An "Explorer" message

[Guest JMA]

Recently, I've been getting one of those warning messages. This one seems to be one associated with the "Explorer" program. Basically, the message says the program must be shut down. It gives me the choice of "Ok" or "Details." Pressing "Ok" shuts down Internet Explorer and makes me lose information at times. "Details" doesn't really help me at all. I've tried removing all the spyware on my computer but that doesn't help.

 

Anyone have any ideas on how to fix this problem.

[Murmuring Beast 0]

I have this problem too. I've been lazy and just dragged it out the way and worked through it.

[Guest I'm That Damn Zzzzz]

The easiest thing to do is get Mozilla Firefox or Opera. IE really isn't worth salvaging.

 

Opera http://www.opera.com

Mozilla Firefox http://www.mozilla.org

 

S/ns for Opera 7.23 are available, you just need to know where to look

 

Some stuff I found on Google about Windows Explorer errors.

 

Annoyances.org

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1040079064

 

This thread solves the problem with a running of Spybot to find the

culprit as Ad-aware did not. There is a new version of Ad-aware

released late last week, however that may be helpful in finding tough

to find spyware.

 

Microsoft Knowledgebase

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=293623

 

"SYMPTOMS

 

You may receive the following error message in Windows Explorer,

Internet Explorer, or MSN Explorer:

 

Microsoft Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to

close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."

 

Although XP is not mentioned in this article, do check to see if any

of the related programs that can cause this error pertain to you.

 

And:

 

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=276393

 

Worth reading as Internet Explorer is so tied in to the operation of

Windows Explorer that there may be good information for you here.

 

expertsXexchange has the following article:

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_...Q_20435153.html

 

"Q:  I use WinXP Professional, just installed SP1 (as part of an

attempt to fix this problem...but it didn't work)

 

Starting yesterday afternoon, just randomly, it seems, while my

computer was running, this problem popped up.

 

"Windows Explorer encounters a problem and needs to close" whenever I

try to do anything as mundane as opening a folder, any folder, whether

I'm following a shortcut or not.  Simply double-clicking My Computer

on the desktop will do this.  Then I tell it whether or not to send

the error report, Explorer seemingly restarts (screen goes blank, then

the taskbar and desktop icons reappear), but the problem remains..."

 

"A:  WOOHOOOOO!!!

 

I solved the problem by doing the following simple thing:

Install ADAWARE!  (www.download.com)

 

Apparently the reason for this problem is a malfunctioning "IE

search-hijacker", which screws explorer.exe up.

Install adaware, and let it find the bad guys, and boom, you have a

working computer! .."

 

So, we now have two sources with similar problems that seem to be

caused by tough to find spyware.

 

I do suggest getting the latest Ad-aware from www.lavasoft.de and the

latest Spybot from http://security.kolla.de/ . These may just solve

the problem for you.

 

I also searched Google Groups for discussions of this error:

 

This thread suggests using the repair process (as opposed to restore)

for XP:

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&...GP10%26rnum%3D2

 

 

This thread attributes the problem to a program called "FlashTrack" :

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&...A01%26rnum%3D11

 

This page offers suggestions if you do have FlashTrack installed:

http://allentech.net/parasite/FlashTrack.html

 

 

This Knowledgebase article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...B;en-us;q255758

 

Attributes the problem to Norton CleanSweep:

 

Error Message: Explorer.exe Has Generated Errors and Will Be Closed by

Windows

 

SYMPTOMS

After you upgrade to Windows 2000 from an earlier Windows operating

system, you may receive the following error message after you first

log on:

 

Explorer.exe has generated errors and will be closed by Windows. Dr

Watson will run and create a log file.

When this error message occurs, no desktop is displayed or the desktop

is blank. You can press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to start Task Manager. If you

do so, you may notice that Explorer.exe is consuming close to 100

percent of the available resources.

 

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if Norton CleanSweep was installed in the

previous operating system.

 

You might check to see if you have this installed, even though the

article mentions Windows 2000. XP is very similar in many ways.

 

 

This thread attributes the problem to Xupiter:

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&...P09%26rnum%3D24

 

It offers very good information for tracking down spyware.

 

This thread echoes your frustration:

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&...c54%26rnum%3D26

 

"After installing SP1 on Windows XP Pro, every time I try to view or

access the WINDOWS folder, I get the "Windows Explorer has encountered

a problem and needs to close" message. After exhaustive searching

Microsoft's support site as well as the internet, I found absolutely

no answers to this problem!

I began to wonder if this is the first computer in the world to have

this problem. I finally broke down and re-installed XP which fixed the

problem.

 

Then I installed SP1 a second time, however opting to archive the old

files so I could uninstall it if I had a problem again. Lo and Behold,

the exact same problem returned after installing SP1 again! So I

uninstalled SP1 and

the problem went away."

 

SP1 is a repeating theme for this problem, as well. If you have this

installed, you may wish to unistall and see if it cures the problem.

Then await SP2 or see this hotfix for SP1:

 

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...b;en-us;Q329692

 

"Explorer.exe May Generate an Application Error When You Close a

Folder

 

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP1"

 

"SYMPTOMS

Windows may not respond when you try to open or close a folder by

using Windows Explorer. When this occurs, you may be able to restart

Explorer.exe to cause Windows Explorer to work correctly again.

 

RESOLUTION

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only

intended to correct the problem that is described in this article.

Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

This fix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not

severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait

for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this fix."

 

Another reoccurring theme with this problem is the version installed

of MVC42.dll as shown in this thread:

 

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&...A09%26rnum%3D43

 

 

Search Strategy:

 

"windows explorer" +XP +"encountered a problem"

 

These types of problems are usually well discussed and well documented

on the Internet and in Usenet Groups. The small amount of information

and the few choices of cause lead me to believe that is it a conflict

with spyware on your machine or a problem with SP1 as a second

possibility.

 

I know that I have given you quite a lot to read and consider, but in

short, I would obtain the latest versions of Ad-aware and Spybot (and

check for updates after installing them) and see if that doesn't find

the problem. If not, try uninstalling SP1. Then read the threads above

in depth if you still experience the problem and do let me know what

you find.

[Guest JMA]

Oh, BTW, I have Windows 98 and this problem usually happens when I press the "Enter" key. It seems to be random when it does happen, though.

[Guest JMA]

UGH. I keep losing important information because of this damn problem.

 

Perhaps I will seek an alternative for IE.

[Guest T®ITEC]

A new OS wouldn't hurt your situation, either.