"Windows Explorer has stopped working."

[inahperalta]

A dialog box containing this message appears whenever I try to open my Downloads Folder. See this photo:



And whenever I click cancel, it says something like "Windows explorer is restarting."

I have tried opening it using Safe Mode and when I'm using it, everything seems normal. I also tried the Sfc/scannow command using Command Prompt and MSCONFIG and unclicked everything except my antivirus.

Now, I don't really know what to do.

Can you help me?

 

[karlsnooks]

Welcome to SevenForums,

Boot up in Safe Mode.

Clean up your downloads folder by moving video files to Videos, jpgs, pngs to Pictures, MP3s to Music.

You get the idea.

After that,

=======================================

Update your SevenForums System Specs
User CP (located on the top menu bar) |
Your Profile | Edit System Spec (left-hand column)

To gather info, use Speccy (my favorite) or SIW or System Info

Add the word laptop or desktop or netbook to the
“system manufacturer” block, for example,
Toshiba Satellite L305D notebook.

Provide full windows version info, for example:
MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit

Use the “Other Info” block for Optical Reader,
Mouse, touchpad, wifi adapter, speakers, monitor, etc

Scroll down and click on SAVE CHANGES.
=================================================
=================================================

and:

HOW TO POST A SNAPSHOT OF DISK MANAGEMENT DISPLAY
Run disk management:
WIN | type DISKMGMT.MSC | ENTER
WIN=key with Microsoft logo on top.


Maximize the output of Disk Management:
ALT-Spacebar key combo | X key (selects Maximize) |
Drag the field separators (such as between Status and Capacity) to show entire field.


Make a snapshot:
WIN | type SNIPPING | ENTER | New
Drag the cursor around the area you want to snip.
File | Save as | select save location and name | Save


Post the snapshot:
Post a File or Screenshot in Seven Forums

 

[inahperalta]

I think I kind of resolved the problem already. I did clean my Downloads folder using Safe Mode, then I restarted it again using normal mode. When I got into my Videos Folder, the same dialog box appeared. What I did was, I deleted my recently downloaded files, since it was after I opened it that the problem started.

I'll update again if ever this happens again.

Thank you for your help.

 

[FliGi7]

Do you have any codec packs installed? Some can cause explorer to hang when thumbnailing/displaying video/picture icons.

 

[inahperalta]

I do, should I uninstall it?

 

[FliGi7]

Which ones do you have installed? I would first start by removing them and see if the issue persists.

 

[karlsnooks]

I do, should I uninstall it?

Since your system works now, then don't do anything to your system.

Let well-enough alone.

As general advice, I recommend using Win 7's Backup and Restore to make a SYSTEM IMAGE backup of your entire disk to an external USB drive.

Just last night, I used a System Image backup to restore some data that got clobbered, by me and MS Mesh.

Carry out the following and I can make a recommendation regarding size of the external USB drive which will, no doubt, be much smaller than your hard drive.

HOW TO POST A SNAPSHOT OF DISK MANAGEMENT DISPLAY
Run disk management:
WIN | type DISKMGMT.MSC | ENTER
WIN=key with Microsoft logo on top.


Maximize the output of Disk Management:
ALT-Spacebar key combo | X key (selects Maximize) |
Drag the field separators (such as between Status and Capacity) to show entire field.


Make a snapshot:
WIN | type SNIPPING | ENTER | New
Drag the cursor around the area you want to snip.
File | Save as | select save location and name | Save


Post the snapshot:
Post a File or Screenshot in Seven Forums

 

[FliGi7]

That doesn't fix the issue, which will return whenever the OP downloads and attempts to display/thumbnail the type of file that was causing this error in the first place. The system is working now because the problematic file has been deleted, but the source of the issue (problematic codecs installed) will continue to cause future problems.

 

[inahperalta]

I think it's the .mkv file that causes the issue. I'll try to remove it and see what happens. Thanks for your help.