What to Do When Explorer.exe Stops Working
If you’ve ever encountered the frustrating situation where your Windows Explorer.exe stops working, you’re not alone. This issue can arise due to various reasons, such as malware infections, outdated system files, or even hardware problems. In this article, we will discuss several effective methods to resolve the “explorer.exe stops working” problem and get your system back up and running smoothly.
1. Restart Your Computer
The simplest solution to many computer-related issues is to restart your computer. This action can help clear out any temporary files or processes that might be causing the problem. To restart your computer, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and select “Restart” from the menu.
2. Alternatively, you can click on the Start button, select “Power” from the menu, and then choose “Restart.”
2. Run the System File Checker
The System File Checker is a built-in Windows tool that scans and repairs corrupted system files. To run this tool, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” from the menu.
2. In the command prompt or PowerShell window, type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter.
3. Wait for the process to complete. If any corrupted files are found, the tool will attempt to repair them automatically.
3. Perform a Clean Boot
A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This can help identify if a third-party application is causing the explorer.exe to stop working. To perform a clean boot, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “msconfig” and press Enter.
3. In the System Configuration window, go to the “Services” tab.
4. Check the “Hide all Microsoft services” box and click “Disable all.”
5. Go to the “Startup” tab and click “Open Task Manager.”
6. In Task Manager, disable all startup items by right-clicking on each item and selecting “Disable.”
7. Close Task Manager and click “OK” in the System Configuration window.
8. Restart your computer.
4. Update Your Drivers
Outdated or corrupted drivers can also cause explorer.exe to stop working. To update your drivers, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and select “Device Manager” from the menu.
2. Expand the “Display adapters,” “Network adapters,” or “Sound, video and game controllers” category.
3. Right-click on the driver you want to update and select “Update driver.”
4. Choose “Search automatically for updated driver software” and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.
5. Perform a System Restore
If none of the above methods work, you can try performing a system restore to revert your computer to a previous state when explorer.exe was functioning correctly. To perform a system restore, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “rstrui” and press Enter.
3. In the System Restore window, click “Next” and follow the on-screen instructions to choose a restore point and restore your system.
Conclusion
When explorer.exe stops working, it can be a daunting experience. However, by following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to resolve the issue and get your Windows system back to normal. Remember to regularly update your system and drivers to prevent such issues from occurring in the future.
