Right Click on desktop causing Explorer.exe crash!!!

I also uninstalled Avast...and haven't had a crash since. May be a false correlation...especially when you consider that folks are claiming right-click explorer crashes with nothing installed...but when I saw that MSE (also free) fared better in malware testing, I figured that I would give it a try.

Microsoft Security Essentials rated best free antivirus for Windows

Although I'm not getting any "Windows Explorer has stopped responding" "Windows Explorer is restarting" messages, I think it is still happening, even after I did not install O&O Defrag. The screen will just redraw itself. Takes about 2-5 seconds to restore normal operation. Basically it's like the error I had before, except there isn't any Windows Error Reporting message.

I'm also getting something where if I right click on the start menu to remove a program from the list, the context menu doesn't come up, then Explorer restarts. I disabled all the ShellEx stuff which was red, basically all the non-MS ones, and no dice. Or I was viewing some pictures and they took longer than average to load. If I do it a few times it'll work, but not always the first time. I would assume since it was from a folder, that it might be tied into Windows Explorer.

I don't know much about MSE, but I might give it a shot, if Avast might be causing other issues. I've been told Windows Defender isn't exactly as good as Spybot S&D, but I guess it's not the same thing as MSE.

Hi, GOOD NEWS. After a lot of research about the explorer crashing problem, I have come accross a web site, it gives instructions to delete a registery entry. THIS HAS WORED FOR ME, I have tested my system out after deleting the entry and restarting my computer and have not had the crashing problem again:) If it does crash I will let you all know but fingers crossed.

Follow my instructions:

1. Click start
2. Type regedit and hit enter
3. Go into the following - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE - SOFTWARE - Microsoft - SQMClient
4. Then you should see an entry called "MachineThrottling", BACKUP YOUR REGISTERY (file, Export etc...) and DELETE that entry.
5. Close the Registery Program
6. Open My computer right click on the hard drive that Windows 7 is installed on
7. Click Tools Tab
8. Click check now (make sure the top box is selected - fix file system errors) and OK
9. Restart your computer

This has worked for my system and hopefully it will work on yours. If you need help just leave a reply and I will try my best to help out:)

Uninstalled Avast, and it seemed to have stopped crashing. Funny thing was other people I know said they had no problems with Avast. I'm using MSE for anti-virus and Spybot S&D for spyware removal.

I don't use Avast. I use MSE, so it shouldn't be Avast.

Just thought I would add that.

magnetite said:

Uninstalled Avast, and it seemed to have stopped crashing. Funny thing was other people I know said they had no problems with Avast. I'm using MSE for anti-virus and Spybot S&D for spyware removal.

I uninstalled O&O before as a test. I didn't have a crash for 5 hours, then it happened again. I would def. give it some time before saying it's cured!

BashirSabeel said:

Hi, GOOD NEWS. After a lot of research about the explorer crashing problem, I have come accross a web site, it gives instructions to delete a registery entry. THIS HAS WORED FOR ME, I have tested my system out after deleting the entry and restarting my computer and have not had the crashing problem again:) If it does crash I will let you all know but fingers crossed.

Follow my instructions:

1. Click start
2. Type regedit and hit enter
3. Go into the following - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE - SOFTWARE - Microsoft - SQMClient
4. Then you should see an entry called "MachineThrottling", BACKUP YOUR REGISTERY (file, Export etc...) and DELETE that entry.
5. Close the Registery Program
6. Open My computer right click on the hard drive that Windows 7 is installed on
7. Click Tools Tab
8. Click check now (make sure the top box is selected - fix file system errors) and OK
9. Restart your computer

This has worked for my system and hopefully it will work on yours. If you need help just leave a reply and I will try my best to help out:)

Bashir,

it seems a lot of people have used the above method you suggested with some success. Here is a link with similar success:

House Party > "Windows explorer has stopped working"

Also if you do a Google search simply for "MachineThrottling" a lot of useful information comes up. I'll give it a go..why not..seems like an easy enough thing to try.

Update: I do not even have ANY keys under this pane in my registry. So sadly, this can't be the cause of my problem as I do not even have the entry at all!

Hi, GOOD NEWS. After a lot of research about the explorer crashing problem, I have come accross a web site, it gives instructions to delete a registery entry. THIS HAS WORED FOR ME, I have tested my system out after deleting the entry and restarting my computer and have not had the crashing problem again:) If it does crash I will let you all know but fingers crossed.

Follow my instructions:

1. Click start
2. Type regedit and hit enter
3. Go into the following - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE - SOFTWARE - Microsoft - SQMClient
4. Then you should see an entry called "MachineThrottling", BACKUP YOUR REGISTERY (file, Export etc...) and DELETE that entry.
5. Close the Registery Program
6. Open My computer right click on the hard drive that Windows 7 is installed on
7. Click Tools Tab
8. Click check now (make sure the top box is selected - fix file system errors) and OK
9. Restart your computer

This has worked for my system and hopefully it will work on yours. If you need help just leave a reply and I will try my best to help out:)

There is no entry by that name in my machine, I have tried a search in Registry Editor also.

I have used Avast in the past and had Windows Explorer crash, however since moving to MSE the issue still occurs.

I have never used O&O Defrag, I use PerfectDisk, although I did use Spybot - Search & Destroy but it was causing its own errors.

I would certainly recommend giving your machine at least 5-7 days before you claim it is fixed/cured.
I have seen my machine run solid for 3 days and then start with the issue again!

same issue here as well, it does bother me a lot because i never had this happen with the RC...I hope Microsoft fixes this soon so that it doesn't give 7 a bad name...