Windows Explorer Keeps Crashing

[tomrose]

Hi, I own a Dell Inspiron which uses Windows Vista, and recently Windows Explorer keeps crashing.

Whenever I try to right-click something within windows, eg a program, I get a dialog box telling me windows explorer has stopped working. Normally after I close the box the bar at the bottom of my screen as well as all my desktop icons disappear for a few seconds, and then it goes back to normal. So I can't right click on anything, and I can't use the keyboard shortcuts for copy, cut, or paste.

I use the built-in mouse, and i know that's not the problem because i can use right-click normally, if, for example, I'm on a browser.

A friend suggested I might have a Trojan, so I was wondering how i can remove it.

What do I do? It's really becoming a nuisance and I just want to get rid of it. I used to have Norton Antivirus but it expired in September and I still haven't renewed it, and I'm starting to regret it.

[KenB]

Hi and welcome to ExTS

 

I used to have Norton Antivirus but it expired

To be frank - you are better off without it.

 

Download MS Essentials from here: ( It is totally FREE and updates daily )

click here

 

Run the Norton Removal Tool

click here

Install MS Essentials.

 

Download MBAM from here ( you want the FREE version )

click here

 

Install and run it.

It will produce a log after the scan - copy and post it here.

If there are any problems one of our security experts will advise further.

[tomrose]

Hi, thanks for replying! I've installed the MS Essentials, the MBAM, and I've removed the Norton from my laptop with the Removal tool. I kept getting popups telling me to renew my Norton so that's helpful!

I ran the MBAM on Quick Scan, but it came up clean, here's the log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (Trial) 1.70.0.1100

http://www.malwarebytes.org

 

 

Database version: v2012.12.31.04

 

 

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 x86 NTFS

Internet Explorer 9.0.8112.16421

Owner :: OWNER-PC [administrator]

 

 

Protection: Enabled

 

 

31/12/2012 16:21:29

mbam-log-2012-12-31 (16-21-29).txt

 

 

Scan type: Quick scan

Scan options enabled: Memory | Startup | Registry | File System | Heuristics/Extra | Heuristics/Shuriken | PUP | PUM

Scan options disabled: P2P

Objects scanned: 225311

Time elapsed: 7 minute(s), 57 second(s)

 

 

Memory Processes Detected: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

 

Memory Modules Detected: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

 

Registry Keys Detected: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

 

Registry Values Detected: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

 

Registry Data Items Detected: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

 

Folders Detected: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

 

Files Detected: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

 

(end)

 

I'm still getting the problem. Is there anything else I can do?

Thanks

[KenB]

Hi

 

At least you know your system is clean and you have an up-to-date AntiVirus :)

If you run MBAM again make sure you update it first as it doesn't update automatically.

 

Try this:

Start > in the run box type ......cmd........[ do not hit enter yet ]

Right click on the cmd.exe that appears top left of screen > Run as Administrator

At the Command Prompt type ......... sfc /scannow .............hit ENTER [ there is a space after sfc ]

 

This will check the system files and attempt to repair any problems it finds.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, Edit to add, follow Kens advice first, that may be the answer anyway. (He posted while I was writing).

 

It is good to see that MBAM didn't find anything, but have you also run a scan with the MS Essentials?

You don't get a log with that but it will tell you if it finds anything and it puts it in quarantine. After the scan has run, click the history tab, that will show you what if anything has been put in quarantine.

Considering that Malwarebytes did not find anything, is no guarantee there isn't still something lurking.

 

After that, I must ask are you fully up to date with all of the Windows Vista updates, and is it running the latest service pack, which I think from memory is SP2?

 

Nev.

[tomrose]

Hi guys, thanks for replying.

Ken, I've seen that method mentioned in various forums etc but like I said in the original post, I can't right-click. I've tried to do that, and when I right-click on command prompt to click run as administrator the whole thing crashes. If i try to just do it without clicking 'run as administrator', it tells me I need to be the administrator.

Nev, I did a scan with MS Essentials and that didn't find anything either.

I've also downloaded all the available updates, and I'm running the latest service pack, which appears to be SP2.

Any more advice?

Thanks

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, I have been looking round and found to my surprise there doesn't appear to be a direct keyboard short cut that is equivalent to a mouse right click.

 

However with some experiment I have found something that might get you into the command prompt as administrator without the need for a right click.

 

Here is how to do it,

First click the start orb, then type in the search bar the cmd

 

you should then get the search window with the cmd.exe at the top of the page.

 

Normal left click on the cmd.exe line and hold down, then drag the pointer off and down, you will see a small cmd type image drag with it, that is normal, once actually clear of the cmd.exe line, then let go of the left click button. (Doing that makes sure the cmd.exe line is selected for the next thing to work)

 

Move the pointer back to hover over the cmd.exe line, do not click, instead press the shift key and F10 together, that should then open the box to select the "Run as administrator" command.

Then follow advice as given by Ken above for starting the sfc /scannow.

 

Let us know if that works for you.

 

Nev.

[tomrose]

Hi,

I've managed to do the first step you mentioned, highlighting the cmd, but when I hover and press shift+f10, nothing happens.

Is there anything else you can do?

Tom

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Tom,

That is a blow, it does mean something is corrupt if that didn't work. I am out of idea's, wait and see if Ken has anything further.

 

Nev.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi again, just one thing comes to mind, have you tried a system restore back to a time that was before the problem started?

 

Nev.

[KenB]

I use the built-in mouse, and i know that's not the problem because i can use right-click normally, if, for example, I'm on a browser.

Does it do the same with a USB or PS2 mouse ?

 

You can also try un-installing the mousepad drivers from Device Manager ( you will need to right click on the listed driver - if you can :) )

Re-boot and Windows will re-install the appropriate drivers

[tomrose]

Hi, I tried using a USB mouse, and I did a system restore back to the earliest I could go. I'm not sure if the problem was still present before then, but neither methods are working. This is getting really frustrating, is there anything else I can do?

[RandyL]

Safemode perhaps. It might be worth a try.

[KenB]

Try this:

 

Run > type in ..... gpedit.msc > User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Explorer.

In the right hand pane, find “Windows Explorer’s default context menu”, open its properties by double clicking it.

If it’s enabled or not configured, disable it and your context menu will be back as soon as you apply this policy.

 

With a bit of luck your right click may work now.

 

If gpedit.msc doesn't do anything ..... you can do this from the registry.

 

Run > type in ..... regedit > click the > next to the following .....

HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Policies > Explorer.

In the right hand pane find “NoViewContextMenu”, set its value to 0 if it exists

 

You do this by highlighting it and go to the EDIT in the toolbar > Modify

Change the 1 to a 0

[tomrose]

I tried using safe mode and the problem still persisted. I noticed that the right-clicking does work sometimes, for example i can do it on ms word, but not iTunes, command prompt, windows update etc.

No, when I use the mouse I have all the same problems.

[tomrose]

hi, gpedit didn't work, when I googled it, I found that Vista doesn't have it, so I tried the regedit way. I got to CurrentVersion, but there wasn't a Policies folder. There was an Explorer folder so I tried that, but I couldn't find the NoViewContextMenu or anything like that.

[Plastic Nev]

Just in case Ken thinks eventually that it may be needed, do you have any rescue or system restore disks, or better still the original Vista disk.

Hopefully we can get it right without a full reformat, but it would be handy to know you have, or not, got any disks of that nature. Also do you know if there is a recovery partition on that computer? ( a recovery partition is sometimes included instead of disks.)

 

Nev.

[tomrose]

There are no disks that I know of, but I'm pretty sure it has a recovery partition. It's a Dell Inspiron 1545.

[KenB]

but I couldn't find the NoViewContextMenu

It is in some systems and not others - just checked ....not in my Vista Registry either. I think this is a Home Basic omission.

 

I created the NoViewContextMenu in my Registry and disabled the right click function in Explorer.

 

If you create it too - you may be able to enable right click.

 

HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Policies > ..........click on Explorer to highlight it.

Click on EDIT in the toolbar > New > DWord(32bit)

 

A new box appears in the right pane.

Name this NoViewContextMenu [exactly like this]and click off the box in the white space ..................the default will be 0

 

Try the right click now.

 

If it is no different reboot the machine and try it again.

 

Let me know the results of this.

[tomrose]

I've done what you said, and I managed it without difficulty, but it hasn't had any effect. I rebooted too.

[KenB]

Just one more thing to try with the Registry .....

 

Go back to the newly created NoViewContextMenu and click on it to highlight

Click on EDIT > Modify

Change the 0 to a 1 ................OK it

 

Re-boot

 

Try the right click again - it shouldn't be working.

 

Go back to NoViewContextMenu and change the value back to 0.

 

Re-boot.

 

Try right click again.

 

I only suggest this as my system - although the changes should take effect immediately - didn't react until I had changed the value from 1 to 0 to 1 again.

The default is 0.

[tomrose]

Hi,

I've done all that, and it's had no effect. Anything else?

[KenB]

Should have tried this before ......

 

Start > type in ......cmd ........ hold down CTRL + SHIFT and hit ENTER

 

This will give you an elevated Command Prompt ( Administrator rights )

 

Then run sfc /scannow space after sfc

 

This will check system files.

[tomrose]

When I do ctrl shift enter windows explorer crashes again :/

[KenB]

Can you get to Command Prompt from Safe Mode ?

 

Shut down > re-boot and constantly tap F8 about once per second.

Select Safe Mode with Command Prompt

 

Try sfc /scannow from here.