What to Do If You End Windows Explorer
Ending Windows Explorer can be a daunting task for many users, as it is a critical component of the Windows operating system. However, there are several reasons why you might find yourself in a situation where you need to end Windows Explorer. Whether it’s due to a system crash, a stuck process, or an error message, here are some steps you can take to resolve the issue and get your system back up and running smoothly.
First and foremost, if you find that Windows Explorer has stopped working, you can try to restart it manually. To do this, press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open the Task Manager. In the Processes tab, locate Windows Explorer in the list of running processes. Right-click on it and select “End Task.” Once the task is ended, click “File” and then “Run New Task.” Type “explorer.exe” in the dialog box and press Enter. This should restart Windows Explorer and restore your system’s functionality.
If manually restarting Windows Explorer doesn’t work, you can try to reset the file associations. This can help if the issue is caused by a corrupted file association. To do this, open the Run dialog box (Ctrl + R) and type “control” to open the Control Panel. In the Control Panel, navigate to “Programs” and then “Programs and Features.” Click on “Turn Windows features on or off” on the left side of the window. In the “Windows Features” dialog box, scroll down and expand “File Explorer Options.” Uncheck the “Use Windows Explorer to open folders” option, click “OK,” and then check the option again. This will reset the file associations and may resolve the issue.
Another potential solution is to run a system file checker scan. This scan will check for and repair any corrupted system files that might be causing the problem. To run a system file checker scan, open the Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu. In the Command Prompt, type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter. The scan may take some time to complete, but once it’s finished, it will attempt to repair any corrupted files.
If none of the above solutions work, you can try to reset Windows Explorer to its default settings. This can help if the issue is caused by a custom setting that has gone wrong. To do this, open the Run dialog box and type “regedit” to open the Registry Editor. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced. Look for the “ShowInfoTip” value and change its data from 0 to 1. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer. This should reset Windows Explorer to its default settings and may resolve the issue.
In conclusion, ending Windows Explorer can be a challenging task, but there are several steps you can take to resolve the issue. By following the suggestions outlined in this article, you should be able to get your system back up and running smoothly in no time.