Windows – How to stop explorer.exe from crashing

start-menuwindows 10windows-explorer

I am running windows 10 may 2004 x64. And whenever I click on start menu my explorer.exe crashes and restarts. How do I stop it from doing so.

I updated to latest version using MediaCreation.

I have this problem from the point I updated windows to the latest version

I have not changed Start Menu layout so it is not the problem.

I noticed that I don't have explorer folder in "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows"

I am not able to search anything from explorer and taskbar.

I tried sfc /scannow, chkdsk, and dism commands but no result from these.

I am attaching the error log from reliability test

Source

Windows Explorer

Summary

Stopped working

Date

‎7/‎1/‎2020 10:03 AM

Status

Report sent

Description

Faulting Application Path: C:\Windows\explorer.exe

Problem signature

Problem Event Name: APPCRASH

Application Name: Explorer.EXE

Application Version: 10.0.19041.329

Application Timestamp: b584d6c9

Fault Module Name: twinui.pcshell.dll

Fault Module Version: 10.0.19041.329

Fault Module Timestamp: 1da0a9bb

Exception Code: c0000005

Exception Offset: 0000000000085ced

OS Version: 10.0.19041.2.0.0.256.4

Locale ID: 1033

Additional Information 1: 1908

Additional Information 2: 190818e837de5133bf9a0aa7e10d0298

Additional Information 3: 31dc

Additional Information 4: 31dcb4a07afdabfd4b606b1ea3c18e90

Extra information about the problem

Bucket ID: 83ee0748e1e844ab4f4fd3658c59b2fd (2256254371435754237)

Best Answer

These are solutions and fixes-:

1.Delete all registry keys in \HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

Expand "Shell" and deleted both "BagMRU" and "Bag" keys.Do not worry as they rebuild after restart

2.Clear History of File explorer by click on Start-File explorer-File explorer options.In privacy settings click clear

3.Change Display Resolution of Monitor

4.Uninstall and Reinstall your graphics driver it by device manager.Check your graphic card vendor to see if any update released for your product

5.Enable launch Folder in Windows in a Separate Process by Start-File Explorer options-View-Launch folder windows in a separate process"-Apply and Ok

6.Disable your antivirus if installed

7.Try Netsh Winsock Reset to fix any socket errors that malicious script on the computer or unknown file

8.Try booting in Safe Mode of Windows and check whether issue persists

9.If the issue dont persist in Safe Mode then some startup program is causing interrupt and causing problem

Boot in normal mode type msconfig in search and open msconfig and untick load startup items

Then Go to startup tab and hide all non-microsoft services and then click disable all

Click apply and Ok and reboot

10.If all fails do a clean installation of windows again

Note:The images I uploaded settings of my PC not from any website

Source: https://www.easeus.com/resource/how-to-fix-windows-10-file-explorer-keeps-crashing.html

I did not copy from them just got the idea from website so it will be unfair not to give regards to them.

Related Solutions

Windows taskbar unresponsive and always showing the busy Icon. Explorer.exe process crashes frequently

To analyze the issue yourself follow those steps:

Open WinDbg, open the dump (CTRL + D) and type this command and press ENTER:

!analyze -v

Now compare the output with what I posted and look if you have the same issue or a new one.

////////////////////

Edit 2013-08-06

Last dump shows C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 9.0\Acrobat Elements\ContextMenu64.dll as cause:

*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Exception Analysis                                   *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for ContextMenu64.dll
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for ContextMenu64.dll
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for Adist64.dll
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for Adist64.dll
APPLICATION_VERIFIER_LOCKS_LOCK_IN_UNLOADED_DLL (201)
Unloading DLL containing an active critical section.
This stop is generated if a DLL has a global variable containing a critical section
and the DLL is unloaded but the critical section has not been deleted. To debug
this stop use the following debugger commands:
$ du parameter3 - to dump the name of the culprit DLL.
$ .reload dllname or .reload dllname = parameter4 - to reload the symbols for that DLL.
$ !cs -s parameter1 - dump information about this critical section.
$ ln parameter1 - to show symbols near the address of the critical section.
This should help identify the leaked critical section.
$ dps parameter2 - to dump the stack trace for this critical section initialization. 
Arguments:
Arg1: 00000000160384b0, Critical section address. 
Arg2: 0000000001381220, Critical section initialization stack trace. 
Arg3: 000000000ffc49b2, DLL name address. 
Arg4: 0000000016020000, DLL base address. 
*** ERROR: Symbol file could not be found.  Defaulted to export symbols for sppc.dll - 
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for SugarSyncShellExt_x64.dll
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for SugarSyncShellExt_x64.dll

EXCEPTION_RECORD:  ffffffffffffffff -- (.exr 0xffffffffffffffff)
ExceptionAddress: 000007feb74da7fc (verifier!VerifierStopMessageEx+0x00000000000006d0)
   ExceptionCode: 80000003 (Break instruction exception)
  ExceptionFlags: 00000000
NumberParameters: 1
   Parameter[0]: 0000000000000000

DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  STATUS_BREAKPOINT

PROCESS_NAME:  explorer.exe

CRITICAL_SECTION:  00000000160384b0 -- (!cs -s 00000000160384b0)

ERROR_CODE: (NTSTATUS) 0x80000003 - {AUSNAHME}  Haltepunkt  Im Quellprogramm wurde ein Haltepunkt erreicht.

EXCEPTION_CODE: (HRESULT) 0x80000003 (2147483651) - Mindestens ein Argument ist ung ltig.

EXCEPTION_PARAMETER1:  0000000000000000

NTGLOBALFLAG:  2000100

APPLICATION_VERIFIER_FLAGS:  48004

APP:  explorer.exe

FAULTING_THREAD:  0000000000000df4

PRIMARY_PROBLEM_CLASS:  STATUS_BREAKPOINT

BUGCHECK_STR:  APPLICATION_FAULT_STATUS_BREAKPOINT

LAST_CONTROL_TRANSFER:  from 000007feb74e557b to 000007feb74da7fc

STACK_TEXT:  
ntdll!KiUserExceptionDispatch
verifier!VerifierStopMessageEx
verifier!AVrfpFreeMemLockChecks
verifier!AVrfpFreeMemNotify
verifier!AVrfpDllUnloadCallback
ntdll!AVrfDllUnloadNotification
ntdll!LdrpUnloadNode
ntdll!LdrpDecrementNodeLoadCount
ntdll!LdrUnloadDll
KERNELBASE!FreeLibrary
ContextMenu64
0x0
0x0
0x0
0x0
0x0
Adist64
Adist64
0x0
0x0
ContextMenu64
0x0
0x0
0x0
0x0


SYMBOL_NAME:  contextmenu64+110a6


IMAGE_NAME:  ContextMenu64.dll

    Image path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 9.0\Acrobat Elements\ContextMenu64.dll
    Image name: ContextMenu64.dll
    Timestamp:        Mon Oct 06 21:22:22 2008 (48EA656E)
    CheckSum:         001880E9
    ImageSize:        00189000
    File version:     9.0.0.373
    Product version:  9.0.0.373
    File flags:       0 (Mask 3F)
    File OS:          4 Unknown Win32
    File type:        2.0 Dll
    File date:        00000000.00000000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

AppVerifier does a fantastic job to show you all buggy, old and incompatible software you use.

////////////////

the dump shows that Avast (AVAST Software\Avast\snxhk64.dll) causes the Explorer crash:

APPLICATION_VERIFIER_MEMORY_SIZE_HEAP_UNEXPECTED_EXCEPTION (618)
Unexpected exception when trying to find heap block size.
This stop is generated if we get an exception while calling HeapSize for a heap block
that is being freed. This typically means that the specified heap block address is
incorrect or the heap is corrupted.
To debug this stop:
$ .exr parameter3 - to display the exception record;
$ .cxr parameter4 followed by kb - to display the exception context information
and stack trace at the time when the exception was raised. 
Arguments:
Arg1: 000000000474d800, Address of the heap block being freed. 
Arg2: 0000000003680000, Heap handle. 
Arg3: 0000000000caeea0, Exception record. Use .exr to display it. 
Arg4: 0000000000cae9b0, Context record. Use .cxr to display it. 

FAULTING_IP: 
verifier!VerifierStopMessageEx+6d0
000007fb`a324a7fc cc              int     3

EXCEPTION_RECORD:  0000000000caeea0 -- (.exr 0xcaeea0)
ExceptionAddress: 000007fbb16fab00 (ntdll!RtlpWaitOnCriticalSection+0x00000000000000c0)
   ExceptionCode: c0000005 (Access violation)
  ExceptionFlags: 00000000
NumberParameters: 2
   Parameter[0]: 0000000000000001
   Parameter[1]: 0000000000000024
Attempt to write to address 0000000000000024

DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  STATUS_BREAKPOINT

PROCESS_NAME:  explorer.exe

CONTEXT:  0000000000cae9b0 -- (.cxr 0xcae9b0)
rax=0000000000000000 rbx=000007fba32842a0 rcx=00000000fffffffc
rdx=0000000000000088 rsi=0000000000000088 rdi=0000000000000000
rip=000007fbb16fab00 rsp=0000000000caef70 rbp=0000000000000000
 r8=ffffffffffffffff  r9=0000000000000004 r10=0000000000000000
r11=0000000000000246 r12=0000000000000000 r13=0000000000000000
r14=000007f60b35e000 r15=0000000000000000
iopl=0         nv up ei pl nz ac pe cy
cs=0033  ss=002b  ds=002b  es=002b  fs=0053  gs=002b             efl=00010213
ntdll!RtlpWaitOnCriticalSection+0xc0:
000007fb`b16fab00 ff4024          inc     dword ptr [rax+24h] ds:00000000`00000024=????????
Resetting default scope

ERROR_CODE: (NTSTATUS) 0x80000003 - {AUSNAHME}  Haltepunkt  Im Quellprogramm wurde ein Haltepunkt erreicht.

EXCEPTION_CODE: (HRESULT) 0x80000003 (2147483651) - Mindestens ein Argument ist ung ltig.

EXCEPTION_PARAMETER1:  0000000000000000

NTGLOBALFLAG:  2000100

APPLICATION_VERIFIER_FLAGS:  48004

APP:  explorer.exe

FAULTING_THREAD:  0000000000000428

PRIMARY_PROBLEM_CLASS:  STATUS_BREAKPOINT

BUGCHECK_STR:  APPLICATION_FAULT_STATUS_BREAKPOINT

LAST_CONTROL_TRANSFER:  from 000007fba3252861 to 000007fba324a7fc

STACK_TEXT:  
ntdll!NtWaitForSingleObject
ntdll!RtlReportExceptionEx
ntdll!RtlReportException
ntdll!LdrpCalloutExceptionFilter
ntdll!LdrpInitializeNode$filt$1
ntdll!_C_specific_handler
ntdll!RtlpExecuteHandlerForException
ntdll!RtlDispatchException
ntdll!KiUserExceptionDispatch
verifier!VerifierStopMessageEx
verifier!AVrfpSizeHeapExceptionFilter
verifier!AVrfpRtlFreeHeap$filt$0
ntdll!_C_specific_handler
ntdll!RtlpExecuteHandlerForException
ntdll!RtlDispatchException
ntdll!KiUserExceptionDispatch
ntdll!RtlpWaitOnCriticalSection
ntdll!RtlpEnterCriticalSectionContended
verifier!AVrfpFreeMemLockChecks
verifier!AVrfpFreeMemNotify
verifier!AVrfpRtlFreeHeap
snxhk64!SnxHk_UninstallHook
snxhk64
verifier!AVrfpInitializeExceptionChecking
verifier!DllMain
ntdll!LdrpCallInitRoutine
ntdll!LdrpInitializeNode
ntdll!LdrpInitializeGraph
ntdll!AVrfInitializeVerifier
ntdll!LdrpInitializeProcess
ntdll!_LdrpInitialize
ntdll!LdrInitializeThunk


FOLLOWUP_IP: 
snxhk64!SnxHk_UninstallHook+7150
00000000`5d14fb40 85c0            test    eax,eax

SYMBOL_STACK_INDEX:  c

SYMBOL_NAME:  snxhk64!SnxHk_UninstallHook+7150

FOLLOWUP_NAME:  MachineOwner

MODULE_NAME: snxhk64

IMAGE_NAME:  snxhk64.dll

    Loaded symbol image file: snxhk64.dll
    Image path: C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\snxhk64.dll
    Image name: snxhk64.dll
    Timestamp:        Thu May 09 10:52:55 2013 (518B63E7)
    CheckSum:         00000000
    ImageSize:        0004D000
    File version:     8.0.1489.300
    Product version:  8.0.1489.300
    File flags:       0 (Mask 17)
    File OS:          4 Unknown Win32
    File type:        0.0 Unknown
    File date:        00000000.00000000
    Translations:     0000.04b0
    CompanyName:      AVAST Software
    ProductName:      avast! Antivirus
    InternalName:     snxhk
    OriginalFilename: snxhk.dll
    ProductVersion:   8.0.1489.300
    FileVersion:      8.0.1489.300
    FileDescription:  avast! snxhk
    LegalCopyright:   Copyright (c) 2013 AVAST Software

Report this issue to Avast and use a different AV tool until they fixed the issue.

Run the uninstall.reg I linked to disable the dump creation and Application Verifier which slows down the Explorer.

// Edit: The new crash is casued by the bluetooth driver:

APPLICATION_VERIFIER_LOCKS_LOCK_NOT_INITIALIZED (210)
Critical section not initialized.
This stop is generated if a critical section is used without being
initialized or after it has been deleted. To debug this stop:
$ ln parameter1 - to show symbols near the address of the critical section.
This should help identify the critical section. 
Arguments:
Arg1: 0000000009044c08, Critical section address. 
Arg2: 0000000000000000, Critical section debug info address. 
Arg3: 0000000000000000, Not used. 
Arg4: 0000000000000000, Not used. 
*** ERROR: Symbol file could not be found.  Defaulted to export symbols for GROOVEEX.DLL - 
*** ERROR: Symbol file could not be found.  Defaulted to export symbols for SugarSyncShellExt_x64.dll - 

FAULTING_IP: 
verifier!VerifierStopMessageEx+6d0
000007ff`bba9a7fc cc              int     3

EXCEPTION_RECORD:  ffffffffffffffff -- (.exr 0xffffffffffffffff)
ExceptionAddress: 000007ffbba9a7fc (verifier!VerifierStopMessageEx+0x00000000000006d0)
   ExceptionCode: 80000003 (Break instruction exception)
  ExceptionFlags: 00000000
NumberParameters: 1
   Parameter[0]: 0000000000000000

DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  STATUS_BREAKPOINT

PROCESS_NAME:  explorer.exe

CRITICAL_SECTION:  0000000009044c08 -- (!cs -s 0000000009044c08)

ERROR_CODE: (NTSTATUS) 0x80000003 - {AUSNAHME}  Haltepunkt  Im Quellprogramm wurde ein Haltepunkt erreicht.

EXCEPTION_CODE: (HRESULT) 0x80000003 (2147483651) - Mindestens ein Argument ist ung ltig.

EXCEPTION_PARAMETER1:  0000000000000000

NTGLOBALFLAG:  2000100

APPLICATION_VERIFIER_FLAGS:  48004

APP:  explorer.exe

FAULTING_THREAD:  0000000000000978

PRIMARY_PROBLEM_CLASS:  STATUS_BREAKPOINT

BUGCHECK_STR:  APPLICATION_FAULT_STATUS_BREAKPOINT

LAST_CONTROL_TRANSFER:  from 000007ffbbaa5338 to 000007ffbba9a7fc

STACK_TEXT:  
ntdll!NtWaitForSingleObject
ntdll!RtlReportExceptionEx
ntdll!RtlReportException
verifier!AVrfpVectoredExceptionHandler
ntdll!RtlpCallVectoredHandlers
ntdll!RtlDispatchException
ntdll!KiUserExceptionDispatch
verifier!VerifierStopMessageEx
verifier!AVrfpVerifyInitializedCriticalSection
verifier!AVrfpRtlDeleteCriticalSection
BtvAppExt!DllUnregisterServer
BtvAppExt!DllUnregisterServer
BtvAppExt
BtvAppExt
combase!CServerContextActivator::CreateInstance
combase!ActivationPropertiesIn::DelegateCreateInstance
combase!CApartmentActivator::CreateInstance
combase!CProcessActivator::CCICallback
combase!CProcessActivator::AttemptActivation
combase!CProcessActivator::ActivateByContext
combase!CProcessActivator::CreateInstance
combase!ActivationPropertiesIn::DelegateCreateInstance
combase!CClientContextActivator::CreateInstance
combase!ActivationPropertiesIn::DelegateCreateInstance
combase!ICoCreateInstanceEx
combase!CoCreateInstance
shell32!_SHCoCreateInstance
shell32!SHExtCoCreateInstance
shell32!HDXA_QueryContextMenu
shell32!CDefFolderMenu::QueryContextMenu
shlwapi!SHInvokeCommandOnContextMenu2
shlwapi!SHInvokeCommandOnContextMenu
shell32!SHInvokeCommandOnSelection
shell32!`Microsoft::WRL::Module<1,Microsoft::WRL::Details::DefaultModule<5> >::Create'::`2'::`dynamic atexit destructor for 'module''
shell32!CRegDataDrivenCommand::_Invoke
explorerframe!CRibbonCommandHandlerOnExplorerCommand::Execute
UIRibbon!CControlUser::_ExecuteOnHandler
UIRibbon!CGenericControlUser::SetValueImpl
UIRibbon!CGenericDataSource::SetValue
UIRibbon!OfficeSpace::DataSource::SetValue
UIRibbon!OfficeSpace::FSControl::SetValue
UIRibbon!NetUI::DeferCycle::ProcessDataBindingPropertyChangeRecords
UIRibbon!NetUI::DeferCycle::HrAddDataBindingPropertyChangeRecord
UIRibbon!NetUI::Binding::SetDataSourceValue
UIRibbon!NetUI::Bindings::OnBindingPropertyChanged
UIRibbon!NetUI::Node::OnPropertyChanged
UIRibbon!FlexUI::Concept::OnPropertyChanged
UIRibbon!NetUI::Node::FExecuteCommand
UIRibbon!FlexUI::ExecuteAction::OnCommand
UIRibbon!NetUI::Node::FExecuteCommand
UIRibbon!NetUI::SimpleButton::OnEvent
UIRibbon!NetUI::Element::_DisplayNodeCallback
UIRibbon!GPCB::xwInvokeDirect
UIRibbon!GPCB::xwInvokeFull
UIRibbon!DUserSendEvent
UIRibbon!NetUI::Element::FireEvent
UIRibbon!NetUI::_FireClickEvent
UIRibbon!NetUI::SimpleButton::OnInput
UIRibbon!NetUI::Element::_DisplayNodeCallback
UIRibbon!GPCB::xwInvokeDirect
UIRibbon!GPCB::xwInvokeFull
UIRibbon!BaseMsgQ::xwProcessNL
UIRibbon!DelayedMsgQ::xwProcessDelayedNL
UIRibbon!ContextLock::~ContextLock
UIRibbon!HWndContainer::xdHandleMessage
UIRibbon!ExtraInfoWndProc
user32!UserCallWinProcCheckWow
user32!DispatchMessageWorker
explorerframe!CExplorerFrame::FrameMessagePump
explorerframe!CExplorerTask::InternalResumeRT
explorerframe!CRunnableTask::Run
shell32!CShellTask::TT_Run
shell32!CShellTaskThread::ThreadProc
shell32!CShellTaskThread::s_ThreadProc
SHCore!COplockFileHandle::v_GetHandlerCLSID
verifier!AVrfpStandardThreadFunction
kernel32!BaseThreadInitThunk
ntdll!RtlUserThreadStart


Image path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Bluetooth Suite\BtvAppExt.dll
Image name: BtvAppExt.dll
Timestamp:        Fri Jan 15 13:41:32 2010 (4B50627C)
CheckSum:         000329B6
ImageSize:        0002D000
File version:     1.0.0.1
Product version:  1.0.0.1
File flags:       0 (Mask 3F)
File OS:          4 Unknown Win32
File type:        2.0 Dll
File date:        00000000.00000000
Translations:     0409.04e4
CompanyName:      TODO: <Company name>
ProductName:      TODO: <Product name>
InternalName:     BtvAppExt.dll
OriginalFilename: BtvAppExt.dll
ProductVersion:   1.0.0.1
FileVersion:      1.0.0.1
FileDescription:  TODO: <File description>
LegalCopyright:   TODO: (c) <Company name>.  All rights reserved.

The Bluetooth Extension is so buggy that Directory Opus blocked it 2 years ago.

Blacklisted problematic shell extension: Qualcomm Atheros Commnucations Bluetooth Suite (BtvAppExt.dll, {B8952421-0E55-400B-94A6-FA858FC0A39F}).

Best Answer

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