Windows Explorer Freezes with Right Click tasks/search

For the past three days or so, whenever I try to do anything involving a
right click task (copy, paste, rename, move, delete, etc) or use the search
function, Windows Explorer will freeze while it's doing whatever it's
supposed to be doing.

For example, if I delete a file (whether I right click, drag and drop or
"delete" it), the usual "Calculating time remaining" window will pop up, the
animation will begin and then nothing appears to happen. If I hit cancel,
the window will change to "Canceling" but will remain up, no matter what
happens. I can leave my apartment for most of the day and it will remain in
limbo.

Ultimately, I have to open the Task Manager, end the "cancelling" task
whereupon I'm told that Program Manager isn't working, that Windows Explorer
isn't working, the screen refreshes and then I'm back where I started.

Fortunately whatever it is I'm trying to do (moving, deleting etc) is
accomplished, but I have to do this no matter what I'm trying to do and no
matter the size of the file(s). It's getting really annoying.

Thanks,

Chris

its probably a windows explorer shell extension..

you can use this program to disable all non microsoft ones until you find
the one that is the culprit..
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html


download http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.zip

unzip it. this does not need installation, and run it.

then right click disable all NON microsoft shell
extensions (usually colored in PINK)

do a restart and your pc will most likley stop crashing the explorer

also do a scan for viruses and spyware-malware
using spybot search and destroy, adaware, and your antivirus

tell me if this helps


"ChrisB in SEA" <ChrisB in > wrote in message
news:953C8091-B0E6-4E11-BE37-...
> For the past three days or so, whenever I try to do anything involving a
> right click task (copy, paste, rename, move, delete, etc) or use the
> search
> function, Windows Explorer will freeze while it's doing whatever it's
> supposed to be doing.
>
> For example, if I delete a file (whether I right click, drag and drop or
> "delete" it), the usual "Calculating time remaining" window will pop up,
> the
> animation will begin and then nothing appears to happen. If I hit cancel,
> the window will change to "Canceling" but will remain up, no matter what
> happens. I can leave my apartment for most of the day and it will remain
> in
> limbo.
>
> Ultimately, I have to open the Task Manager, end the "cancelling" task
> whereupon I'm told that Program Manager isn't working, that Windows
> Explorer
> isn't working, the screen refreshes and then I'm back where I started.
>
> Fortunately whatever it is I'm trying to do (moving, deleting etc) is
> accomplished, but I have to do this no matter what I'm trying to do and no
> matter the size of the file(s). It's getting really annoying.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chris

Chris,

Follow "Method 2" in this article.

Right-click is slow or weird behavior caused by context menu handlers:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"ChrisB in SEA" <ChrisB in > wrote in message news:953C8091-B0E6-4E11-BE37-...
For the past three days or so, whenever I try to do anything involving a
right click task (copy, paste, rename, move, delete, etc) or use the search
function, Windows Explorer will freeze while it's doing whatever it's
supposed to be doing.

For example, if I delete a file (whether I right click, drag and drop or
"delete" it), the usual "Calculating time remaining" window will pop up, the
animation will begin and then nothing appears to happen. If I hit cancel,
the window will change to "Canceling" but will remain up, no matter what
happens. I can leave my apartment for most of the day and it will remain in
limbo.

Ultimately, I have to open the Task Manager, end the "cancelling" task
whereupon I'm told that Program Manager isn't working, that Windows Explorer
isn't working, the screen refreshes and then I'm back where I started.

Fortunately whatever it is I'm trying to do (moving, deleting etc) is
accomplished, but I have to do this no matter what I'm trying to do and no
matter the size of the file(s). It's getting really annoying.

Thanks,

Chris