Windows 7: Explorer.exe crashes randomly and won't start until after re-logging.

Hello Everyone,

Lately explorer.exe has started to stop responding and crash randomly, when it does then it doesn't restart and I can't start it from the taskmanger/run/cmd and I have to restart or re-log to get it to work again.

As you might imagine this is a pain in the a** if it's prone to crashing and I don't fancy re-installing Windows 7.



Running on Windows 7 Ultimate x64

Thank you,
A*nonymous

I suspect either a system file corruption or malware infection. So untill some other forum member suggest you something run sfc /scannow in comand prompt and see if it can detect corrupt system file. After that run a quick scan with MBAM. Update MBAM before scanning.

Thanks, going to do that now, will report when it's finished.

EDIT:

The scan found corrupt files and repaired them, MBAM found nothing, going to restart to see if the repair work.

Thank you .♥

I can now confirm that it did not work.
I can add the additional information that when I re-start explorer.exe I can see it pop up in "Processes" in the task manager, but it instantly dies.

Sfc sometimes need to run several time to repair a file. Ok we have done the most basic thing for a start. But unfortunalely i can not be of much help. Lets wait for some other forum member to join the thread.

Still nothing =/

Create another user with admin privilages, log in to the new user and check whether Explorer.exe is behaving same.

If not then may be your old user profile is corrupted. Explorer.exe crashing happens when a profile gets corrupted. Move all the data from old use profile to the new user profile and then delete the old profile.

Use following:
PUT SYSTEM SWEEPER ON A USB STICK
System Sweeper, https://connect.microsoft.com/systemsweeper, allows you to start an infected PC and perform an offline scan to identify and remove viruses, rootkits and other advanced malware. System Sweeper is a free standalone, bootable malware and virus remover from Microsoft.

NOTE: A fine tutorial on the System Sweeper is:
How to use the Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper


Download System Sweeper (about 576 kB):
https://connect.microsoft.com/systemsweeper

Insert 256 MB or larger USB stick into a usb port.

Run the downloaded program--mssstool64.exe or mssstool32.exe

Choose the option to install to USB.
Caution: The install program will format the usb stick.

The install program will download about 200 mB more.

After the install is finished, leave the stick in the usb slot.

Run the program you downloaded once again.

This 2nd run, and any subsequent runs, will download the very latest anti-virus definitions (about 60 mB).

To keep System Sweeper up-to-date, simply reinsert the usb stick and run the installation program, mssstool64.exe or mssstool32.exe, again.

The initial, full scan by System Sweeper can easily take several hours, but subsequent quick scans will be shorter.

Remember, your computer is being very thoroughly checked for all types of malware.

The results of System Sweeper will be in:
\Windows\Standalone System Sweeper\Support as one or more files with a LOG extension which can be viewed with Notepad.

I tried both of the above with no success.

if you are crashing then I recommend that you close this thread and post your problem in the Crashes and Debugging Forum.

Follow their procedure there:
Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions