Explorer and built in apps freeze when I type

PudgyChicken · Dec 13, 2011

Hello all,
For a long time now, I've been having issues with Explorer.exe and the built in apps (cmd, notepad, not wordpad interestingly) freezing when I type anything. Now, this only happens when I first boot up my computer, for the first 10 minutes or so. During this time I'm reduced to using Chrome to surf the web or making batch files to run commands.

I know for a fact that this is not an issue with my keyboard. I tried using the on-screen keyboard, and when I manually type stuff in with my mouse it will still freeze. I'm pretty sure it also happens when I boot into safe mode, but I'll check to be sure. [Update- looks like it doesn't happen when I boot into safe mode]

FWIW I'm using Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1.

Thanks in advance!
PudgyChicken

JMH · Dec 13, 2011

PudgyChicken said:
Hello all,
I'm pretty sure it also happens when I boot into safe mode, but I'll check to be sure. [Update- looks like it doesn't happen when I boot into safe mode]

FWIW I'm using Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1.

Thanks in advance!
PudgyChicken

Hello PudgyChicken,
Following on from what you said I suggest you continue troubleshooting this area before we move on elsewhere...

Safe mode is useful for troubleshooting problems with programs and drivers that might not start correctly or that might prevent Windows from starting correctly.
If a problem doesn't reappear when you start in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and basic device drivers as possible causes.
If a recently installed program, device, or driver prevents Windows from running correctly, you can start your computer in safe mode and then remove the program that's causing the problem.
For more information about troubleshooting problems in safe mode, see Diagnostic tools to use in safe mode.

Click to expand...

Check Event viewer.

Type eventvwr in search and go to the windows log>application tab.
Look for errors. Errors have red in the left hand column.

Look for errors that say app hang, or app crash, or anything related to the CURRENT problem.
Note the event ID and source codes and look them up in Google.
Letbus know what they are.

Click to expand...

FYI.
Start your computer in safe mode

Advanced startup options (including safe mode)

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

PudgyChicken · Dec 13, 2011

So the details are always the same when one of these apps freeze, here's the entry for my latest hang:

Code:

The program explorer.exe version 6.1.7600.16450 stopped interacting with Windows and was closed. To see if more information about the problem is available, check the problem history in the Action Center control panel.
 Process ID: 18c4

Code:

Log Name: Application
Source: Application Hang
Event ID: 1002
Level: Error
User: N/A
OpCode: (blank)
Logged: 12/13/2011
Task Category: (101)
Keywords: Classic
Computer: [redacted]

Again, this only happens to the built in Windows apps- explorer.exe, cmd.exe, notepad.exe, sidebar.exe, etc. excluding WordPad for some reason. Everything else is fine. I googled the error code and didn't find anything useful (otherwise I wouldn't have posted in the first place >.<). Also, I'm not really willing to do a repair install or reinstall, it's honestly not worth the work imo.

JMH · Dec 13, 2011

FYI
Event ID: 1002 Source: Application Hang

There are times when a repair install{even a clean install}end up being faster than stuffing around.

PudgyChicken · Dec 13, 2011

I found a neat little tool called WhatIsHang, which generates a report about what's happening when a program hangs. Perhaps this can shed some light on what's happening, though I really can't tell what the hell it means =P

Code:

Hang report for 
Generated by using WhatIsHang on 12/13/2011 11:28:11 PM
Web site: http://www.nirsoft.net


Remarks:
* The program hangs in a single system call. You can look in the call stack and  stack data to find out which API function cause this hang.


Strings found in the stack:


Modules found in the stack:

ThreadID: 5752


Execute Address:
00000000

Call Stack:


Stack Data:
00000000  00000000
00000004  00000000
00000008  00000000
0000000C  00000000
00000010  00000000
00000014  00000000
00000018  00000000
0000001C  00000000
00000020  00000000
00000024  00000000
00000028  00000000
0000002C  00000000
00000030  00000000
00000034  00000000
00000038  00000000
0000003C  00000000
00000040  00000000
00000044  00000000
00000048  00000000
0000004C  00000000
00000050  00000000
00000054  00000000
00000058  00000000
0000005C  00000000
00000060  00000000
00000064  00000000
00000068  00000000
0000006C  00000000
00000070  00000000
00000074  00000000
00000078  00000000
0000007C  00000000
00000080  00000000
00000084  00000000
00000088  00000000
0000008C  00000000
00000090  00000000
00000094  00000000
00000098  00000000
0000009C  00000000
000000A0  00000000
000000A4  00000000
000000A8  00000000
000000AC  00000000
000000B0  00000000
000000B4  00000000
000000B8  00000000
000000BC  00000000
000000C0  00000000
000000C4  00000000
000000C8  00000000
000000CC  00000000
000000D0  00000000
000000D4  00000000
000000D8  00000000
000000DC  00000000
000000E0  00000000
000000E4  00000000
000000E8  00000000
000000EC  00000000
000000F0  00000000
000000F4  00000000
000000F8  00000000
000000FC  00000000


Processor Registers:
EAX: 00000000
EBX: 00000000
ECX: 00000000
EDX: 00000000
ESI: 00000000
EDI: 00000000
EBP: 00000000
ESP: 00000000
EIP: 00000000


Memory Data:


All Threads:
1152  00000000  00000000
1388  00000000  00000000
5056  00000000  00000000
4372  00000000  00000000
916  00000000  00000000
5752  00000000  00000000
5048  00000000  00000000
4336  00000000  00000000
5044  00000000  00000000
5036  00000000  00000000
4864  00000000  00000000
5696  00000000  00000000
3612  00000000  00000000
6076  00000000  00000000
5380  00000000  00000000
5392  00000000  00000000
552  00000000  00000000
5692  00000000  00000000
4540  00000000  00000000
5968  00000000  00000000
4940  00000000  00000000
4672  00000000  00000000
4584  00000000  00000000
4732  00000000  00000000
6148  00000000  00000000
6156  00000000  00000000
6244  00000000  00000000
6248  00000000  00000000
6300  00000000  00000000
6836  00000000  00000000
6920  00000000  00000000

JMH · Dec 14, 2011

Moving on....
Generic steps.{Some of which you have done}

There are many reasons why a PC " behaves" this way.

These annoying " gliches" may be caused by an overloaded hard drive, overworked CPU, Malware, running 2 AV 's, unnecessary data, Browser addons or you may have unnecessary programs running in the background etc....

Troubleshooting steps for you to try -

*Make sure all intake/exhausts vents are clean along with all fans.
Get some temp monitoring software for cpu, gpu.

* Run Check Disk.

*Run a scan with either
Malwarebytes or SuperAntiSpyware free.
Download, update & run a full system scan.

*List all the Security software you have ever had installed & currently have now on your computer please.

* Browser addons can create problems.
Check how many you have on your various browsers.
Is each & every one really needed?

* In an administrators account type cmd in search.
In cmd type sfc /scannow.
This will report and fix minor problems.
Take note of what is said at the end.
Should your computer freeze, try to do the tests in safe mode.

* Go to search, type device manager and look for any yellow warning markers.

*Type event viewer, in search (by start button) > Windows Logs > Application
Look for RED critical errors that say app hang, app crash, or anything that relates to the CURRENT problem.
Note the event ID, and the source codes and Google search them.

* If overclocking, restore to original.

* Try in safe mode; report back if it works properly.

*Clean boot. You may discover what is causing your problem.

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

PudgyChicken · Dec 14, 2011

As it would happen, I've already done all of the above steps. As far as which A/V programs I use, Vipre (paid) and MS Security Essentials are the only ones I use. I previously used AVG but it's a massive pain so I completely uninstalled it. I un-OC'd my CPU and GPUs, and lowered the clock speed on my RAM, but none of that did anything. Device Manager has nothing flagged, and I already went over what Event Viewer says. As it would happen, WordPad /is/ affected by this issue, I just never use it so I was under the impression that it was not. Sfc /scannow, however, isn't working for me, but I'm working on that...

JMH · Dec 14, 2011

The following MAY be the cause of your current issues..

Re running Vipre & MSE concurrently.
It is NOT a good idea to have two Anti Virus programs running on your Operating System at the same time.
Conflicting programs slow your computer & may create crashes, freezes etc
More is NOT best.

Did you remove AVG totally from your system by using the appropriate removal tool?

PudgyChicken · Dec 14, 2011

Yes, I did remove AVG totally using the appropriate removal tool, and I know that at times there are issues with conflicting A/V programs. The thing is, this was happening before I had both programs. As far as I can remember, this has been happening since before I removed AVG.

stevieray · Dec 14, 2011

Could this be an SQM Client issue? Check out this thread and see if the fix in the second post works for you.
Windows 7 64bit Ultimate - Explorer.exe Freeze (AppCrash) - Microsoft Answers
Good luck!

PudgyChicken · Dec 15, 2011

As it would turn out, I don't have the registry key that they want you to change, nor do I have the update that they recommended removing. Any more suggestions?

stevieray · Dec 15, 2011

Well, you could try installing ShellExView. That will give you a list of all your installed shell extensions. Go through it line by line, and look for non-MS applications, and disable them one at a time.

ShellExView (64-bit) - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

But first I would try everything that JMH suggested.

PudgyChicken · Dec 15, 2011

Haha I already went through with ShellExView and disabled all the non-Microsoft shell extensions, but that didn't help. The only thing I haven't been able to do short of a clean install is sfc /scannow. It gets to 7% and stops working with the error "Windows Resource Protection could not complete the requested operation." This seems to be a common error, but I haven't found a tenable solution for it...

stevieray · Dec 15, 2011

Hmmm... I'm out of ideas. The only other things I can think of would be to replace explorer.exe or do a repair install. And see if you could get an admin to kick this thread over to the Crashes and Debugging forum.

JMH · Dec 15, 2011

Have you actually ever had a BSOD?

PudgyChicken · Dec 15, 2011

I've had BSODs for other reasons, though not for this specific issue.

Would a repair install only modify the C:\Windows directory and leave my user profile, program files, etc. intact? If so, I'd be more inclined to go with that option. Otherwise it'd be too much of a hassle.

--By intact I mean leave them where they are; not move them to a Windows.old directory.

JMH · Dec 15, 2011

All the information you require should be within the Tutorial.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

PudgyChicken · Dec 18, 2011

I seem to be having issues with doing a repair install. I first tried it with the SP1 disc, seeing as I have SP1 installed, this should be the correct choice. However, after it does the compatibility check, it tells me I need to have SP1 installed in order to proceed. Which is strange. Because I do. So then I got a non-SP1 disc, changed the compatibility to Vista SP2 like I'm supposed to, then it'd get to the compatibility report and tell me that I can't upgrade from 32 to 64 bit Windows (even though I have a 64 bit version of Windows), and right below that it says that I can't upgrade from 64 to 32 bit.

Any ideas?

Britton30 · Dec 18, 2011

Are you using a slip-streamed SP1 disk? If so you can't do a repair install with it on a SP1 OS.

Was the original install with SP1? Many times if one can't run sfc /scannow the system files are too corrupted and a clean install is need, happened to me.

PudgyChicken · Dec 18, 2011

No, I'm not using a slipstreamed disc. The original install was not with SP1. *sigh* I would hate to have to do a clean install... It'd take so much work to put everything back to the way it is now -____-

Explorer and built in apps freeze when I type

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