Vista - 'Windows Explorer is Not Responding' - Help!

07-21-2008

Hi. I have this problem I'm hoping I can get ANY help with.

For the last month or so, I've been having a problem with Windows
Explorer. At random times, and often several times once it begins, my
computer freezes and a message comes up: "Windows Explorer is Not
Responding." I'll be working in one program and want to bring up
another, and out of nowhere, I get the hourglass icon and not a single
program that is open will respond. In fact, my entire Start menu won't
come up.

After repeatedly clicking on the program, or on anything on my task
bar, the 'Windows Explorer is Not Responding' sign comes up and gives
me these options: Close the program or Wait for the program to respond.
And only if I click on 'Close the Program' will it activate, tell me
'Windows is checking for a solution to the problem' and after about
five seconds of the programs I am using freezing completely, everything
returns to normal.

When this happens, Ctrl+Alt+Del will work but the best I can do from
there is start the Task Manager and it simply tells me "Explorer.exe"
is not responding. What exactly is Windows Explorer, and how do I fix
this?

If it helps, I have Windows Vista Home Basic on a Toshiba laptop, and
the program I most recently added to it since this problem began is the
Microsoft Zune Program, but this happens whether I use Zune or not.
Aside from that, there really doesn't seem to be any pattern.

I hope I provided enough information and I'm sorry I'm not more
tech-savvy. Thanks!

--
mbech23

07-22-2008

hey I'm having the same problem
I hav 17 gb left on C drv
and 2gb ram
and having vista home premium on HP laptop
sometimes in normal work routine when i click on taskbar or try to open
other program or folder it doesnt respond and on repetitive pressing say 2-3
times a dialogue box comes above start button saying :this application is not
responding
please wait it may respond in few minute or du u want 2 end process"
and everything stops working and i have to end process then explorer
restarts and everything back to normal please help

"mbech23" wrote:

Quote:

>
> Hi. I have this problem I'm hoping I can get ANY help with.
>
> For the last month or so, I've been having a problem with Windows
> Explorer. At random times, and often several times once it begins, my
> computer freezes and a message comes up: "Windows Explorer is Not
> Responding." I'll be working in one program and want to bring up
> another, and out of nowhere, I get the hourglass icon and not a single
> program that is open will respond. In fact, my entire Start menu won't
> come up.
>
> After repeatedly clicking on the program, or on anything on my task
> bar, the 'Windows Explorer is Not Responding' sign comes up and gives
> me these options: Close the program or Wait for the program to respond.
> And only if I click on 'Close the Program' will it activate, tell me
> 'Windows is checking for a solution to the problem' and after about
> five seconds of the programs I am using freezing completely, everything
> returns to normal.
>
> When this happens, Ctrl+Alt+Del will work but the best I can do from
> there is start the Task Manager and it simply tells me "Explorer.exe"
> is not responding. What exactly is Windows Explorer, and how do I fix
> this?
>
> If it helps, I have Windows Vista Home Basic on a Toshiba laptop, and
> the program I most recently added to it since this problem began is the
> Microsoft Zune Program, but this happens whether I use Zune or not.
> Aside from that, there really doesn't seem to be any pattern.
>
> I hope I provided enough information and I'm sorry I'm not more
> tech-savvy. Thanks!
>
>
>
>
> --
> mbech23
>

Art · 08-04-2008

This is a Vista - Internet Explorer problem (I understand they are currently working on it) but in the meantime just download the Mozilla Firefox browser and that should stop the problem.
Firefox web browser | Faster, more secure, & customizable
Just download and "save" the installation file to your desktop or downloads folder. Once it's downloaded "open" and install as "default" browser,you should have an "icon" on your desktop and if you look in your quicklaunch toolbar (bottom left) there should be IE and Mozilla firefox. This is what I had to do, your situation might be diferent. I use a dial-up connection, so I connect to the Internet using my ISP icon (aol,msn,earthlink, etc.) this takes me online, but it uses the Windows Internet Explorer Browser, take note of your homepage in the address bar - http://www.my aol.com -etc) or write it down. Now "close" the browser (top right) Click on the Mozilla Firefox Icon and it will load, now go to tools on the top, options, make sure you are on the Main section, here you can "set" your homepage - the one you copied - DONE!! Unless you want to mess with proxy settings (I don't recommed doing that) this is what you have to do - only takes a few seconds and will definetly "stop" the not responding errors, then of course Import your favorites, firefox uses bookmarks for favorites. Hope it helps you, did me.

ART

08-04-2008

He said Windows Explorer, not Internet Explorer.

--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
www.paulsxp.com
www.paulsxp.com/forum
www.supportspace.com/home/home.s2?aiu=paulm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Art" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:b26835e1f2c68f7e5a006a8a88f165b0@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

Quote:

>
> This is a Vista - Internet Explorer problem (I understand they are
> currently working on it) but in the meantime just download the Mozilla
> Firefox browser and that should stop the problem.
> 'Firefox web browser | Faster, more secure, & customizable'
> (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox...FQZeswodU3x2rw)
> Just download and "save" the installation file to your desktop or
> downloads folder. Once it's downloaded "open" and install as "default"
> browser,you should have an "icon" on your desktop and if you look in
> your quicklaunch toolbar (bottom left) there should be IE and Mozilla
> firefox. This is what I had to do, your situation might be diferent. I
> use a dial-up connection, so I connect to the Internet using my ISP icon
> (aol,msn,earthlink, etc.) this takes me online, but it uses the Windows
> Internet Explorer Browser, take note of your homepage in the address bar
> - http://www.my aol.com -etc) or write it down. Now "close" the browser
> (top right) Click on the Mozilla Firefox Icon and it will load, now go
> to tools on the top, options, make sure you are on the Main section,
> here you can "set" your homepage - the one you copied - DONE!! Unless
> you want to mess with proxy settings (I don't recommed doing that) this
> is what you have to do - only takes a few seconds and will definetly
> "stop" the not responding errors, then of course Import your favorites,
> firefox uses bookmarks for favorites. Hope it helps you, did me.
>
>
> ART
>
>
> --
> Art

**lewi007** · 08-17-2008

I had IE open and experienced the same problem. I think the MS update screwed my laptop. In my opinion i felt that my sound card had something to do with it. It seemed whenever anything accessed the sound card my laptop would freeze and I would get the error 'windows explorer is not responding'. I did a system restore to a date when I know the laptop was working correctly. I then redid the windows update and everything is fine. So I guess the initial update was unsuccessful and meseed up the system files for the sound card creating the error. Hope this helps!

09-27-2008

Hi,

I also have the same problem (over multiple Vista machines). I've been
searching the Internet for "vista not.responding" and it looks to be a common
problem.

Many of the "help replies" start off with stuff like "how much memory do you
have", "is your anti-virus turned on", etc, etc. Many of them then get
side-tracked. As far as I can tell none of them provide an answer.

One responder said "did it happen on day one? NO!". Personally, I don't
really care when it started happening or what the cause might be. I just want
to know how to fix it.

This thread is going the same way as all the others - don't expect a
resolution by reading any further.

My suggestion is that if you can no longer live with it then downgrade to
XP.

SHAME ON MICROSOFT!!!!
Likewise with all the 'experts' in this forum.

10-05-2008

eliheft wrote:

Quote:

> I am also having this same problem. I would love to know if you found a
> way to resolve it.
>
> Thanks
>
>

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833

Art · 10-06-2008

Again, try the Firefox Browser, I had the "same" NOT RESPONDING problem with IE, since downloading and using Firefox "poof" NO MORE PROBLEM. At least "try" Firefox, you can always "remove" it if you don't like it or it doesn't solve the problem for you.

ART

Firefox web browser | Faster, more secure, & customizable

10-07-2008

I totally agree with what you're saying re diagnostics, etc. Point I'm making
is that I seen lots of messages about this problem and they all take that
path (and rightly so) but I'm yet to see a positive outcome.

Having seen this pattern of no outcome 'everywhere' it's disapointing that
the problem is not being given greater attention by MS.

BTW, when we (those with the problem) see 'Not Responding' we're not talking
seconds but multiple minutes for a response - then all the clicks happen at
once. For me it can happen against almost any program - Internet Explorer,
Windows Explorer, Outlook, non-MS programs, .... the lot.

If you ask me I'd say there's a lock somewhere that's timing out. Questin
is, what's setting it and why? I suspect it's at the GUI level - cpu is not
being hit, and Task manager shows normal background paging activity.

VERY FRUSTRATING!!!

"zachd [MSFT]" wrote:

Quote:

>
> "simcity" <simcity@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:6E60ABDD-F802-4F05-8101-1AF3CF034BE5@xxxxxx

Quote:

> > I also have the same problem (over multiple Vista machines). I've been
> > searching the Internet for "vista not.responding" and it looks to be a
> > common
> > problem.

>
> ... with the notation that most every "not responding" issue you run into
> will likely be different. If you see more than ~12 people with the same
> exact "not responding" *cause*, then you've pretty clearly identified a bug.
> =\
>

Quote:

> > Many of the "help replies" start off with stuff like "how much memory do
> > you
> > have", "is your anti-virus turned on", etc, etc. Many of them then get
> > side-tracked. As far as I can tell none of them provide an answer.

>
> Yes, those are good initial trouble-shooting steps attempting to check on
> basic problems. If you say "I have done these XXX things" in your problem
> report, you are less likely to get those basic questions re-asked. Then
> again, I do get too many "I do not have sound" problems that resolve
> themselves by people plugging in or turning on their speakers. =)
>
> The most useful question that anybody can ask in this sort of situation is
> also the hardest to analyze the answer for:
> What's the fault bucket information for that crash according to the Problem
> Reports and Solutions Center control panel's "View Problem History"?
>
> This and the crash DMP file produced by the crash/hang can *potentially*
> lead to a solution, but without that data, it's the equivalent of saying "I
> hurt" to the doctor. Diagnostics really do have to be run. And most
> systems are fascinatingly varied, so even if I completely understand Joe's
> system from A to Z, Imelda's system might be completely different. You
> really always need to get the diagnostics done so you can properly figure
> out what's going on where.
>
> -Zach
> --
> Speaking for myself only.
> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>

10-07-2008

I shall try it.

"Art" wrote:

Quote:

>
> Again, try the Firefox Browser, I had the "same" NOT RESPONDING problem
> with IE, since downloading and using Firefox "poof" NO MORE PROBLEM. At
> least "try" Firefox, you can always "remove" it if you don't like it or
> it doesn't solve the problem for you.
>
> ART
>
> 'Firefox web browser | Faster, more secure, & customizable'
> (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox...FQZeswodU3x2rw)
>
>
> --
> Art
>

07-21-2008	#1
mbech23 n/a posts	'Windows Explorer is Not Responding' - Help! Hi. I have this problem I'm hoping I can get ANY help with. For the last month or so, I've been having a problem with Windows Explorer. At random times, and often several times once it begins, my computer freezes and a message comes up: "Windows Explorer is Not Responding." I'll be working in one program and want to bring up another, and out of nowhere, I get the hourglass icon and not a single program that is open will respond. In fact, my entire Start menu won't come up. After repeatedly clicking on the program, or on anything on my task bar, the 'Windows Explorer is Not Responding' sign comes up and gives me these options: Close the program or Wait for the program to respond. And only if I click on 'Close the Program' will it activate, tell me 'Windows is checking for a solution to the problem' and after about five seconds of the programs I am using freezing completely, everything returns to normal. When this happens, Ctrl+Alt+Del will work but the best I can do from there is start the Task Manager and it simply tells me "Explorer.exe" is not responding. What exactly is Windows Explorer, and how do I fix this? If it helps, I have Windows Vista Home Basic on a Toshiba laptop, and the program I most recently added to it since this problem began is the Microsoft Zune Program, but this happens whether I use Zune or not. Aside from that, there really doesn't seem to be any pattern. I hope I provided enough information and I'm sorry I'm not more tech-savvy. Thanks! -- mbech23
My System Specs

07-22-2008	#2
Nitin194 n/a posts	RE: 'Windows Explorer is Not Responding' - Help! hey I'm having the same problem I hav 17 gb left on C drv and 2gb ram and having vista home premium on HP laptop sometimes in normal work routine when i click on taskbar or try to open other program or folder it doesnt respond and on repetitive pressing say 2-3 times a dialogue box comes above start button saying :this application is not responding please wait it may respond in few minute or du u want 2 end process" and everything stops working and i have to end process then explorer restarts and everything back to normal please help "mbech23" wrote: Quote: > > Hi. I have this problem I'm hoping I can get ANY help with. > > For the last month or so, I've been having a problem with Windows > Explorer. At random times, and often several times once it begins, my > computer freezes and a message comes up: "Windows Explorer is Not > Responding." I'll be working in one program and want to bring up > another, and out of nowhere, I get the hourglass icon and not a single > program that is open will respond. In fact, my entire Start menu won't > come up. > > After repeatedly clicking on the program, or on anything on my task > bar, the 'Windows Explorer is Not Responding' sign comes up and gives > me these options: Close the program or Wait for the program to respond. > And only if I click on 'Close the Program' will it activate, tell me > 'Windows is checking for a solution to the problem' and after about > five seconds of the programs I am using freezing completely, everything > returns to normal. > > When this happens, Ctrl+Alt+Del will work but the best I can do from > there is start the Task Manager and it simply tells me "Explorer.exe" > is not responding. What exactly is Windows Explorer, and how do I fix > this? > > If it helps, I have Windows Vista Home Basic on a Toshiba laptop, and > the program I most recently added to it since this problem began is the > Microsoft Zune Program, but this happens whether I use Zune or not. > Aside from that, there really doesn't seem to be any pattern. > > I hope I provided enough information and I'm sorry I'm not more > tech-savvy. Thanks! > > > > > -- > mbech23 >
My System Specs

08-04-2008	#3
Art 64bit 25 posts	Re: 'Windows Explorer is Not Responding' - Help! This is a Vista - Internet Explorer problem (I understand they are currently working on it) but in the meantime just download the Mozilla Firefox browser and that should stop the problem. Firefox web browser \| Faster, more secure, & customizable Just download and "save" the installation file to your desktop or downloads folder. Once it's downloaded "open" and install as "default" browser,you should have an "icon" on your desktop and if you look in your quicklaunch toolbar (bottom left) there should be IE and Mozilla firefox. This is what I had to do, your situation might be diferent. I use a dial-up connection, so I connect to the Internet using my ISP icon (aol,msn,earthlink, etc.) this takes me online, but it uses the Windows Internet Explorer Browser, take note of your homepage in the address bar - http://www.my aol.com -etc) or write it down. Now "close" the browser (top right) Click on the Mozilla Firefox Icon and it will load, now go to tools on the top, options, make sure you are on the Main section, here you can "set" your homepage - the one you copied - DONE!! Unless you want to mess with proxy settings (I don't recommed doing that) this is what you have to do - only takes a few seconds and will definetly "stop" the not responding errors, then of course Import your favorites, firefox uses bookmarks for favorites. Hope it helps you, did me. ART
My System Specs

08-04-2008	#4
PaulM n/a posts	Re: 'Windows Explorer is Not Responding' - Help! He said Windows Explorer, not Internet Explorer. -- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.paulsxp.com www.paulsxp.com/forum www.supportspace.com/home/home.s2?aiu=paulm --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Art" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message news:b26835e1f2c68f7e5a006a8a88f165b0@xxxxxx-gateway.com... Quote: > > This is a Vista - Internet Explorer problem (I understand they are > currently working on it) but in the meantime just download the Mozilla > Firefox browser and that should stop the problem. > 'Firefox web browser \| Faster, more secure, & customizable' > (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox...FQZeswodU3x2rw) > Just download and "save" the installation file to your desktop or > downloads folder. Once it's downloaded "open" and install as "default" > browser,you should have an "icon" on your desktop and if you look in > your quicklaunch toolbar (bottom left) there should be IE and Mozilla > firefox. This is what I had to do, your situation might be diferent. I > use a dial-up connection, so I connect to the Internet using my ISP icon > (aol,msn,earthlink, etc.) this takes me online, but it uses the Windows > Internet Explorer Browser, take note of your homepage in the address bar > - http://www.my aol.com -etc) or write it down. Now "close" the browser > (top right) Click on the Mozilla Firefox Icon and it will load, now go > to tools on the top, options, make sure you are on the Main section, > here you can "set" your homepage - the one you copied - DONE!! Unless > you want to mess with proxy settings (I don't recommed doing that) this > is what you have to do - only takes a few seconds and will definetly > "stop" the not responding errors, then of course Import your favorites, > firefox uses bookmarks for favorites. Hope it helps you, did me. > > > ART > > > -- > Art
My System Specs

08-17-2008	#5
lewi007 vista professional 2 posts	Re: 'Windows Explorer is Not Responding' - Help! I had IE open and experienced the same problem. I think the MS update screwed my laptop. In my opinion i felt that my sound card had something to do with it. It seemed whenever anything accessed the sound card my laptop would freeze and I would get the error 'windows explorer is not responding'. I did a system restore to a date when I know the laptop was working correctly. I then redid the windows update and everything is fine. So I guess the initial update was unsuccessful and meseed up the system files for the sound card creating the error. Hope this helps!
My System Specs

09-27-2008	#6
simcity n/a posts	RE: 'Windows Explorer is Not Responding' - Help! Hi, I also have the same problem (over multiple Vista machines). I've been searching the Internet for "vista not.responding" and it looks to be a common problem. Many of the "help replies" start off with stuff like "how much memory do you have", "is your anti-virus turned on", etc, etc. Many of them then get side-tracked. As far as I can tell none of them provide an answer. One responder said "did it happen on day one? NO!". Personally, I don't really care when it started happening or what the cause might be. I just want to know how to fix it. This thread is going the same way as all the others - don't expect a resolution by reading any further. My suggestion is that if you can no longer live with it then downgrade to XP. SHAME ON MICROSOFT!!!! Likewise with all the 'experts' in this forum.
My System Specs

10-05-2008	#7
Paul MontDenturesDropped n/a posts	Re: 'Windows Explorer is Not Responding' - Help! eliheft wrote: Quote: > I am also having this same problem. I would love to know if you found a > way to resolve it. > > Thanks > > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833
My System Specs

10-06-2008	#8
Art 64bit 25 posts	Re: 'Windows Explorer is Not Responding' - Help! Again, try the Firefox Browser, I had the "same" NOT RESPONDING problem with IE, since downloading and using Firefox "poof" NO MORE PROBLEM. At least "try" Firefox, you can always "remove" it if you don't like it or it doesn't solve the problem for you. ART Firefox web browser \| Faster, more secure, & customizable
My System Specs

10-07-2008	#9
simcity n/a posts	Re: 'Windows Explorer is Not Responding' - Help! I totally agree with what you're saying re diagnostics, etc. Point I'm making is that I seen lots of messages about this problem and they all take that path (and rightly so) but I'm yet to see a positive outcome. Having seen this pattern of no outcome 'everywhere' it's disapointing that the problem is not being given greater attention by MS. BTW, when we (those with the problem) see 'Not Responding' we're not talking seconds but multiple minutes for a response - then all the clicks happen at once. For me it can happen against almost any program - Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer, Outlook, non-MS programs, .... the lot. If you ask me I'd say there's a lock somewhere that's timing out. Questin is, what's setting it and why? I suspect it's at the GUI level - cpu is not being hit, and Task manager shows normal background paging activity. VERY FRUSTRATING!!! "zachd [MSFT]" wrote: Quote: > > "simcity" <simcity@xxxxxx> wrote in message > news:6E60ABDD-F802-4F05-8101-1AF3CF034BE5@xxxxxx Quote: > > I also have the same problem (over multiple Vista machines). I've been > > searching the Internet for "vista not.responding" and it looks to be a > > common > > problem. > > ... with the notation that most every "not responding" issue you run into > will likely be different. If you see more than ~12 people with the same > exact "not responding" cause, then you've pretty clearly identified a bug. > =\ > Quote: > > Many of the "help replies" start off with stuff like "how much memory do > > you > > have", "is your anti-virus turned on", etc, etc. Many of them then get > > side-tracked. As far as I can tell none of them provide an answer. > > Yes, those are good initial trouble-shooting steps attempting to check on > basic problems. If you say "I have done these XXX things" in your problem > report, you are less likely to get those basic questions re-asked. Then > again, I do get too many "I do not have sound" problems that resolve > themselves by people plugging in or turning on their speakers. =) > > The most useful question that anybody can ask in this sort of situation is > also the hardest to analyze the answer for: > What's the fault bucket information for that crash according to the Problem > Reports and Solutions Center control panel's "View Problem History"? > > This and the crash DMP file produced by the crash/hang can potentially > lead to a solution, but without that data, it's the equivalent of saying "I > hurt" to the doctor. Diagnostics really do have to be run. And most > systems are fascinatingly varied, so even if I completely understand Joe's > system from A to Z, Imelda's system might be completely different. You > really always need to get the diagnostics done so you can properly figure > out what's going on where. > > -Zach > -- > Speaking for myself only. > See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info. > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. >
My System Specs

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