Windows Xp: Explorer.exe Crashes On Certain Accounts

I share a Windows XP computer with two friends, and we each have our own User Account on the computer. Recently whenever my friends use the PC, they begin to have problems with it. For no reason whatsoever, Windows Explorer will crash and close all the current folders that are open. I went onto their User Accounts to see for myself (with permission, of course), and found that Explorer would crash any time I right-clicked a File, and would also crash on occasion if I clicked "File" on the Folder Window's Menu Bar with a file selected. It also happened on rare occasions when I deleted a file. Weirdly though, this only happens on my friend's User Accounts - mine has no trouble whatsoever.

When I first got my computer it had XP Service Pack 2. However I've since upgraded to SP3 and it hasn't made a difference. I've ran disk scans and virus checks, which have turned out nothing. Does anyone know what may be causing all this, or how to fix it? It'd be most helpful. Thanks!

To give more information, all three of our user accounts have Computer Administrator permissions, and they are all password-protected with different passwords. One of my friend's accounts was the default account, the other two we created, and I created mine first. Not that I think any of this will be relevant, but if my expiriences asking for support has told me anything, the more detail you give the more likely someone will know the problem.

Your user account is working properly, and theirs is not. I think the problem is a program in their account, (which is only in HKEY_CURRENT_USER and not in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE in Registy (Regedit.exe)).

My solution is, find the suspect program and uninstall it.
OR
Try to delete their user account from Control Panel in another user account. And create a new user account with the same name. This could delete the startups, too.

I would say that there is a conflict in with some program or permissions.

First check and see if the right click problem exist with the shared directories/files or with all the files/folders ?

If it is a permission based conflict , then you would need to delete the account or fix the permissions to account.

Otherwise, a newly installed software that has some association with right context menu, is the problem and needs to be uninstalled

one more check .. Does your explorer crash when u right click on an empty space on the desktop ?

Replying to bluedragon
Wow, I finally found a site that has a question about my problem---I have 2 admin accounts and 4 limited accounts--In the limited accounts( except for mine) the right click freezes pc and brings up Dr. Watson--The only way out is to go into the process window and kill any references to Dr Watson. Here's the kicker though--------When I change all to admin., all is fine. But, it seems that only 1 limited account has access to the right click context menu----in other words, if one limited account is working properly and I add another user limited account, the new account works fine but causes the previous account to freeze in the same manner as the rest--I thought it had something to do with Acronis--but they can not seem to reproduce the problem--This has been going back and forth for 3 months already and it is driving me nutz! There has to be a solution out there somewhere. WinXP Pro/MCE 2005, 2.8 intel duo core, 3 gigs ram,160gig HD--IE7.0----Acronis True Image 11 Home( build 8101) .You can reply to my e-mail if you like--maybe if we put our heads together we can figure it out--PS I even tried deleting all limited user accounts and creating new ones--Same result--Thanks--Ed

I tried this suggestion, and it worked for a few days, but now it's happening again. I still have no idea why.

This post has been edited by gameratheart: Oct 4 2008, 07:37 PM

Almost sounds like a glitch in the user account set up or it is a memory issue. However, I have come across a solution that might work and that is do a repair installation and when you get into the installation menu, select repair and see if that works. I would suggest that you completely back up you computer before do the repair installation just in case you wipe out your system if you try to install windows again, but of course if that doesn't work then a reinstallation of the operating system might be in order and before you create the user account make sure to fully update the system.

Ouch... I was hoping it wouldn't come to that...

Previous expirience has told me that a "Repair" installation will usually end up damaging some data. And to be honest, I always hate putting that Windows CD into the drive anyway... but, unless I can find another reason for it, I guess I'll have to take your suggestion.Thank god I regularily back up the entire contents of my drives to another computer...

The easiest way to solve the problem, wouold just be to delete the account (saving the files to your account which works) then re-make the accounts, and copy the files over.

hey gameratheart,
first of all sorry for the late reply.. I was a bit busy with some project work

NEways, I think the problem is with windows only..

I can offer three solutions

1.) I was working on a Vista based system and I found something Actually good about Vista. If you have a limited account and you try and access some feature that is beyond your limitations (like a drive) it will first try and get authentication rights for the drive automatically.. This is not there in Windows XP

This is what I would suggest. Unshare all your drive. It might sound crazy but try it. And then make all the folders (probably except the ones that are for individual users) visible to everyone by changing the Security settings for each folders and allowing full control to 'Everyone'. (You have to disable simple file sharing options in folders option to do this)

This might help solve the problem.

2.) If above doesnt work You can try and switch back to SP2. It might be a permission related issue.


3.)Switch to some other OS.. Try Vista

This post has been edited by bluedragon: Nov 8 2008, 07:43 PM

I'm just guessing but for a temporarily solution automate explorer.exe to start at login and close the earlier of explorer.exe. As I said, this is temporary solution and you should contact a computer specialist, reinstall windows or download different explorer.exe from the net tho it's illegal I think. You can also contact distributer of that system if you have any of the guarantee left.