Explorer crashes with AppCrash mesage pointing to faulty "ntdll.dll"

[VaggelisL]

Explorer crashes with AppCrash mesage pointing to faulty "ntdll.dll"

Hello...
I'm a newly registered user although I'm a fan of the site for a long time...
I just registered to thank you for helping me find a solution on "Open with" not working fully. Thanks a lot for your .reg file. It worked like a charm.
But that was only part of a general, more serious problem I have with Control Panel's option :
"Associate a file type or protocol with a program".
Whenever I click on it, Explorer tries to run it and it crashes with an AppCrash mesage pointing to faulty "ntdll.dll"
I've tried many things, replacing "ntdll.dll", even re-installing Windows 7 Ultimate but to no avail (although re-installation fixed some other problems I had with Event Viewer, Task Scheduler etc.)
I spend many hours Googling about the problem but nothing seems to help, at least in my case.
Could you, please, help me solve this problem and have a "working" and "not crashing" explorer whenever I click on "Associate a file type or protocol with a program" ?

Thank you in advance and I'm looking forward to your (solution)answer...

 

[FliGi7]

After you did a clean reinstall, what did you install on the system before noticing the error was still present?

Have you tried running "sfc /scannow" from an elevated command prompt to see if it finds any corrupted system files?

 

[VaggelisL]

sfc /scannow shows everything OK....As for the reinstall, I did it BECAUSE of the problem...Nothing Installed afterwards.. I also had problem with "Open with" context menu option which, as I already stated, is fixed with the use of a .reg file downloaded from this site. But the problem with Explorer crashing every time I click on "Associate a file type or protocol with a program" still remains and the AppCrash message points to faulty ntdll.dll. I had the ntdll.dll file replaced (even though it was "fresh" after the reinstall) but to no avail... Any thoughts?

 

[FliGi7]

Where did you get the disc you are using to reinstall Windows?

 

[VaggelisL]

It came with PC... What does it have to do with the problem? OS is "running" fine till now, either before or after the reinstall. Some things (like Event Viewer and Task Scheduler) got corrupted due to some "Tweaking" Software installations but they work fine after uninstalling those programs and after the reinstall. Only thing it seems corrupted is the problem with files' association which I am not able to know "how" and "when" it occured for the first time, as it is not something you use "everyday"... I first noticed that when I tried to use "Open with", I couldn't so I tried that "way" and found out.
"Open with" is working fine now but the other problem still remains...

 

[FliGi7]

It could have to do with the problem if the files on the disc are somehow corrupted. So, even after a clean reinstall, you'd still have corrupted system files. The reason I ask is that people do run illegitimate copies of Windows they "got from a friend" or downloaded from a torrent and wonder why they keep reinstalling Windows but still have issues. If it is a legitimate Windows disc you received with the computer from an authorized seller, then it shouldn't be an issue. Is that the case?

To be clear, have your or have you not installed any tweaking software that you describe after the most recent reinstallation of Windows?

If it were me, I would still download a new ISO for your appropriate Windows 7 version from Digital River, burn to disc, and reinstall to see if the issue disappears. It's worth a shot since nothing else seems to be working.

Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life

 

[writhziden]

To provide us with information about what programs you have installed, please upload your msinfo32.nfo file. To get this: Start Menu -> Type msinfo32 into the Search programs and files box -> When it opens, go to File, Save -> Save as msinfo32.nfo and save in a place you will remember -> Let it finish the process of gathering and saving the system info -> Right click the .nfo file, click send to compressed (zipped) folder -> Upload the .zip file here.

 

[VaggelisL]

At first...MANY THANKS for your lightning fast replies.....
My disc is fine I'm sure because I only used it twice, at first installation (everything working fine) and now with reinstallation (everything STILL working fine except the specific problem) which I believe has to do with something "conflicting", but I cannot "think" of something. Anyways, I'd gladly download another ISO from the site you indicated but,
I'm running the Greek version of the OS and there is NOT such an .iso there. I do not want to change into the English version (clean install) because I'd like to keep stuff already installed (it would take many days to "bring" it back as it is).
As for your other question...NO!! I uninstalled the "Tweaking" sofware BEFORE the reinstallation and have NOTHING installed since then, as it's been only 2 days time and I'm busy enough trying to find a solution Googling all over the web. Some other guys in other forums managed to fix the same or "very close" problem by deactivating Context Menu entries via ShellXView, which I tried, but that's not the case unfortunately...So, any other thoughts? And Thanks again!!

 

[VaggelisL]

OK...here is my msinfo32.rar attached !! Hope it helps.

 

[writhziden]

You have hardware from 2006. Did you make sure it is compatible with Windows 7 prior to installing? Windows 7 Compatibility: Software Programs & Hardware Devices: Find Updates, Drivers, & Downloads


Problematic Software:

Start Menu\Programs\Advanced SystemCare 4	Public:Start Menu\Programs\Advanced SystemCare 4	Public
Start Menu\Programs\Auslogics\BoostSpeed\Utilities	Public:Start Menu\Programs\Auslogics\BoostSpeed\Utilities	Public
Start Menu\Programs\Driver Magician	Public:Start Menu\Programs\Driver Magician	Public
Start Menu\Programs\DriverMax	Public:Start Menu\Programs\DriverMax	Public
Start Menu\Programs\PC Pitstop	Public:Start Menu\Programs\PC Pitstop	Public
Start Menu\Programs\RegClean Pro	Public:Start Menu\Programs\RegClean Pro	Public
Start Menu\Programs\Registry Mechanic	Public:Start Menu\Programs\Registry Mechanic	Public
Start Menu\Programs\SlimDrivers	Public:Start Menu\Programs\SlimDrivers	Public
Start Menu\Programs\Smart Defrag 2	Public:Start Menu\Programs\Smart Defrag 2	Public
Start Menu\Programs\Uniblue\SpeedUpMyPC	Public:Start Menu\Programs\Uniblue\SpeedUpMyPC	Public

• Many of us on the forums actually do not recommend automated optimization tools for Windows 7. Windows 7 does a much better job of handling its own optimization than its predecessors did. We especially do not recommend registry cleaning as an "optimization" step because automated registry cleaning causes more harm to the registry than it actually repairs.
  
  In the future, if you need help optimizing Windows 7, please post a thread in Performance & Maintenance - Windows 7 Forums or follow the tutorial enclosed in that forum to http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ws-7-a.html?filter[2]=Performance Maintenance.
  
  
• We do not recommend automated driver update software. It often finds drivers for devices similar to but not exactly the same as the hardware actually on the system. This can lead to conflicts and blue screen crashes. If you need help finding driver updates for a certain device, please start a thread in http://www.sevenforums.com/drivers/ instead of using software. Driver updates are not always necessary and some updates can actually decrease system stability rather than increase it, so it is usually better not to update unless a device or its driver is causing problems with the system. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
  
  
• I recommend against 3rd party defrag tools. Windows has some nice command line flags for the defrag command that will accomplish the same tasks as 3rd party programs. The -b and -w flags will defrag boot files and the boot registry items as well as compact the data to the center of the disk for faster access.
  defrag c: -b
  defrag -c -v -w
  ​
  The first command optimizes boot performance for the Windows drive by defragmenting boot files and boot registry items.
  
  The second command includes all drives on the system through the -c command and optimizes the drives by compacting the data to the center of the disk. Verbose output through the -v option is optional to provide the user with more information about the defrag tasks. The commands have to be run in an http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/783-elevated-command-prompt.html.
  
  For more flags, see http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11733-disk-defragmenter-open-use.html.

You have a lot of other crapware on your system that I am not familiar with. I suspect the above and possibly others are causing your issues.

 

[FliGi7]

As for your other question...NO!! I uninstalled the "Tweaking" sofware BEFORE the reinstallation and have NOTHING installed since then, as it's been only 2 days time and

VaggelisL, so which is the case here?

Your msinfo file shows a lot of unnecessary software installed on the machine. Is that from your computer right now?

 

[NoelDP]

The first Item I came across is Advanced System Care - this is KNOWN to cause problems in Windows 7.
UNDO anything it's done and then UNINSTALL it.

Likewise with everything else in writhziden's abstract. Uninstall it all, as soon as possible - otherwise your system WILL be crippeled - possibly beyond fixing without a clean install.

 

[karlsnooks]

Fligi7,

Following info will help us:

Install CCleaner:
CCleaner - PC Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download

list of STARTUP PROGRAMS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Startup button | Windows tab |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
accept Startup.txt as file name | SAVE button

list of SCHEDULED TASKS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Startup button | Scheduled Tasks tab |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
enter Scheduled Tasks as File name | Save button

List of INSTALLED PROGRAMS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Uninstall button |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
accept install.txt as File name | Save button


UPLOAD the startup.txt file
UPLOAD the Scheduled Tasks.txt file
UPLOAD the install.txt file.

HOW TO UPLOAD
Post a File or Screenshot in Seven Forums
=================================================
thanks,
karl

 

[VaggelisL]

Thanks for your replies all you guys...
First I'd like to point out that the tweaking software I uninstalled was everything I had installed and used relatively recently (like Win 7 Optimizer and things like that..) All the software you see is "inactive" meaning it does NOT run automatically and I haven't used it for a long time now (with the exception of Registry Mechanic).
Why do you keep it then? you may ask.... Well I've got no answer on that, I'm the kind of "keeper" in stuff.
Besides, none of them never gave me problems even when they were "active" for a long time... And EVERYTHING was working properly OS-wise. Problems started recently (can't say exactly when). That's the reason I uninstalled anything I had recently in use. Anyway, I'm gonna uninstall all the relative software and post again back afterwards, although IMHO I do not think they have to do with the problem, as I had never had this or any other problem till now and as part of the problem as I mention in my first post is already fixed with the help of a .reg file downloaded from here.
Just an indication....

@ karlsnooks

Find here the files you asked (as my PC is now)

 

[FliGi7]

Really? When I asked what you installed you said "NOTHING installed since then". This is in no way the same as having installed that bunch of software we just saw posted and then uninstalling it or referring to it as inactive because it doesn't run on startup.

I'm going to bow out of this one as it's incredibly hard to help with such issues when you are giving polar opposite answers and not being forthcoming or directly/fully answering the questions at hand because in your opinion you don't think they're the problem. That's for the experts on here to decide, which is ostensibly why you came here. Now we've spent several hours trying to troubleshoot something based on answers you've given that were hiding information. That's not how a successful forum works.

Your issues are with all of the software you have finally told us about that you've installed since the reinstall of the system. Do another reinstall of your system and stop putting that stuff on there (and please tell people you have done so when they are taking time to troubleshoot your problems).

 

[VaggelisL]

@ FliGi7

Where did you see that I have installed anything since the reinstall of the OS? ALL the software you see is installed BEFORE the re-install. I NEVER said it was a CLEAN installation, I CLEARLY pointed out it was a REINSTALLATION intending to keep the software installed and just to fix some other problems (Event Viewer and Task Scheduler) which I DID fix this way. If you THOUGHT something different you are so wrong. NEVER lied on anyone NOR intend to. If anyone IS NOT WILLING to help then so be it. I didn't come here BEGGING NOR will I ever do.
Anyway...thanks to everybody involved so far, either willing to continue or not...

 

[FliGi7]

Ok, I am understanding this now. It sounds like you aren't understanding what a reinstall involves. A reinstall is a wiping of the disk and a complete reinstallation of the Windows OS. Nothing is saved on the disk in a reinstall. What you seem to be describing is a "repair install". That is different in that it only reinstalls core Windows files and leaves user data intact. I suppose you could call me wrong for not understanding how you have interpreted a reinstall to be, but those are the differences, so you should update you terminology accordingly. And, you never pointed out prior to this point that you did a "reinstall" that kept all of your programs and files. So, I'm not sure how you're saying you "CLEARLY" pointed that out.

even re-installing Windows 7 Ultimate but to no avail (although re-installation fixed some other problems I had with Event Viewer, Task Scheduler etc.)

Reinstalling Windows does not equal a repair install. You also say you have uninstalled your tweaking software but that is obviously not the case as that's still found in your msinfo file. So, what you're saying isn't matching up to what is happening with your system. You can't get upset at others for not reading your mind and being able to know that what you've been saying isn't actually the case.

In light of you just performing a repair install, as you have done, that is obviously not going to fix your issues, as they still remain. I will say again, you need to do a clean reinstall, then report back to see if your issues have been fixed.

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

Edit: And apologies for coming off strong instead of just asking why all of this wasn't adding up.

 

[karlsnooks]

vaggelissl,

I've never, never seen so much junk installed on a computer.

In your case, my advice is: CLEAN INSTALL.

I was going to post an uninstall list, but the list is unbelievably long. With so much junk installed, you can only have problems.

My advice: Clean Install.

 

[gregrocker]

If this was preinstalled Win7 then follow these steps to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. Don't install any tweaking or optimizing tools as they are not needed by Win7 at all.

You'll have to search for a Greek ISO but it should be available somewhere. If not the Ultimate version comes with Language packs delivered by Windows Updates which may suffice.

How are you activating Win7?