Windows Explorer

[Bearcat]

I am running XP SP1 with all current updates, Norton's AV, Spy-Bots Search &
Destroy, and Adware's Spy-Blaster. Occasionally when either using the start
menu's folder views or windows explorer to access multiple folders at the
same time I get an error: Windows Explorer has unexpectedly shut down....
After clicking okay I lose most of my program icons in both the system and
task bars. I must restart to get full function back. Sometimes I also lose
my Office XP shortcut bar. Very aggravating and I have been unable to find
the resource causing the problem. I have searched the knowledge base to no
avail. Has anyone seen this before and have any suggestions.
Thanks Bearcat

[Malke]

Bearcat wrote:

> I am running XP SP1 with all current updates, Norton's AV, Spy-Bots
> Search & Destroy, and Adware's Spy-Blaster. Occasionally when either
> using the start menu's folder views or windows explorer to access
> multiple folders at the same time I get an error: Windows Explorer has
> unexpectedly shut down.... After clicking okay I lose most of my
> program icons in both the system and task bars. I must restart to get
> full function back. Sometimes I also lose my Office XP shortcut bar.
> Very aggravating and I have been unable to find the resource causing
> the problem. I have searched the knowledge base to no avail. Has
> anyone seen this before and have any suggestions. Thanks Bearcat

How much RAM does your system have? Perhaps it is inadequate for the
number of programs you're running. Have you minimized the number of
programs and processes running in the background? Here are useful links
to look up program names and understand XP's processes:

http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm
http://www.blackviper.com/

You might also want to update your video card drivers. Since you didn't
give us any system specs, it's not possible to give a more specific
answer. Repost with further details about your system if you want more
help.

Cheers

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"

[Bearcat]

Thanks Malke;
As per your request on hardware I have a less then 6 month old Dell 8300,
2.6 Ghz P4, Dual 40 GB hard Drives, 512 mb ram as for the video card it is:
NVIDIA GeForce 4MX440 / AGP8X. I also use "panicware's" pop-up stopper. As
far as using "MSCONFIG" to sort out programs that load up it seems I can
never duplicate the problem in succession. It is very random, and as a
matter of fact it rared its ugly head will I was addressing this post and it
won't repeat itself. This time I did not get an error that windows needed to
shut down and sometimes I do not. Since it appears certain programs in the
system tray are always affected I will start sorting through them first.
Although they have been in use since I set up this computer and the problem
only appeared about a month back. Thanks for any help again.
Bearcat
"Malke" > wrote in message
...
> Bearcat wrote:
>
> > I am running XP SP1 with all current updates, Norton's AV, Spy-Bots
> > Search & Destroy, and Adware's Spy-Blaster. Occasionally when either
> > using the start menu's folder views or windows explorer to access
> > multiple folders at the same time I get an error: Windows Explorer has
> > unexpectedly shut down.... After clicking okay I lose most of my
> > program icons in both the system and task bars. I must restart to get
> > full function back. Sometimes I also lose my Office XP shortcut bar.
> > Very aggravating and I have been unable to find the resource causing
> > the problem. I have searched the knowledge base to no avail. Has
> > anyone seen this before and have any suggestions. Thanks Bearcat
>
> How much RAM does your system have? Perhaps it is inadequate for the
> number of programs you're running. Have you minimized the number of
> programs and processes running in the background? Here are useful links
> to look up program names and understand XP's processes:
>
> http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm
> http://www.blackviper.com/
>
> You might also want to update your video card drivers. Since you didn't
> give us any system specs, it's not possible to give a more specific
> answer. Repost with further details about your system if you want more
> help.
>
> Cheers
>
> Malke
> --
> MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"

[Malke]

Bearcat wrote:

> Thanks Malke;
> As per your request on hardware I have a less then 6 month old Dell
> 8300, 2.6 Ghz P4, Dual 40 GB hard Drives, 512 mb ram as for the video
> card it is: NVIDIA GeForce 4MX440 / AGP8X. I also use "panicware's"
> pop-up stopper. As far as using "MSCONFIG" to sort out programs that
> load up it seems I can never duplicate the problem in succession. It
> is very random, and as a matter of fact it rared its ugly head will I
> was addressing this post and it won't repeat itself. This time I did
> not get an error that windows needed to shut down and sometimes I do
> not. Since it appears certain programs in the system tray are always
> affected I will start sorting through them first. Although they have
> been in use since I set up this computer and the problem only appeared
> about a month back. Thanks for any help again. Bearcat
> "Malke" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Bearcat wrote:
>>
>> > I am running XP SP1 with all current updates, Norton's AV, Spy-Bots
>> > Search & Destroy, and Adware's Spy-Blaster. Occasionally when
>> > either using the start menu's folder views or windows explorer to
>> > access multiple folders at the same time I get an error: Windows
>> > Explorer has unexpectedly shut down.... After clicking okay I lose
>> > most of my program icons in both the system and task bars. I must
>> > restart to get full function back. Sometimes I also lose my Office
>> > XP shortcut bar. Very aggravating and I have been unable to find
>> > the resource causing the problem. I have searched the knowledge
>> > base to no avail. Has anyone seen this before and have any
>> > suggestions. Thanks Bearcat
>>

OK, the randomness indicates a possible hardware issue. I'm not saying
it *can't* be software - after all, I'm not there looking at your
machine - but I'd definitely do a RAM test. Download the precompiled
Windows binary for Memtest86 from www.memtest86.com. Make a bootable
floppy, boot with it and the test will run automatically. Let the test
run for a long time (unless you get errors immediately, of course),
like overnight. If you get any errors, call Dell and have them replace
the RAM.

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"