Windows Explorer (explorer.exe) crashes every few minutes.

Starting yesterday, every few minutes a message comes up that windows explorer has stopped working, then restarts. I've run a sfc /scannow (cbs.log below). Within the cmd.exe it says that "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them".

I've run a dskchk /f which did not resolve the issue.

I've run malwarebytes (free version) which found no issue.

In safe mode the popup doesn't appear, but the start and shortcut bar flickers out for a few seconds and returns, similar to in regular mode.

Event view explanation of one of the messages:

Faulting application name: Explorer.EXE, version: 6.1.7601.17567, time stamp: 0x4d672ee4
Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 6.1.7601.18205, time stamp: 0x51dba4e7
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x0000000000018e5d
Faulting process id: 0x814
Faulting application start time: 0x01cea168f478ee08
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
Report Id: 7e57ce7f-0d5c-11e3-b779-6cf049e91e5a

Hello Wakkarr and welcome to Seven Forums.

Since the problem just started yesterday, have you tried using System Restore?

System Restore

I tried doing a system restore yesterday to approx 24 hours earlier to no effect. I'll try going back further when I get home and see if that works, however I think the issue would have occurred within those 24 hrs.

The issue came up after I restarted the computer, i.e. It was fine, I restarted for a different reason, the issue then came up immediately.

Seven Forums has a tutorial for extracting files from an installation DVD. These files can then be used to replace corrupted files that SFC can't fix.

Extract Files from Windows 7 Installation DVD

Personally (and others may disagree with me :)) if I have to go through the steps to extract files from a DVD, I'd rather try a Repair Install. If successful, it will fix the currently installed Windows 7 and preserve user accounts, data, programs, system drivers, etc. The process takes about 90 minutes on my machine and then reinstalling Windows Updates takes about the same amount of time.

Repair Install

Just a couple other options to consider if using an earlier System Restore Point doesn't work.

Looks like I don't have an earlier restore point. So I'll try a repair install.

I'm downloading the iso now. In the short term, does anyone know how I can stop the popup booting me out of whatever program I am currently in? It doesn't close the program, it just takes me out of it to show me the message.

it may bbe some windows error or some virus that's doing that, after the repair install, tell us if it continues and we'll try our best to fix that problem after the repair install

I've been trying to do the repair install but I get stopped at the compatibility stage with this message:



" Upgrading Windows will affect the following devices and/or programs:

These devices might not work properly after the upgrade. Before upgrading, we recommend updating the drivers for these devices. Cancel the upgrade, open Control Panel and search for "update device drivers", or go to the device manufacturer's website to search for updated drivers.

Microsoft Common Controller For Windows Class: Xbox 360 Controller for Windows "


However I cannot find it in the device manager, and I've uninstalled the 360 controller software but the issue still comes up. Is there a way to make the repair install ignore this?