Vista - Windows Explorer Not Responding

Hi There
I have a Vista Home Premium32 bit and Windows Explorer doesn't open and error message displays " Windows Explorer has stopped working, checking for a solution to this problem". After this, it closes the window. When I click again to open Windows Explorer it opens normal and allows me to do things. If I close it and want to restart it again, same problem.

Problem report:
Problem signature
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: Explorer.EXE
Application Version: 6.0.6001.18000
Application Timestamp: 47918e5d
Fault Module Name: SHELL32.dll
Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18062
Fault Module Timestamp: 4810129c
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 00152641
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 3081
Additional Information 1: fd00
Additional Information 2: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
Additional Information 3: fd00
Additional Information 4: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
Extra information about the problem
Bucket ID: 818840978


Additional Notes: I have installed a few programs and had to restore to a previous restore point because of a few other problems. This is the only problem that has not fixed after restore and has been annoying. I went through the forum pages, although similar problems have been reported, none of them mention Shell32.dll in their Fault Module Name but same Event Name, Applcation Name, Application Version and Application Timestamp as above.
someone mentioned about this Shell32.dll maybe caused by Internet Explorer, I went to Programs and Features / Repair a program, but Internet Explorer is not in the list, although Internet Explorer 7.0 is working well in this computer.


In summary: Windows explorer needs to be started a second time to get it going.
I will be glad if anyone can help. Thanks in advance.

John

It would seem that an extension (which could provide anything from extra context menu items to namespace items) installed into Windows Explorer is causing the crash. When Explorer crashes, the extension is also gone, which could explain why Explorer starts ok on the second try.

Tracking down which extension this is will not be an easy task, unless this problem started shortly after installng some new piece of software. The software provided by cell phones often add Explorer Extensions, as do anti-virus programs.

The fault module in the crash details you provide is mentioned as being "shell32.dll". Do you have any software installed that may have corrupted this system file?

Try opening an Administrative Command Prompt and then running the System File Checker:

1. Click the Start Orb
2. Type "cmd" (without quotes) in the search box
3. In the results, right-click on "cmd", then select "Run as Administrator" (you will need to respond to a UAC prompt)
4. In the command prompt, type "SFC /SCANNOW" (without quotes) and press <ENTER>

Report back on what happens.

Hi Peter
Thanks for your quick reply. I can't exactly identify what software has caused the problem. Before this problem, I had another problem with Windows Explorer, which I couldn't see the New in right click menu to create a New Folder. To solve this problem, I had to download a fix from this site (tutorial/138955/restore new context menu item) to restore the New menu.
But, other than that it could be a few other programs. Windows Live Messenger, free GegCure scan check, McAffee free trial AntiVirus, network resource sharing are a few programs I can think of, but not sure which one.

After posting my problem, I needed the computer, so I have restored the system to a 3 day old previous restore point, which has resolved the problem.

After seeing your reply I carried out system check as you described and result was" Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations".
Currently, Windows Explorer is Working well.

Thanks again for your reply, much appreciated. I wish you a good day and Merry Christmas.
Kind Regards
John