Windows Explorer crashes/resets whenever opening system properties, among other things

Question

So recently, I've had a whole onslaught of issues arise in windows seven, seemingly at random. It started happening when I disabled Internet Explorer (which I had re-enabled after I noticed the issues coming up) and uninstalled my old antivirus (AVG Free). I have also installed some Windows Updates not too long before (after a long period of leaving them off). I think this was about a week and a half ago or so.

First off, I noticed that Windows Photo Viewer wouldn't launch (same with live gallery, haven't really tried other windows live applications). After some investigating, I noticed that the process dllhost.exe would start up when I would try to launch Photo Viewer, but would end not too long after. Apparently, I have Live Gallery running at startup (along with something else HP related; it's how the laptop I'm using came), but it doesn't seem to work even then.

Secondly, most of my installed programs (Mumble, the League of Legends Launcher, Steam, Skype, among other things) suddenly needed to be run in compatibility mode for Windows 7....in Windows 7. Otherwise they won't launch/stop working and the like. Clearly, that isn't right. I haven't explored the issue too much, so that's all I've got on that.

Third, whenever I open the system properties windows, either through my computer>properties or the control panel, windows explorer crashes and restarts. Only that one window.

I tried running sfc, which yielded no results upon reboot (sans resetting my custom start orb). A second run immediately afterwards said nothing was wrong. I've ran windows in safe mode, which seemed to have solved the windows explorer issue (not too sure about photo gallery, since it can't be run in safe mode). Since nothing seemed wrong then, I've tried running in clean boot mode, which brings the explorer issue back, but resolved the Windors Photo Viewer and Live Gallery issue. I've tried numerous system restored (one restore prior to the windows update resolved my Photo Viewer issue, but that restore point has long been lost by the time all of this started happening all together). On a side note, I've been having a voip program, Mumble, to run properly after all of this is happening, whether I reinstall, repair, or run the program in compatibility mode again.

I've spent my time recently trying to figure out the windows explorer issue, and all I've got going right now is that it might have something to do with ntdll.dll. Here is the Event Viewer report of the crash and reset:

Log Name:      Application

Source:        Application Error

Date:          1/13/2014 2:50:41 AM

Event ID:      1000

Task Category: (100)

Level:         Error

Keywords:      Classic

User:          N/A

Computer:      Fiora-chan

Description:

Faulting application name: explorer.exe, version: 6.1.7601.17567, time stamp: 0x4d672ee4

Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 6.1.7601.18247, time stamp: 0x521eaf24

Exception code: 0xc0000374

Fault offset: 0x00000000000c4102

Faulting process id: 0x3498

Faulting application start time: 0x01cf105d4a9207a3

Faulting application path: C:\Windows\system32\explorer.exe

Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll

Report Id: 4e94424f-7c51-11e3-a854-28924a18ac7a

Event Xml:

<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">

<System>

<Provider Name="Application Error" />

<EventID Qualifiers="0">1000</EventID>

<Level>2</Level>

<Task>100</Task>

<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>

<TimeCreated SystemTime="2014-01-13T12:50:41.000000000Z" />

<EventRecordID>55233</EventRecordID>

<Channel>Application</Channel>

<Computer>Fiora-chan</Computer>

<Security />

</System>

<EventData>

<Data>explorer.exe</Data>

<Data>6.1.7601.17567</Data>

<Data>4d672ee4</Data>

<Data>ntdll.dll</Data>

<Data>6.1.7601.18247</Data>

<Data>521eaf24</Data>

<Data>c0000374</Data>

<Data>00000000000c4102</Data>

<Data>3498</Data>

<Data>01cf105d4a9207a3</Data>

<Data>C:\Windows\system32\explorer.exe</Data>

<Data>C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll</Data>

<Data>4e94424f-7c51-11e3-a854-28924a18ac7a</Data>

</EventData>

</Event>

I've also created a crash dump too, which I have no idea how to read for the life of me. I don't know if this download is going to work or not, but whatever.

https://www.mediafire.com/?d5aidn8qe47id03

I'm at a loss right now as to how to fix this. I was considering doing an in-place reinstall, but I don't have a copy of the Windows 7 Disk, nor do I have any spare dvds large enough to make one. I already have to take this laptop in for hinge repairs, and I don't want this issue ballooning the cost of repairs on my laptop should I take it to someone to fix for me.

I've ran my new antivirus (MSE) and MalwareBytes to check for issues, and they did find some (if I recall correctly, it was some potential threats sitting in internet explorer, which I never use, by the way). Upon removal of these issues, everything seemed to stay the same.

A quick response would be greatly appreciated.

Trying not to lose sleep trying to fix this,

JVenus

Answer 1

Looking at the dump file with WinDbg (Windows Debugger) the module that appears to be causing the crash is the atiumd64.dll which is a component of the AMD graphics driver:

*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for atiumd64.dll*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for atiumd64.dllUnable to load image C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_64\mscorlib\88744044294787b99dd4a8704ab75a79\mscorlib.ni.dll, Win32 error 0n2*** WARNING: Unable to verify checksum for mscorlib.ni.dll*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for explorer.exeProbably caused by : verifier.dll ( verifier!VerifierStopMessage+1f0 )

Try uninstalling and then reinstalling the AMD graphics driver using the latest version available.

Try HP for the latest AMD graphics driver for the laptop or you could try the following link from AMD:

http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/mobile?os=Windows

Answer 2

Have a look at this site for some good information and instructions as you could still have virus/malware in your machine.

http://www.selectrealsecurity.com/malware-removal-guide/

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Oh Lawdy, Lawdy, I could kiss you right now, you have no idea~

Reinstalling my catalyst drivers fixed the explorer issue and my Photo Viewer issue.

I don't know about the compatibility issue yet, so I might update later if something related comes us.

At long last, I can rest. Thank you so much.

Answer 4

You're welcome.

If the compatibility issue persists consider starting a new topic just on that issue.