Windows Explorer crashes randomly after custom theming?

[kbphoto615]

I have a Dell XPS 1645, running Windows 7 Pro 64bit. I have applied a custom theme found on Deviant Art.com, I have followed the directions to the t, but I still seem to be running into random problems with Windows Explorer crashing. When I repair the system files, and go back to a normal msstyle theme, Windows Explorer no longer crashes. So the issue is with the theming, but what am I doing wrong? I see many other people apply custom themes, without ever running into an issue. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance to any help given.

 

[Bongo]

Post a link to the theme and I will test it.
Jerry

 

[kbphoto615]

Hey thanks so much for the reply, here it is:

Placebo for Windows 7 by ~SolMiler on deviantART

 

[Bongo]

Which 1 of the Placebo are you using (there are 54 in the folder) and did you change the explorerframe.dll if so which did you change (there are 6 in the folder)?
Jerry

 

[kbphoto615]

Which 1 of the Placebo are you using (there are 54 in the folder) and did you change the explorerframe.dll if so which did you change (there are 6 in the folder)?
Jerry

Any of them. I have tried using all, but I normally stick with Angst, is the one I liked the most, but again as I said I tried with all..

 

[karlsnooks]

So you tried all 54 and all 6 dlls and the permutations and combinations thereof?

Just list one specific combination out of that multitude that does not work so that one has something to use as a testbed.

 

[Bongo]

Did you change the explorerframe.dll if so which did you change (there are 6 in the folder)? Will test tomorrow.
Jerry

 

[Bongo]

Been using this theme for a while an no crashs.
Did you use the Theme Resource Changer app or did you manually change the explorerframe.dll if so which did you change (there are 6 in the folder)?
Jerry

 

[kbphoto615]

I do not understand when you say did I try all 54 combinations. I have tried each one of the main 6 themes included in the download from deviantart. I have not tried any of the borderless themes, or extras like shell32.dll or anything like that. To explain more, when I switch to the Angst theme, I then use the Angst explorerframe.dll found in the Angst Explorer Frame folder. When I say I tried all of them, I mean I tried all of the 6 themes: Angst, Kitsch, Ashtray, Black Market, and Cold Light. When I tried a different theme, I would then follow the instructions once more, skipping the steps I have already done, and then switching my theme and explorerframe.dll. No matter what theme I am on, I still run into the crashing issue. Also, I did use Theme Resource changer, but then also tried it manually to see if it would resolve the issue, but theme resource manager didn't show any errors and even doing it manually I still run into the crashing. Im sorry I wasn't more clear before.

 

[Bongo]

Do no use Theme Resource changer an manually change the explorerframe.dll at the same time, if you look in the theme folder there are folders with images in them, using Theme Resource changer changes the images for each theme so you do not need to do it manually.
What do you mean by crashes what happens?
Jerry

 

[kbphoto615]

Do no use Theme Resource changer an manually change the explorerframe.dll at the same time, if you look in the theme folder there are folders with images in them, using Theme Resource changer changes the images for each theme so you do not need to do it manually.
What do you mean by crashes what happens?
Jerry

What I mean is thaat when doing random tasks Windows Explorer will crash and restart itself. It seems to happen mostly when accessing large files. Like when I am transferring files from an external to the laptop. I do not know how themeing could cause this issue, but it only happens after applying a custom theme? I'm so confused. haha

 

[Bongo]

Is it just the themes or just when you change the explorerframe.dll?
Jerry

 

[kbphoto615]

See I don't know, I can't pin point it. Should I do a SFC scan and repair the system files, follow the instructions to apply the theme, but not change the explorerframe.dll, and see if I still get crashes?

 

[Bongo]

See I don't know, I can't pin point it. Should I do a SFC scan and repair the system files, follow the instructions to apply the theme, but not change the explorerframe.dll, and see if I still get crashes?

I think that would be a very good plan, and go ahead and install Theme Resource changer. Then there should be no need to manually change the explorerframe.dll.
I have Theme Resource changer installed and when I use the Placebo Angst theme the start button in the navigation buttons and the panels in the control panel were changed automatically.
Jerry

 

[kbphoto615]

Well SFC didn't do anything, where as normally it would change the system files back. I'm not entirely sure how to reverse back to before I did the custom theme. Or unapply the theme, aside from choosing a different theme under Personalize.

Should I just wait and see if I encounter any crashes after this SFC scan?

EDIT:
I have the SFC CBS log, if that would help anyone in assisting me in figuring out what to do?

 

[Bongo]

When choosing a different theme under Personalize is it back to the default look?
Did SFC find anything and try to fix it and it could not?
Let it run that way far awhile and see if it crashes.

Remember using Theme Resource changer it changes the start button in the navigation buttons and the panels in the control panel are changed automatically.
Jerry