theBlackman on 7/6/2009 at 09:59
Not Internet Explorer, but the function that reads the files and pulls up applications as requested.
I have run Root Kit checkers, a number of virus checkers and nothing seems to turn up, and nothing I have discovered offers a solution.
The problem is that EXPLORER.EXE hangs up. For a while the system works normally then hangs up. Task Manager shows the app as "Not responding". On occasion if I stop it in Task Manager the computer will free up and I can get back on line, but mostly it refuses to allow access to the installed apps, including the desktop and start menu.
For example if I click on START, or on MY COMPUTER, the system hangs. Sometimes a complete lockup, other times it takes 5 minutes or more to open the proper window.
This happens in both XP and now I've got it on my backup W98 system. I'd use the "Extract" feature of the 98 install disc if I knew how to find the right Cab file and reinstall the EXPLORER.EXE.
Any suggestions would be greatfully accepted.
Bikerdude, HELP! :)
Microwave Oven on 7/6/2009 at 18:48
I've seen this happen when a harddrive was about to give out. I'd say check the event viewer under system events and see if any warnings or errors show up for the disk system.
theBlackman on 7/6/2009 at 20:52
Thanks I'll do that. SMART has not given me a warning. I usually go to EV whenever I get a problem, but as SMART didn't pop, I forgot too.
EDIT
Well CHKDSK shows the HDD is in working order. Smart says the same. Computer management Disc management says the HDD (all 5 are healthy.
I really don't want to rebuild this computer AGAIN. I just did last month. And I REALLLLY do not want to go to a SATA system. I have two under construction, but I don't really want to get into transferring 1.5 Tbytes to one of those.
Flagston on 8/6/2009 at 02:30
I went through a period where explorer.exe was giving me problems similar to yours. I was going to reformat my computer and at one point I started uninstalling games and apps. As It turns out uninstalling Nero 7 made all of my explorer problems go away. Your problems sound a little more serious than mine but knocking out some apps might be something to think about.
Jadon on 9/6/2009 at 05:25
i agree with flagston and have seen this happen to myself also. some program would actually be causing explorer to spike and stall hard. figuring out what program was causing explorer to do this though was the hard part. usually anything that interfaces with explorers file handling/lookup (like nero) are ones to look at.
theBlackman on 9/6/2009 at 07:39
Thanks. I'll see what I can find. I don't allow any of the media programs to use the "Lookup" data links for CDs, Music or such. But I'll check it.
The first suspect one will be a PYRO application. I'll start there. I only use it because I can split a wave file into individual tracks easily and rename the new tracks at the same time.
But I have another app that will let me do the same, it just takes more effort.
EDIT. I found an error I can try to deal with: "System clock is unsynchronized". I don't even know where to start looking for a way to "synchronize" the clock. I am synchronized with the Time.com and the clock updates regularly. So that doesn't seem to be it and I don't understand the notation "
theBlackman on 9/6/2009 at 20:52
Thanks. Time does sync with the time link, and the Spy and Viri apps don't block it.
I ran the "update" and everything did its job. Just fired up the system and I'll let you know what if anything changes.
EDIT: I may have fixed the problem. I reformatted one partition on the suspect HDD and all seems well. Fortunately there was nothing there I couldn't easily replace.
