Fixing Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working: Common Causes and Solutions
Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7 users have experienced a common yet frustrating issue where the Windows Explorer crashes whenever you try to right-click a disk drive or an application. This error, often displayed as 'Windows Explorer has stopped working,' can significantly disrupt your data access and overall system performance. While the error may seem universal, there are a variety of potential causes and solutions to resolve this problem. In this article, we will explore the common causes and provide effective solutions.
Understanding the Cause
The 'Windows Explorer has stopped working' error can be caused by various factors, including:
Negative effects of outdated or corrupted system files Corrupted display drivers Virus or malware infection Hardware issues like faulty RAM Incompatible or faulty drivers causing conflictsStep-By-Step Solutions
Solution 1: Restart the Windows Explorer Process
When the error occurs, one of the first steps to take is to restart the Windows Explorer. Here's how:
Press Ctrl Alt Delete and choose to launch Task Manager. In the Task Manager window, find Windows Explorer/Explorer.exe and right-click on it. Choose End Task. Navigate to File Run New Task and type explorer.exe. Click OK. Restart the Windows Explorer and check if the error persists.Solution 2: Run Windows Memory Diagnostic
Another potential cause of this issue is faults in the RAM. Use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to detect and resolve any issues:
Press Win Q and type in Windows Memory Diagnostic. Select Restart now and check for problems from the options displayed. Windows will restart to check for RAM errors and display the possible reasons for the ‘Internet Explorer has stopped working’ error. After the process, restart your PC and check if the issue is resolved.Solution 3: Update Graphics Card Driver
Graphics card drivers can also cause conflicts that lead to this issue. To update the graphics card driver, follow these steps:
Search for Device Manager in the Windows Search bar and launch it. Locate your graphics card under Display adapters and right-click on it, then choose Update Driver. Select Search automatically for updated driver software and complete the update process. If the automatic update doesn't work, visit the manufacturer’s official website to download and install the latest driver.Solution 4: Run System File Checker (SFC)
Use the System File Checker (SFC) tool to scan your PC and find any missing or corrupt files:
Press Win Q and type in cmd. Right-click on the program and click Run as administrator. A User Account Control may pop up, click Yes. At the command prompt, type sfc /scannow and press ENTER. Wait for the tool to scan and repair any corrupted files it finds.Solution 5: Restore to a Previous Version
If none of the above solutions work, you can use System Restore to roll back your system to a previous state. However, be aware that this action can result in data loss, so it's recommended to back up vital data first:
Search for Recovery in the Windows Search bar and click Open. Choose to open System Restore, then click Next and select the available restore points. Restart your computer after the restoration process.If you use Bitwar Data Recovery to backup your files, follow these steps:
Launch Bitwar Data Recovery and select the drive where the lost files were. Choose a scanning mode, if Quick Scan doesn’t work, try Deep Scan. Select the file types you need to scan, scan the file, preview it, and then click Recover to save the files to a safe location. Do not save the recovered files to the original location to prevent data overwriting.Conclusion
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 'Windows Explorer has stopped working' error on your Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7 system. It's important to keep your system updated, regularly run diagnostics, and perform updates to prevent such issues from arising in the future.