.

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=518412

That's it anyway, if anyone else wants to take a look.