[Fixed] Problems with Explorer.exe and Explorer++

[skeezix]

My computer has been running nicely on the Windows Vista OS for the last few months. Today I tried to add a new user and then I began getting some peculiar problems so I deleted that new user. Then I tried to open Windows Explorer but it failed. I saw that explorer.exe was missing from my System32 folder so I copied explorer.exe from my Windows 10 computer to the Vista computer .Then I tried to load explorer.exe (Windows Explorer) and it failed with an Application Error. The app error read "...failed to initialize properly (0xc0000142). Click OK...". That was followed by a message saying, "Windows Explorer has stopped working."

So I clicked OK and opened my alternate file manager Explorer++.exe. It opened correctly. However, when I clicked on Start>Settings>Control Panel>Welcome Center an error message came up that said "Application not found".

I clicked OK and then got the same results when I clicked on the Backup and Restore Center, the System, the Windows Update, the Power Options, the Problem Reports and Solutions, the Performance Information and Tools, the Windows Anytime Upgrade, and the Administrative tools. Other things in the Control Panel seemed to come up okay.

And I got the same results for Control Panel>Programs>Programs and Features, Default Programs, and Windows SideShow.

So then I tried to uninstall Explorer++ but I couldn't because I couldn't get into the Programs and Features part of the control panel using either Explorer++ or Windows Explorer.

I tried restoring using the options in Bios power-up boot menu and was not successful. I didn't try restoring back to the original operation system because the last time I did that it took several long, long hours. So I thought I'd ask here if there is something else I can try before I reinstall Windows Vista from the original diskettes.

 

[townsbg]

So replacing windows explorer which is a critical component of Windows from Windows version 10 to 6.0 didn't work? There are all kinds of major changes since then. That's 4 major versions of Windows and countless minor ones. 10 itself goes through an overhaul every year. It's an entirely separate user interface. I suspect your only recourse would be a repair install but you can try an sfc first. Follow this guide for the different repair methods. Repair Vista Options - Preferred Sequence

 

[wither 3]

I don't know if you have a 32 bit system or 64 bit system but, on this 64 bit system, explorer.exe is in the SysWOW64 folder, not the System32 folder.

I wouldn't reinstall from the original discs since they probably don't have all the updates and you can't use the Windows Updater anymore. I would try the SFC first, as mentioned by townsbg and if that doesn't help, run a System Restore Point, if you have one. That's also in the link provided by townsbg.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[skeezix]

Thank you for you help!

I repaired the system by running a System Restore Point file that I created in June 2020 and then I found explorer.exe in C:\Windows. Don't know why it had completely disappeared from my computer but oh well...

I appreciate the mention of SFC, I had forgotten about that. I'll run it after I finish this posting and I'll remove Explorer++ too.

I do have Vista 32 running on the computer, and I'm not opposed to reinstalling Windows Vista from my disks because the system will not be connected to the internet.

 

[wither 3]

Glad it worked. Don't forget to set a new restore point.

 

[skeezix]

>>Don't forget to set a new restore point."<<
Uhhh, I forgot.
Thanks for reminding me! I read your reply and then created one. Thanks again!

 

[townsbg]

Have you learned your lesson? Use official sources of repair as mentioned in the guide I posted rather than just replacing files from other versions of Windows or especially the internet. Any other errors need to be fixed using a repair or a restore even if the error mentions a specif file. The fun part about debugging a Window crashing issue is that the issue isn't with any specific file (even if one is listed) but it could be with a related file. File example an error might mention file a but file a is accessing file b or file b is accessing file a. The issue causing the crash could be with either file. A repair will check all critical system files and hopefully that would fix the issue.

 

[skeezix]

Yes, I learned my lesson!

 

[wither 3]

>>Don't forget to set a new restore point."<<
Uhhh, I forgot.
Thanks for reminding me! I read your reply and then created one. Thanks again!