Can't Right Click in/on My Computer
frankp124
Hello,
I'm new to this forum, and need big help. My Windows XP Desktop
computer no longer allows me to right click in My Computer or in any
other variation of Windows Explorer. Whenever I right click on a file,
folder, or even on the "My Computer" or "My Documents" icon in the start
menu, my mouse cursor freezes for a few seconds, and then an error
message pops up, saying that "Windows Explorer encountered a problem..."
Whether I choose to send the error message or not, my screen freezes and
the taskbar and desktop icons dissappear. The last time this happened,
my task bar did not return untill I shut down and then rebooted my
machine.
I have never experienced anything like this, and I need to remap my
external hard drive but am unable to because of this.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
-Frank
--
frankp124
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Shenan Stanley
> I'm new to this forum, and need big help. My Windows XP Desktop
> computer no longer allows me to right click in My Computer or in any
> other variation of Windows Explorer. Whenever I right click on a
> file, folder, or even on the "My Computer" or "My Documents" icon
> in the start menu, my mouse cursor freezes for a few seconds, and
> then an error message pops up, saying that "Windows Explorer
> encountered a problem..." Whether I choose to send the error
> message or not, my screen freezes and the taskbar and desktop icons
> dissappear. The last time this happened, my task bar did not return
> untill I shut down and then rebooted my machine.
>
> I have never experienced anything like this, and I need to remap my
> external hard drive but am unable to because of this.
>
> Any suggestions?
> Thanks in advance.
A little cleanup and further information from you would go a long way.
Windows XP - okay.
What edition (Home? Professional? Tablet PC? Professional x64? Media
Center?)
What is the exact version? (At least Service Pack Level?)
Operating system and service pack level is a nice start - if you wish to be
very accurate - there are two things you should provide:
Start button --> RUN
(no "RUN"? Press the "Windows Key" + R on your keyboard)
--> type in:
winver
--> Click OK.
The picture at the top of the window that opens will give you the general
(Operating System name and flavor) while the line starting with the word
"version" will give you the rest of the story.
Post _both_ in response to this message verbatim. ;-)
You should likely do some major cleanup on your computer before asking for
too much help. Many times the cleanup itself can resolve the issue - but
even if it doesn't - if you take the time to go through it it often lessens
your symptoms and makes troubleshooting the actual problem easier because
you eliminate so many possibilities with the cleanup process itself.
Fix your file/registry permissions...
Ignore the title and follow the sub-section under "Advanced Troubleshooting"
titled, "Method 1: Reset the registry and the file permissions"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377
*will take time
(** Ignore the last step - you should have SP3 installed - but don't do it
during the cleanup.)
Reboot and ...
Download/install this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301
After installing, do the following:
Start button --> RUN --> type in:
"%ProgramFiles%\Windows Installer Clean Up\msizap.exe" g!
--> Click OK.
(The quotation marks and percentage signs and spacing should be exact.)
Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately) with the
following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use for this):
SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/
MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.com/
After performing a full scan with one and then the other and removing
whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall these products,
if you wish.
Download and run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
Reboot.
Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )
http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/details.aspx?familyid=5A58B56F-60B6-4412-95B9-54D056D6F9F4&displaylang=en
Reboot.
and...
Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the root
of the C:\ drive, do the following:
Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.
Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
--> Click OK.
(If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click on
NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...
Reboot.
Then follow the instructions here:
How do I reset Windows Update components?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058
Reboot.
CHKDSK
How to scan your disks for errors
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265
* will take time and a reboot
Defragment
How to Defragment your hard drives
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848
* will take time
Ensure your hardware drivers are up to date (from the hardware
manufacturer's respective web pages.) Never get hardware drivers
for hardware that was not created/sold by Microsoft from Microsoft.
Reboot...
Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet Explorer
and visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and select to do a
CUSTOM scan...
Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
release the CTRL key after clicking each time.
Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
(deselect any others) and install it.
Reboot again.
If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
time. Rebooting as needed.
The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office Live" ones or
"Windows Live" ones for now. I would completely avoid the
Optional Hardware updates. Also - I do not see any urgent need to install
Internet Explorer 8 at this time.
Seriously - do all that. This is like antibiotics - don't skip a single
step, don't quit because you think things will be okay now - go through
until the end, until you have done everything given in the order given. If
you have a problem with a step come ask and let someone here get you
through that step. If you don't understand how to do a step, come back and
ask here about that step and let someone walk you through it.
Then - when done - let everyone here know if it worked for you - or if you
have more issues.
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
sandy58
.....and the obvious...try mouse in an other PC. Try another mouse in
YOUR pc.
ju.c
You can find the shell extension that is causing the problem
with "ShellExView". Simply disable half the items then test
your right-click. Keep halving them until you narrow it down
and find the one causing the crash, then disable it.
ShellExView <100 KB (Freeware)
Info: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html
Download: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.zip
Installer: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview_setup.exe
Windows 64-Bit: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview-x64.zip
ju.c
"frankp124" <frankp12...@DoNotSpam.com> wrote in message news:frankp12...@DoNotSpam.com...
frankp124
sorry about that...
It is a Windows XP Home Edition Version 5.1 with Service Pack 3. Had it
for about 5 or 6 years now.
Shenan Stanley
> I'm new to this forum, and need big help. My Windows XP Desktop
> computer no longer allows me to right click in My Computer or in any
> other variation of Windows Explorer. Whenever I right click on a
> file, folder, or even on the "My Computer" or "My Documents" icon
> in the start menu, my mouse cursor freezes for a few seconds, and
> then an error message pops up, saying that "Windows Explorer
> encountered a problem..." Whether I choose to send the error
> message or not, my screen freezes and the taskbar and desktop icons
> dissappear. The last time this happened, my task bar did not return
> untill I shut down and then rebooted my machine.
>
> I have never experienced anything like this, and I need to remap my
> external hard drive but am unable to because of this.
>
> Any suggestions?
Shenan Stanley wrote:
> A little cleanup and further information from you would go a long
> way.
>
> Windows XP - okay.
> What edition (Home? Professional? Tablet PC? Professional x64?
> Media Center?)
> What is the exact version? (At least Service Pack Level?)
>
> Operating system and service pack level is a nice start - if you
> wish to be very accurate - there are two things you should provide:
>
> Start button --> RUN
> (no "RUN"? Press the "Windows Key" + R on your keyboard)
> --> type in:
> winver
> --> Click OK.
>
> The picture at the top of the window that opens will give you the
> general (Operating System name and flavor) while the line starting
> with the word "version" will give you the rest of the story.
>
> Post _both_ in response to this message verbatim. ;-)
>
> You should likely do some major cleanup on your computer before
> asking for too much help. Many times the cleanup itself can
> resolve the issue - but even if it doesn't - if you take the time
> to go through it it often lessens your symptoms and makes
> troubleshooting the actual problem easier because you eliminate so
> many possibilities with the cleanup process itself.
<snipped>
<entire conversation>
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support/browse_frm/thread/1bc1b31ab23e6083/
</entire conversation>
frankp124 wrote:
> sorry about that...
>
> It is a Windows XP Home Edition Version 5.1 with Service Pack 3.
> Had it for about 5 or 6 years now.
No problem. Have you begun the suggested cleanup steps?