Explorer randomly freezes, slows computer to a halt, spinning wheel.

[rainok]

Hi. Very new in this forum. Glad if you would be able to offer any help.
I've had this problem for some time now and it has been getting worse and worse.

Explorer seems to randomly freeze making all the processes super slow. I can still work inside the open applications, but saving any of the open files takes forever.
When I hover the cursor over the taskbar it is a spinning disk. The only way to recover is to restart the computer. I can't find a pattern to these freezes. Sometimes it happens immediately after restarting, sometimes I can work for days with no incident.

Thanks,
Rain

 

[marsmimar]

Hello rainok and welcome to Seven Forums.

First thing I'd suggest is running a full scan with your anti-virus of choice. Malware likes to hook itself into Explorer. Even if your full scan comes back clean, I'd suggest running some additional free scans because no anti-malware product will be 100% effective 100% of the time. (If there was such a product we'd all be using it. ) Some of the recommended free products are Malwarebytes, ESET Online Scanner, SuperAntispyware, and Comodo Cleaning Essentials.

After checking for malware you could also install a fresh copy of Windows Explorer by following these steps:

1. From the desktop, open Task Manager by either typing taskmgr.exe in the Start Menu Search Bar, pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc, Ctrl+Alt+Delete or Right-Clicking on the taskbar and selecting Start Task Manager. Then click on the Processes tab.
2. Highlight explorer.exe by clicking on it one time and then click on the End Process button (lower right).
3. You should get a prompt asking "Do you want to end explorer.exe" so click the End Process button again.
4. All desktop icons and the taskbar will disappear. This is normal.
5. Task Manager should still be open. (If it's not, follow Step 1 above to reopen Task Manager.) Click on File (upper left corner) and then click on New Task (Run...).
6. Type in explorer.exe and click on OK. A fresh copy of Windows Explorer will be installed. Your desktop icons and taskbar should reappear within a few seconds.