Explorer exploding...

[Paddy]

I have reinstalled windows using slipstreamed CD with all the hotfixes and drivers that I need. I am having a few problems with explorer though....

I've noticed that it frequently fails to refresh windows. If I move/delete files it won't update unless i hit F5. It is causing all sorts of problems as explorer keeps haning whilst trying to find files.... I have enabled 'use a seperate process for each folder' is that what is causing this?

Any suggestions?

I am having to end-task and 'new task' > 'explorer' quite frequently now....

[Fat Tone]

Did you catch something before installing your a/v?

[schmosef]

sounds like maybe you've got an explorer hijack or other add-on that's causing you problems. Scan your computer with the various Spyware progs out there. Also, I haven't used HijackThis in a long time but that was the best util out there for identifying what was installed and affecting explorer.

I had a util for calculating folder sizes installed once. In theory It was supposed to be multithreaded and not slow down explorer but in practise I got really frustrated because it regularly caused explorer to seem to freeze while it was doing the math so I had to uninstall it.

[Paddy]

I have Microsofts AntiSpy thingiemajig and ewido Security Site running. Adaware didn't find anything, but I've not installed any AV software yet ....

I normally use Norton, but can anyone recommend an alternative?

[Jammrock]

I normally use Norton, but can anyone recommend an alternative?

AVG Free: http://free.grisoft.com

Jammrock

[Dilitante1]

www.spywareguide.com free scan

[Paddy]

no spyware and no virii, but explorer is still bombing out ever now and then....
Any suggestions on how I can find the root of this?

Event Viewer is fine...

[mmp121]

Bad Sectors on the HDD? Run a scandisk on ur drive. Maybe there's a bad sector where your swapfile is. Make sure you run w/the option to scan the drive. CHKDSK C: /F /V /R

[Paddy]

scandisk reports no errors...

[Fat Tone]

Any other errors?

Any USB storage devices attached?

[mmp121]

My next suggestion would be to run a check on your RAM. Flaky RAM could do the same thing.

[Paddy]

Nope.. no other errors..

I did a complete take apart - hoover - reassemble and rebuild. Everything was working before, but XP was starting to crumble.

Whenever i access 'My Computer' or part thereof, there is a chance that the computer will hang. CPU usgage goes upto 100% but that's it.... eventually it will either sort itself out, or I have to end-task.

I do have several USB devices attached, but prior to the revuild all was well....

Interestingly, I started up a game and it was really stuttery. It kept accessing the dvd drive every second or so, despite the fact that the game was cracked.

I wonder if there is a problem with my dvd drive. I've inserted several working cds and it does seem t have trouble reading them... perhaps i've mangled a pin when i was messing about with the cables.

[Paddy]

Would a dead DVD drive account for explorer crashing??? It will occasionally happen if i copy a shortcut to the startmenu for example...

[Fat Tone]

Flaky IDE devices/cables can cause no-boots and windows slow downs. Try disconnecting...
And do a Memtest.

[VJ]

I am having to end-task and 'new task' > 'explorer' quite frequently now....

I noticed the same problem on my PC. It isn't connected to the internet, no virusses, no bad harddisk, no bad memory, ...

Good thing is that I keep images of what is on the PC; this way I can easily revert to i.e. a basic installation, or a full blown installation (all basic applications), .... I suspected it was caused by some softwares I added, so I reverted to my 'fully blown installation', which lacked some minor softwares. And the problem was solved!

So perhaps there is some unstable software running...


Jörg