Built-in freezing Windows file manager, called the “Conductor,” is a very common situation. But in most cases it is quite difficult to immediately say what exactly caused this phenomenon. Let's look at why Windows Explorer freezes in Windows 7 or any other system, how to deal with it and what methods to use. But first, let’s look at what exactly could have caused the failure in the program itself.

Why does Explorer freeze in Windows 7 or other systems?

A good place to start when looking at problems with Explorer is to describe the most common problems that arise, which can significantly influence the decisions made to resolve them. Usually, in the tenth modification or in Windows 7, Explorer freezes either when calling a program, or when searching, or when working on the network, or when trying to access cloud storage. These can be one-time crashes, but the most common is permanent freezing.

As for the reasons that could cause this behavior file manager, it is unrealistic to consider them, as well as to foresee the occurrence of absolutely all possible situations, so we will limit ourselves to only the most common ones. The reasons why Explorer constantly freezes in Windows 7 and other operating systems of this family are as follows:

• lack of system resources;
• problems with installed hardware and drivers;
• incompatible programs;
• problems with system updates;
• damage to important system files;
• incorrect access to information storage services;
• viral impact, etc.

Restarting the Applet

To begin with, in the case when such a phenomenon occurs one-time, you can simply restart the computer or even restore the system and try to start the program again.

In some situations, if the program window closes spontaneously during any action, you can restart the Explorer service, which is responsible for the operation of GUI systems. This can be done through the Run console (Win + R) by running the explorer.exe command.

"Explorer" Windows 7 freeing up system resources

However, most often such actions help only for a while. There is no point in repeating the restart, since the situation can repeat itself again and again. But what then could affect the operation of the application? Perhaps the operating system itself has so many background processes and services activated that it simply cannot handle them. If "Explorer" Windows 10 and others similar systems hangs tightly with enviable consistency, then first you should exclude unnecessary applets from startup. For systems below the eighth version, the configurator (msconfig) is used, and for the eighth and tenth modifications, the “Task Manager” is used.

On the startup tab, you need to uncheck unnecessary services, save the changes and reboot.

Note: in Windows 7 and below, you can leave the ctfmon.exe process, which is responsible for changing the language and keyboard layout. You won’t be able to disable the antivirus this way (and it’s not necessary).

If Windows 7 Explorer freezes again, which equally applies to other system modifications, you should deactivate unused components (in the Programs and Features section, for example, you can disable the print service, the Hyper-V module, etc.) and also use the view of all active services by entering the appropriate section by entering the services.msc command in the “Run” console.

Selected services that the user does not require for work should first be stopped, the startup type should be set to disabled, the settings should be saved and the system restarted. It is better to disable only what you know (faxes, printing, all Hyper-V components, telemetry, geolocation, etc.).

Checking the system, hard drive and RAM

But often system services and background processes do not have a special impact on resources, so again we see a situation in which, for example, in Windows 7, Explorer freezes. How to fix the problem in this case? The reason most likely lies in system errors, malfunctions hard drive and memory sticks.

First, you need to check system files for integrity using the sfc /scannow command, entered in a command prompt run as an administrator. If this does not give results, you can use the image recovery tool - the command DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /RestoreHealth. Also highly recommended via command line check all hard drive partitions for errors (chkdsk N: /x/f/r, where N is the drive or partition letter).

If Windows 7 Explorer freezes due to incorrect operation random access memory, you can check the slats by calling the appropriate system tool (mdsched in the Run console). Testing will be performed upon subsequent reboot.

Note: For your hard drive, defragmentation can be used as an additional tool.

Using the PowerShel console, launched as an administrator by the line of the same name in the Run menu, you can set the command Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach ( Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”. Perhaps this will fix the problem.

Actions with drivers

But with the system and its main “hardware” components, everything can be normal. Freezing of the file manager immediately after the system starts and the program is called can sometimes be resolved by updating the driver graphics adapter, which is directly involved in the operation of most applications (both system and user). But you shouldn’t rely on the system tool in the “Device Manager”.

It is better to update the driver with some automated utility, for example, Driver Booster, or use special software (for example, for NVIDIA video cards The NVIDIA Experience app works great).

Note: Sometimes it may be necessary to reinstall the HID-compatible mouse driver if the cursor does not respond to user actions and Explorer freezes.

Recently installed software

Often in Windows 10, Explorer may also fail due to incompatible software, set by the user himself. You can find out whether this is so using the system using the corresponding RMB menu item on the file or shortcut icon, for example, on the “Desktop”. The application may need to be set to run in a lower system version mode. If this does not work, then it is quite possible that the program will have to be completely removed and then reinstalled. To remove the built-in section of programs and components, it is better not to use it, but to use uninstallers like iObit Uninstaller, allowing you to automatically get rid of all leftovers.

Windows 7 and higher update issues

Unfortunately, both released updates and their absence can cause Explorer to malfunction. It is usually recommended to manually check the update packages available for installation using Update Center. But, if the situation is exactly the opposite, and Explorer began to freeze or shut down spontaneously after installing updates, you simply need to remove the latest packages one by one (rebooting the system after each removal and checking the operation of the file manager), set a new search and exclude problematic ones from the list of required installations . For example, in Windows 10 it is strongly recommended to get rid of the KV3074681 update and replace it with the KV3074683 package.

Displaying thumbnails

The problem that Windows 7 Explorer freezes when opening network folders can be partially solved by full reset network parameters. But, as practice shows, sometimes it is enough to rename home group, setting the default value.

If this does not help, it may very well be that in the folder properties, using the view menu, for all directories it will be necessary to disable the display of file icons in thumbnails, using instead the option to always show icons, not thumbnails.

Cloud storage

Quite often, the reason for the unstable operation of Explorer can be cloud storage applets built into the operating system, such as ASUS WebStorage, Google Drive, OneDrive and the like. To eliminate problems, you can try to disable them for a while or completely remove them, and then, if the user needs them in everyday activities, install them again, using exclusively official distributions downloaded from the resources of the developers of such software.

Viral impact

It goes without saying that viruses can greatly affect the functioning of Explorer. Just in case, the system should be checked, but not with a standard antivirus, but with some kind of portable scanner, among which Dr. utilities occupy a leading position. Web CureIt! and KVRT.

What to do if nothing helps?

If none of the above options has given the desired effect in resolving problems with Explorer, try creating a new user account, including it in the administrators group and giving it all the appropriate rights and permissions, and then look at how the program will behave when you log in under this registration. In case of normalization of work, leave the created “account”, and simply delete the old one.

If this does not have any effect, in order not to engage in further pointless actions, save to removable media or in the logical partition the necessary information, and then either return the computer to its original state (Windows 10) or completely reinstall the operating system.

Many computer users have at least once encountered a situation where Explorer froze while working on a PC. It is much worse when such problems arise regularly. Let's find out what ways there are to resume the normal operation of this important element in the operating room Windows system 7.

Read also:
How to open Explorer in Windows 7
EXPLORER.EXE - what is the process?

Ways to resume the functioning of Explorer

The most intuitive option to resume a frozen Explorer is to restart the computer. Many users do this when this problem occurs. But at the same time, all documents and programs that were minimized at the time of the problem will be forcibly completed, which means that the changes made to them will not be saved. This option does not suit us, and therefore we will consider a method to get out of this situation without having to restart the PC. Methods for eliminating the root causes of problems during the operation of Explorer will also be studied.

Method 1: "Task Manager"

One of the easiest options to resume the functioning of a frozen Explorer is to use the Task Manager. By using of this instrument The EXPLORER.EXE process is forced to terminate and then restarted.

Lesson: How to open Task Manager in Windows 7

Method 2: Update the video card driver

The above method of solving the problem is good when it occurs only once. But when the situation repeats itself again and again, this means that you do not need to deal with the consequences, but look for the root cause of the problem. It may consist, for example, in video driver malfunctions. Let's see how to fix this situation.

Lesson: How to update drivers on a PC using DriverPack Solution

Method 3: Fix low RAM issues

Another reason why Explorer freezes may be that your computer simply does not have enough hardware resources to process all the tasks you have loaded it with. Therefore, individual components of the system begin to slow down or fail. This problem is especially common among users of low-power computers that have a very limited amount of RAM or weak processor. Let's figure out what needs to be done in this case.

Certainly, The best way to radically solve the current problem is to buy more powerful processor or purchase an additional stick of RAM. But unfortunately, not everyone is ready to take these measures, and therefore we will figure out what needs to be done to make Explorer freeze as rarely as possible, but without replacing hardware components.

In the future, to avoid Explorer freezing for similar reasons, try to avoid running several resource-intensive programs at the same time, and also remove from startup those applications that you do not need when starting your computer. It is also recommended to increase the size of the paging file.

Method 4: Disable thumbnail displays

One of the reasons causing problems with Explorer freezing, image thumbnails are not displayed correctly. When downloading images from the Internet, some of them may not be fully downloaded, which leads to their thumbnails not being displayed correctly, resulting in Explorer malfunctioning. To completely eliminate this problem, you can simply disable the display of thumbnails on your PC.

Now, if the reason for the Explorer constantly freezing was the incorrect display of thumbnails, this problem will no longer bother you.

Method 5: Elimination of viral infection

The next reason that can cause unstable operation of Explorer is a virus infection of the computer. We recommend that if this system component freezes frequently, even in the absence of other signs of infection, you scan your PC with an anti-virus utility. It definitely won’t be superfluous. You can use Dr.Web CureIt or another similar program, which does not require installation. It is better to check from another PC or by starting the system via LiveCD.

If virus activity is detected, the program will notify the user and offer the best option to resolve the problem. After getting rid of the root cause, the work of the Explorer should improve.

Method 6: System Restore

But there are cases when viruses or other external factors have already damaged system files, which ultimately results in unstable operation of Explorer. Then the system needs to be restored. Depending on the complexity of the problem and the previously taken preventive measures to eliminate it, the following actions can be taken:

In this article, we dwelled in detail on the main reasons why Explorer freezes. As you can see, they can be very diverse. In addition, we figured out how quickly it can be returned to working condition, and also found out how to eliminate the root cause of the malfunction if such problems occur regularly, depending on what exactly caused them.

In January 2020, Microsoft plans to complete Windows support 7, but even after this, the much-loved system will continue to be in demand for some time. The Seven is praised for its acrylic design and high stability, but it is not without its drawbacks. For example, one of the most common problems in Windows 7 is the “Explorer has stopped working” error, which a user may encounter under different circumstances.

At the moment of a failure, a window appears on the screen with a description and error code, as well as a button to restart the process, but it also happens that Explorer simply “crashes” or freezes so that the user has to restart the computer with the “Reset” button. The reasons for this, albeit not critical, but very unpleasant error may be different, but most often they are associated either with incorrect work video codecs, either damaged or conflicting software components, responsible for the operation of the Start menu.

Original Windows files are damaged or replaced

Sometimes, restoring the chronology of events preceding the error allows you to determine the cause of the problem. So, if Explorer “crashed” when entering a directory with multimedia content, most likely it was a problem with the codecs, but if the incident happened at the moment of calling the context menu, it is very likely that it was caused by some third-party component integrated into the menu. However, you need to start diagnosing the “Explorer has stopped working” error in Windows 7 by analyzing the integrity of the system files.

Launch the CMD console with elevated rights and run the command in it sfc /scannow. The procedure will take some time.

If the utility finds damaged files, you will be prompted to restore them the next time you boot. This approach has a drawback - SFC initiates the recovery of not only damaged files, but also files modified when customizing the interface, which is why some useful settings that are in no way related to the problem may be reset.

Problematic menu components

A conflict between software components integrated into the context menu is one of the most common reasons for the “Explorer has stopped working” message in Windows 7. How to fix the error in this case? It’s very simple - you need to deactivate all unnecessary elements in the menu. A little one will help in this simple matter free utility ShellExView from the developer NirSoft.

Once launched, the program displays many entries. Sort them by type and pay attention to the “Context Menu” entries. In order of priority, deactivate non-Microsoft items that have asterisks next to them in the extensions column and check the operation of Explorer after each such deactivation. You can disable the selected element by pressing the F7 key or the red dot on the ShellExView toolbar. By acting in this way, you can identify the source of the problem, if it lies in the operation of applications that add their own options to the Explorer menu.

Incorrect operation of third-party services and applications

If File Explorer continues to stop working suddenly, it is possible that the problem is caused by software running in the background, a service, or a driver. In this case, we identify the source by exclusion, deactivating “suspicious” secondary services. As an alternative to safe mode, we recommend using the utility. Run it through the Run window and disable all third-party services in the Services tab, and then check if the problem is resolved.

Problems with codecs

Incorrect operation of video codecs also sometimes causes the “Explorer has stopped working” error in Windows 7, as mentioned above. The following setting will help confirm this assumption. In the Control Panel, launch the “Folder Options” applet, and then in the window that opens, on the “View” tab, check the boxes as shown in the screenshot below.

If the error disappears, we can say with a high degree of confidence that the codecs are to blame. The solution is to reinstall them, preferably in full, for example, installing a package latest version K-Lite Codec Pack Full.

The Explorer crash may be caused by a certain broken video file in the folder. Define it by some external signs It doesn’t always work out, in such cases you have to act by elimination.

What else to check

Other reasons for the problem were also noted. Potentially, problems with Explorer can be caused by a video driver, but such a scenario is unlikely. The same goes for clients. cloud services and installed cumulative updates. In rare cases, Explorer may not function properly due to system and hardware failures that lead to corruption. file system, as well as virus attacks. In general, we act according to the circumstances - we remove updates containing bugs, update drivers, check the system for viruses, and so on. If Explorer in Windows 7 does not work, restarting does not help, as well as other methods, we roll back the system to the previous one or, as a last resort, perform a complete reinstallation of it.

Read why Windows 7 Explorer doesn't work and how to fix the problem. All reasons and ways to correct errors Windows Explorer. Instructions.

You can often hear a complaint from users: “The Explorer program is restarting, what should I do?” Windows 7 is one of the most common operating systems, so these words can be heard most often in relation to it. There may be several reasons for a failure, and action must be taken based on them.

Windows 7 Explorer does not work - most likely problems with the video card

Without a video card, you will not be able to use your computer. It participates in the operation of all applications. Most often, program malfunctions occur due to outdated drivers being installed for the video card. Damage may also be the cause. Let's figure out how to fix Windows 7 Explorer in this case.

You can get rid of the problem by installing necessary drivers. To do this, you can use the following instructions:

1. Go to the Start menu and in the right column, click on the Control Panel section.
2. Switch the display mode in the upper right corner to the “Category” option.
3. Select the "System and Security" section.
4. In the "System" group, click the "Device Manager" link.
5. Select the "Video Adapters" group. A list will open in front of you from which you need to select your video card. Double-click on its name with the left mouse button.
6. In the new window, select the "Driver" tab.
7. In the left column, find the delete button.
8. Now you need to find a new driver on the Internet. This can be done by the name of the video card (download from the manufacturer’s official website) or by its ID. After downloading the new driver, install it and restart your computer.

The easiest way to search for new drivers is to use special utilities, for example, Driver Pack Solution. Pre-download this program and then remove the driver and run it. After scanning, the utility will detect that no drivers are installed on your video card and will offer to download and install them. This procedure is carried out automatically.

Errors in Windows system files

Operating system system files can be damaged due to careless user actions, virus activity, or even due to improper shutdown of the computer. The system provides the ability to restore them without using additional utilities. If replacing the video card drivers did not help, then do the following:

1. Press the Win + R buttons at the same time.
2. In the window that appears, write the command: cmd.
3. “ ” will open in front of you.
4. Type sfc /scannow in it and confirm your choice with the Enter button.
5. The system will begin scanning its own files and correcting errors in them.
6. After the utility completes, restart your computer.

In most cases, along with fixing the system files, the Windows 7 Explorer error will also disappear. If this method of fixing the problem does not help, use the rest of the tips in this article.

You can additionally get rid of problems in Windows registry using the CCleaner utility. You need to download it, select the “Registry” tab and analyze it, and then correct the errors found. This will also help get rid of problems with the Explorer program caused by system failures.

Problem with Explorer due to a virus attack

It is not uncommon for computer program files to become damaged. They choose the “explorer” because it is with its help that they can access your personal folders. If you don't have it antivirus program, then the risk of infecting your computer is high. As a result, “Explorer” does not respond to Windows 7. We will figure out how to fix this problem further.

In this case, do the following:

1. Go to the official website of Dr.Web or Kaspersky Lab. Find among the products an option suitable for creating a bootable USB flash drive. Download it.
2. Prepare a blank USB drive and use the downloaded utility to turn it into a bootable USB flash drive. Then install fresh signature databases on it.
3. Restart the computer and call up the settings using the F 9, F 11 or F 12 key. In the boot menu, set to start from a USB drive. Save your changes.
4. After this action, the computer will reboot, the flash drive should already be connected to it. The download will be done from there.
5. Following the prompts of the created bootable flash drive, conduct a full scan of your computer for viruses.
6. Now you need to restart your computer again, go into the BIOS and set it back to start the system from the hard drive.
7. After the system boots, Explorer will work normally. To prevent viruses from attacking your system again, install a utility that protects against them.

note that bootable flash drive will only be effective on the same day you do it. If you want to use checking with it constantly, then before each session you will need to update the databases.

Insufficient resources

If Explorer often stops working, then you need to look at the workload central processor and RAM. You can check in which mode they are working through the “Task Manager”, it is called by the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + Del. If in the “Performance” tab you find that the computer is running at maximum load, go to the “Processes” section and remove all background applications.

In 95% of cases, Explorer does not work due to the computer being overloaded. Operating system There simply aren't enough resources to provide access to files and folders. Often users themselves are to blame for this situation, since they allow programs to run in the background and update automatically. Another problem is adding a large number of programs to Startup. You need to know how to fix Windows 7 Explorer in this situation.

You can unload autorun using the CCleaner utility:

1. Launch it, go to the “Tools” section.
2. Open the Startup tab and remove all programs from it.
3. Save your changes and restart your computer.

Go to the “Start” menu, select the “Computer” section. It is located in the right column. In the menu, find the “Properties” item. The window will display all system parameters, but you only need to pay attention to the size of the RAM. If its volume is only 2 GB, then you need to do the following:

1. In the system properties section in the left column, find the item “Advanced system settings”.
2. Open the "Advanced" tab in the window that appears. In the "Performance" section, click the "Options" button.
3. In the new window that opens, select the “Advanced” tab again. Click the Change button in the Virtual Memory section.
4. Remove the marker next to the phrase “Automatically select the size of the paging file.”
5. After this, place a dot on the phrase “Specify size”. Enter 5120 MB in the Initial Size field and 7680 in the Maximum field. Click on the "Set" button.
6. In all open windows Click the “Ok” button to save your adjustments.

If you have more than 4 GB of RAM installed, then you should not change the page file. In this case, it is worth checking the system configuration to get rid of the computer overload.

Instructions

1. Press the combination Win + R on your keyboard. The “Run” window will appear in front of you.
2. Enter the command in it: msconfig. Click the "OK" button.
3. You will be taken to the “System Configuration” menu. From the tabs provided, select Services. In it you will see all the background processes running on your computer.
4. Place a checkbox next to the phrase “Do not display Microsoft services” so that only the applications you have downloaded remain in the list.
5. You can safely stop all remaining programs - usually you will find software update applications in the list.

The steps described above will allow you to speed up your computer, which will lead to stable operation of the Explorer program.

Corrupted files in folders

Another common reason for Explorer freezing and restarting is incorrect display of object thumbnails. This happens when downloading files from the Internet. Thumbnails of images or videos are displayed incorrectly, which is why Windows 7 Explorer does not work. You can get rid of this problem by following the instructions:

1. Through the "Start" menu, go to the "Computer" section.
2. You will be taken to the same Explorer, but without the need to display individual files.
3. In the top toolbar, select the “Service” section. In the context menu that opens, find the “Folder Options” option.
4. A window with three tabs will appear in front of you, from which you need to select “View”. In this section, you can configure the display of folders and files in them.
5. Most of the window is occupied by the “Advanced Settings” block. You will see a list there available settings. Find the line “Display file icons in thumbnails.” Uncheck it.
6. Now you just need to apply the changes you have made and click OK.

If the problem with the Explorer program was the incorrect display of thumbnails, then it will be solved by this in a simple way. But it is best to try to download the files completely. Temporary files need to be deleted. To do this, you can use the already known cCleaner utility. In its main section “Cleaning” you need to work on detecting temporary and “junk” files, and then clean them.

Fighting File Explorer freezing using Task Manager

If Explorer is not responding, then you can try to restore its functionality through the Task Manager. To do this you will need:

1. Call it using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + Del. On some systems you need to press Ctrl +Shift +Esc.
2. As soon as the “Task Manager” appears in front of you, go to its “Processes” tab.
3. A table will appear in front of you, the first column of which will list the names of the processes. You need to find explorer.exe in this list. There may be too many processes, so click on the image name column to display them in alphabetical order.
4. Right-click on the process name and select “End process tree” from the context menu.
5. A window will appear in front of you in which you need to confirm your actions. Click End Process. Do not close the “Task Manager”; you will still need it to restore the functionality of “Explorer”.
6. After this action, all panels and icons on the “Desktop” will disappear. This is a sign that you did everything right.
7. Click on the top “File” link and select “New task, run” in the context menu.
8. A small window will appear in front of you in which you need to specify the name of the new task. Type explorer in it.
9. Click on the "Ok" button. After this, the explorer will start again.

If none of the above methods helped, then you need to try doing a “System Restore”. To do this, you do not need to download additional utilities; you just need to periodically create a restore point or backup copy. If you did not create rollback files for your system, you will need to completely reinstall it. In this case, copy everything necessary files to external HDD or flash drive. And programs and applications will need to be removed. Do a clean installation of the system with hard formatting disk.

Bottom line

If you are faced with the problem: “Explorer” restarts Windows 7, you now know what to do. Get started by clearing temporary files and setting up thumbnail display. If simple measures do not help, then you can resort to radical measures - restoring the system and completely reinstalling it. In both cases, try to save the necessary files and folders on the flash drive, otherwise you may lose them while doing this work. If you regularly experience problems with Explorer, then you need to carry out preventive maintenance on your computer - regularly check it for viruses, clean disks and correct registry errors. Modern utilities will help you do this work quickly. If you have any questions, ask them in the comments. There you can tell about your ways to get rid of the problem. Share the article with your friends.