Right-clicking on My Computer and Recycle Bin crashes my computer

[Mateo1041]

Hello all,

Yesterday I began having trouble with my Windows XP system. It locks up every time I try right-clicking any of the permanent desktop items such as My Computer, My Documents, Recycle Bin, and Network Neighborhood.

However, I can right-click any other desktop shortcut or folder just fine. I've checked all over and can't find a solution. If anyone has ideas to offer, it would be much appreciated.

- Matt.

 

[bcastner]

Start, run, eventvwr.msc

What do the System and Application logs show as errors?

 

[linney]

There are several things mentioned in this link for you to investigate.

right clickk roblems in start menu
thread779-541060

http://betas.intercom.net/modules.p...=article&sid=2665&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

Why it takes years to display right-click drop down menu?
thread779-277803

 

[Mateo1041]

Thanks for the help so far!

Another thing I just noticed is that my system shows as Windows NT 5.1! I'm not sure how that could have happened as I'm running Windows XP. And I don't recall installing anything that would have corrupted my OS.

I checked the Event Viewer and found the following three items under the Application log (system one was fine):

<i>Faulting application explorer.exe, version 6.0.2800.1106, faulting module kernel32.dll, version 5.1.2600.1106, fault address 0x00013887.

Faulting application explorer.exe, version 6.0.2800.1106, faulting module ntdll.dll, version 5.1.2600.1217, fault address 0x0001fca7.

The shell stopped unexpectedly and Explorer.exe was restarted.</i>

I tried everything and it is still causing me grief. I'll try rebooting in safe mode as well as trying a restore. Hopefully that will help.

 

[Mateo1041]

I've tried restoring and booting in safe mode, yet my computer still crashed whenever I click a permanent desktop icon (not a shortcut). Should I try reinstalling Windows XP over this version? I'd worry about losing data or setting though.

Also, I just found that Windows NT 5.1 is the same as Windows XP...go figure.

Thanks again, and any help would be much appreciated.

 

[linney]

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking.

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

If they don't work you could try repairing windows itself by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[bcastner]

Do this as a test.

Right-Click on an empty area of the Desktop as select &quot;View as Web Page.&quot;

Now try a right-click on My Computer.

 

[Mateo1041]

I tried the ChkDsk suggestion, but everything was fine. I've also tried the System File Checker, but it tells me to insert my Windows XP CD, does a few things, and then disappears. Shouldn't it usually display a status report after it is done?

I've tried right-clicking on an empty area of my desktop but do not see a &quot;View as Web Page&quot; option.

I'd like to try reinstalling Windows XP. While this will not delete files, will it cause installed programs to no longer function or any Windows settings to change? This may be an idea to try.

Right now I'm just stumped. :-( Thanks for your help so far.

- Matt.

 

[linney]

Running Windows over itself will only mean replacing updates that were not available at the time of manufacture of the CD. It is a procedure often recommended on this forum. While anything is possible I have not seen too many posts complaining about this procedure. In fact if the problem is in your Registry it may well be carried over. Perhaps a &quot;run through&quot; with a good registry cleaner before any repair might save you the trouble.

As for the SFC /Scannow you ran, it always exits without much fanfare but should leave messages about what (if anything) it accomplished in your Event Viewer log.

 

[bcastner]

My reason for asking for the right-click, set as Web Page was to test whether Active Desktop was still enabled on your system.

It apparently is not.

An in-place or repair upgrade of XP is demanded at this point. linney above has followed the pre-steps required very well.

I would add to this that as the faulting modules are always tied to the kernel and the application internet explorer, after following linney's advice for cleanup an antivirus scan online followed by at least Hijack This! would be strongly recommended.

Do at least one online scan from smah's FAQ list: faq760-3862

Download and run Hijack This!:

http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/hijacked/#removal

Accept all of it recommendations for fixes.

Next, check if the problem is now gone. If not, do the in-place upgrade:

http://support.microsoft.com:80/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp&NoWebContent=1

Finally, head to the Windows Update site. You need to spend a little time re-applying Service Pack #1 and various upgrades.

Bill

 

[bcastner]

I should note one small possibility: if you can reset your current screensaver (if using one) to as plain vanilla a version as you can find in the listing, or to None, there is a slim chance that your Active Desktop and other issues will disappear.

 

[Mateo1041]

Thank you for all your responses so far. I really appreciate it.

I have tried registry cleaners, but to no avail.

I've also looked at the logs for the SFC /Scannow I ran. All it says is this &quot;Windows File Protection file scan completed successfully.&quot;

I'll try the links you suggested, bcastner, and then if that fails, I'll do a Windows XP reinstall. Thanks.

When and if I need to do the Windows XP reinstall, I'll let everyone know how it went.

- Matt.

 

[bcastner]

Yes, please leave a note back.
If this is not a virus, I would be curious as to what registry or other entry was proving problematic.

Bill

 

[Mateo1041]

A little update for you all...

It has now been a week or so since I started having the problems mentioned above. Today I accidentally right-clicked the recycle bin, and it worked! I'm not sure what happened, but the problem stands resolved as quickly as it mysteriously began.

Thanks again for all your help.