I get messages from people having problems with Windows Explorer crashes on a regular basis. Mostly they go something like this: "When I right-click a file in Windows Explorer, I get a message that Windows Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close" or "When I try to browse through the folders on my computer, I receive an error message that Windows Explorer needs to close."
In a lot of cases, these errors are caused by 3rd party shell extensions that are not functioning properly.
If you look careful at the picture on the right, you'll see several non-standard additions to the right-click menu: "Sacn with Microsoft Security Essentials", "Format Factory (F)", "Acronis Recovery" and others.
To try and find if a 3rd party shell extension is causing your Windows Explorer to crash on certain actions, you'll need to download this handy (and free) utility: ShelExView. It will let you view & disable shell extensions.
After you downloaded & executed it, ShelExView will show all shell extensions installed on your system. You could sort the entries so that you'll have all non Microsoft shell extensions grouped together. Next, select all these non Microsoft shell extensions, and disable them. Try the sequence that would previously have resulted in Windows Explorer crashing (for example browsing a folder, or right-clicking a file). If no crash occurred, one of the shell extensions you disabled has been causing the crash. To find out which one, start enabling one shell extension at a time, each time testing to make sure you can still use Windows Explorer without it crashing, until you find the shell extension that would cause Windows Explorer to crash.
ShelExView gives you all additional information you need to know such as the product & company name of the shell extension, as well as the version number. If you would like to continue using the software of the 3rd party whose shell extension is causing the Explorer crash, contact the company responsible, and check to see if there is an updated version of the software you are trying to use.
Another cause of Windows Explorer crashes can also be attributed to the existence of viruses or spyware on the machine. To tackle this, start by running one or two on-line virus scans. I'd suggest the on-line scan from eTrust and/or Trend Micro's HouseCall.
To combat any spyware that might lurk on your machine, I'd suggest the following programs: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, Javacool's SpywareBlaster, or SUPERAntiSpyware. As with Anti-virus scanners, run at least two different ones, they will detect different things!
If you need more help in fighting Spyware or Virus infections, start by reading these instructions on our WindowsBBS.com support forum, and post a message in the appropriate forum.
Below I have listed a number of Microsoft Knowledge Base Articles dealing with Windows Explorer crashes:
KB Art.#
Title
Applies to
175211
Fatal Exception Error When Opening or Closing Control Panel
Windows 95, 98
188540
You receive an "Invalid page fault" error message when you try to view the contents of a folder or its subfolders by using Thumbnail view in Windows Explorer
Windows 98, Me, 2000, XP
191609
Explorer Caused an Invalid Page Fault in Module...
Windows 98, Me
192315
"All Folders" pane missing or Windows Explorer is blank
Windows 95, 98
193903
Err Msg: Windows Encountered an Error Accessing the System Registry
Windows 98
221085
Error Message Typing Address in Address Box or in Open Box
Internet Explorer 4.x, 5.x
227152
Error Message: Explorer Caused an Invalid Page Fault in Pdm.dll
Windows 98 Second Edition
227472
Cannot Rename System File in Windows Explorer
Windows 2000 Server
255758
Error Message: Explorer.exe Has Generated Errors and Will Be Closed by Windows
Windows 2000
257675
Windows Explorer May Hang When Viewing Images
Internet Explorer 5.x
259096
Error Message When You Open a New Folder
Windows 98, ME
266320
Error Message When You Use Windows Explorer to Search for Files or Folders
Windows 2000
266644
Windows Explorer Stops Responding When You Take Ownership of Folder Without Selecting a New Owner
Windows 2000
275599
Dr. Watson Error Message May Occur When You Copy and Paste Files by Using Windows Explorer
Windows 2000
289799
Desktop Is White and Error Message Reports a Windows Explorer Error in Browseui.dll
Windows Me
291343
FIX: "Explorer.exe has generated errors" error message when you click the "Properties" of Outlook 2000 or search for files or folders
Microsoft Outlook 2000
293174
Error Message: Explorer Caused an Invalid Page Fault in Module Browseui.dll
Windows 98, 98 SE
306599
Error Message: Error Loading Explorer.exe You Must Reinstall Windows
Windows 98, 98 SE, Millennium Edition
314867
You receive an "Explorer.exe has generated errors and will be closed by Windows" error message
Windows XP
315094
Windows Explorer May Stop Responding When You Close a Window
Windows XP
317250
Access Violation in Windows Explorer When You View Printer Properties in Active Directory
Windows 2000
319124
Error Message When You Start Windows Explorer: Explorer.exe Has Generated Errors and Will Be Closed by Windows
Windows 2000
320563
Windows Explorer Quits When You View Contents of My Computer
Windows XP
322857
Windows Explorer Quits and Generates an Error Message When You Try to Map a Network Drive
Windows 2000, XP
326572
Explorer.exe Repeatedly Generates Access Violation Error Messages After You Log On
Windows 2000
326612
"Explorer.exe Has Generated Errors and Will Be Closed By Windows" Error Message When You Try to Install Service Pack 3
Windows 2000 SP3
329692
Explorer.exe may generate an application error when you close a folder
Windows XP SP1
555177
Windows XP halts on desktop when loading Windows Explorer, after upgrading to Service Pack 2
Windows XP
810891
Access Violation Occurs in Windows Explorer When the My Computer Window Is Refreshed
Windows 2000
811266
You receive a "Windows Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close" error message when you try to open My Network Places in Windows XP
Windows XP
815240
Windows Explorer Stops Responding When You Try to Rotate a JPEG Image in Windows Picture and Fax Viewer
Windows XP
815494
"Access Violation" Error Message in Windows Explorer on Windows 2000-Based Server
Windows 2000 Server
816375
Windows XP Explorer Pane flickers on mapped network drives
Windows XP
817768
Windows Explorer Stops Responding When It Tries to Sort More Than 1 Million Objects on a RAID Controller
Windows 2000
821403
Mipmapi.dll Error Message When You Point to "Send To" and Then Click "Mail Recipient" to Send a File in an E-mail Message
Windows 2000, XP
822797
"Explorer Has Encountered an Error and Needs to Close" Error Message When you Start Windows XP
Windows XP
824136
Error Message Occurs When File is Right-Clicked, or Problems Occur When Opening Certain Files in Autodesk or Discreet Products
Windows 2000, XP
830780
Windows Explorer stops responding for approximately 30 seconds when you try to access the DFS resources in a Windows Server 2008 domain