[FIX] Explorer.exe has stopped working on Windows 7

An article by Shyam Sasindran, MVP    14 Comments

I have seen lot of scenarios where users posting Explorer.exe crashing or stopped working issues. After troubleshooting lot of issues I’m posting here some common fixes that might help.

1. Most of the times the Explorer crashes due a bad or corrupt Context Menu the best way to troubleshoot is to download the ShellExView is an excellent tool to view and manage all installed shell extensions. The rule is to disable non-Microsoft context menu handlers *one-by-one* and verify if the problem is solved. If disabling one does not solve the problem, undo the disabled item and disable the next non-Microsoft handler. Do the same until the problem is solved and finally identify the culprit. Scroll right to see the Company Name column in ShellExView.

2. Then next thing to do is to run SFC /SCANNOW. The sfc /scannow command (System File Checker) scans the integrity of all protected Windows 7 system files and replaces incorrect corrupted, changed, or damaged versions with the correct versions if possible. Follow this document for further help SFC /SCANNOW Command – System File Checker

3. If these steps files the Create a New Windows Profile sometimes a corrupt Windows Profile. Follow this Microsoft document for more help in creating New Profile and moving the files Fix a corrupted user profile

4. If that fails then it might some some corrupt Windows Files that is causing the issue we could try to do a Repair Install. Follow this article for more info Repair Install

5. Download Malwarebytes and run a complete scan to make sure your clean sometimes Virus can cause Explorer.exe to crash. Also you could Download Process Explorer from SysInternals and see what are the process currently running under Explorer.exe

6. If you still have the problem we have to investigate more then download the below Registry file
Download : Registry Fix

1. Right click on the .reg file and click on Merge.
2. Click on the Run button in the Security Warning pop-up.
3. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted.

(Thanks to Andre Ziegler (MS Forums) for that Registry File)

Then once the Explorer crashes it will create a Dump File under C:\Localdump

You could go to www.sevenforums.com there create a new thread under Crash and Debugging then follow this article Dump files – Upload to Seven Forums from Step 2