Getting Constant Windows Explor Error

[turboturist]

I am constantly getting the...

"Windows Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."

...in certain folders on my comp, how do I go about finding the file that is causing this so I can delete it and stop the madness? One of the folders has several thousand files in it for work so I don't know how to go through them to find the one that is causing the problem.

I have done the scandisc, defrag, no viruses, tried to follow the error messages and fix things but nothing seems to be working. Any one know how to rectify this problem?

Thanks, TT.

[Richter]

It's basically a corrupted file trying to open. If you have your folder open and it's first option under the "Views" category is to open in "Thumbnails", then it will crash every time. It's best to keep it in "Details" mode so it won't crash. Then from there, you'll be able to find out which file it is that's crashing on you. Make sense homez?

[z83]

if it's XP, try repairing the windows by booting the XP cd

[turboturist]

if it's XP, try repairing the windows by booting the XP cd

I just recently had XP reinstalled and the whole hard drive reformatted, the problem is in an external hard drive that I have all my work files on. And I dont have a XP disc.


It's basically a corrupted file trying to open. If you have your folder open and it's first option under the "Views" category is to open in "Thumbnails", then it will crash every time. It's best to keep it in "Details" mode so it won't crash. Then from there, you'll be able to find out which file it is that's crashing on you. Make sense homez?

Makes sense but it happens in a folder that has nothing but other folders in it, there are no files that are not organized in folders. I have not had any probs until yeterday, no new downloads or anything or editing of files, it just started out of the blue. I will try it though and see if I can at least narrow down which folder is causing it.

[z83]

try in safe mode

[RagingRandy]

If it is an external drive that plugs in via USB it could be a flaky cable. What kind of external drive is it?

[turboturist]

If it is an external drive that plugs in via USB it could be a flaky cable. What kind of external drive is it?

Is a Maxtor Mini that uses the USB as the power, I have tried a couple diferent cables as I have a couple of the drives with the same cable and the same problem occurs.


try in safe mode
Try doing what in safe mode bro?

[RagingRandy]

I know some usb drives have power issues. Sometimes the usb port does not supply enough power for the drive. Try a different usb port. You can also try a powered usb hub. There are Y cables you can get so that the drive plugs into 2 usb ports.

[z83]

Is a Maxtor Mini that uses the USB as the power, I have tried a couple diferent cables as I have a couple of the drives with the same cable and the same problem occurs.


Try doing what in safe mode bro?

accessing your files that crashes IE

[turboturist]

accessing your files that crashes IE

That is what I am trying to figure out is what file it is that causes it so I can delete it. I dont know what file it is at this point as there are a few thousand files in the folders that are doing it.


I know some usb drives have power issues. Sometimes the usb port does not supply enough power for the drive. Try a different usb port. You can also try a powered usb hub. There are Y cables you can get so that the drive plugs into 2 usb ports.

I have both ends on the Y cable plugged in. And the other external drives that are exactly the same and dont have this issue.

Now I am starting to get explore.exe application errors, fark....

[RagingRandy]

Go "Start" "Run" in the box type sfc /scannow

Click "OK"
This will scan all your system files and replace what is required.

[turboturist]

Go "Start" "Run" in the box type sfc /scannow

Click "OK"
This will scan all your system files and replace what is required.

Will this scan the files on the hard drive as well? And once I do find the files that are causing the prob is there any way to fix the file incase it is something very important?

Thanks for all the help so far guys.

When I do that it is asking for the window xp disc and I do not have one.

[RagingRandy]

It does sound like it could be a memory problem. Go "Start" "Settings" "Control Panel" System"
Go to the "Advanced" tab
Under Performace click "Settings"
Go to the "Advanced" tab
Under "Virtual memory"
Click "Change"
Highlight C:
Click on the "System Managed Size"
Click "Set"
Then "OK" to get out
You will need to reboot for this to take affect

If it is only happening on the one drive you can try running Check Disk.
Go to "My Computer"
Highlight your external drive
Right click it
Go to "Properties"
Go to the "Tools" tab
Click "Scan now"
Check both boxes
Click "Start Now"

[RagingRandy]

Will this scan the files on the hard drive as well? And once I do find the files that are causing the prob is there any way to fix the file incase it is something very important?

Thanks for all the help so far guys.

Nope....see above for that. Depending on what is causing the problem the fix could be different. Do not put a huge amount of files in a single folder or have your folder structure running to deep.

[turboturist]

If it is only happening on the one drive you can try running Check Disk.
Go to "My Computer"
Highlight your external drive
Right click it
Go to "Properties"
Go to the "Tools" tab
Click "Scan now"
Check both boxes
Click "Start Now"

I did that before ever posting the thread. I tired what you suggested about the virtual memory as well and still the same problem.

[RagingRandy]

Are you only having problems when you access the one drive?

[turboturist]

Are you only having problems when you access the one drive?

Ya just the one external hard drive.

I have several of the same external drives and it is only the work one I am having problems with, and I need most of the files on that drive.

Is there is no program that will tell you what files are corrupt or causing it so I can run it, and figure out which ones I need to delete?

Then I can run things in safe mode and go in and delete the ones causing problems.

[RagingRandy]

Can you see the anything on that drive? Do you start getting errors when you start browsing the drive?

[turboturist]

Can you see the anything on that drive? Do you start getting errors when you start browsing the drive?

Ya I can go into all places in the drive with no problems and access folders and files and open and use files no problem.

Its just one folder, that has 9 other folders in it. As soon as I enter it I get the "Windows Explorer has encountered a problem... etc etc. And sometimes the "explore.exe application error" comes up.

But its just the one folder on the drive not the whole drive.

[turboturist]

Like I said if there was a program where you could do a search for corrupted files then go in and delete them I think that would work no? But I dont know if there is suck a thing.

[turboturist]

And oher than what has been suggested in this thread I have ran the scan disc utility, defrag, couple different virus software, spyware removers, a couple diferent reg cleaners and none of them showed any infected files.

So the only thing I can see is some of the files are corrupted but now how do I find and isolate them when the window wont stay open long enough not to mention it would take months to go open every file one at a time.

[RagingRandy]

Ok.....Try this .....Go "Start" "Run" in the box type cmd and click "OK"
If your external drive is D at the command prompt type D: and hit enter
you then need to copy the files to your c drive to do this type
Create a new folder on C called Test
copy the data path c:\test for instance ...... copy folder1\folder2\folder3\*.* c:\test

Folder3 is the folder you are having problems getting into. You will have to do this for each subfolder.

[turboturist]

Ok.....Try this .....Go "Start" "Run" in the box type cmd and click "OK"
If your external drive is D at the command prompt type D: and hit enter
you then need to copy the files to your c drive to do this type
Create a new folder on C called Test
copy the data path c:\test for instance ...... copy folder1\folder2\folder3\*.* c:\test

Folder3 is the folder you are having problems getting into. You will have to do this for each subfolder.

I cant do that man, the files on the external drive are larger than the capacity of my hard drive on my comp.

There are some videos of casing runs etc on the drive could it be a video codec that is causing this?

[RagingRandy]

Do you have another external drive you can write to? It will not be the codec if you get crashes from simply looking in a folder.

If it is when you try to view a movie you can try a different player.
Go here..... http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_lite_codec_pack.htm

[turboturist]

It was a video codec, as soon as uninstalled it the problem went away.

But as we were talking do you know of any programs that go in and search for corrupt files? Not viruses but just files that are srcewed up and not working right?

Thanks for all the help.

[RagingRandy]

There are "tune up" programs but they have limited functionality. I do not think they are what you are looking for.