Windows explorer stops responding when opening System Properties

Question

I have recently noticed that when going into the system properties (by either using the shortcut of WIN key + Pause Break, Right click Computer > Properties etc) after a few seconds of the window being visible there is a notification that Windows Explorer is not responding, crashes and restarts, with it sometimes not correctly restarting and task manager not being successful in making a new process creating explorer.exe.

Here is information about the problem:

Problem signature

Problem Event Name: APPCRASH

Application Name: Explorer.EXE

Application Version: 6.1.7601.17567

Application Timestamp: 4d672ee4

Fault Module Name: StackHash_ab30

Fault Module Version: 6.1.7601.18247

Fault Module Timestamp: 521eaf24

Exception Code: c0000374

Exception Offset: 00000000000c4102

OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.48

Locale ID: 2057

Additional Information 1: ab30

Additional Information 2: ab30c9ed1229987f27236769bcd210a6

Additional Information 3: 49dd

Additional Information 4: 49dd4f7ee2a859a117b68d521dd8bfa0

Extra information about the problem

Bucket ID: 134223329

Answer 1

The  Install Manager is crashing with the same atiumd64.dll:

*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for atiumd64.dll

*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for atiumd64.dll

Unable to load image C:\Windows\System32\atiumd6a.dll, Win32 error 0n2

*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for atiumd6a.dll

*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for atiumd6a.dll

Unable to load image C:\Windows\System32\atiu9p64.dll, Win32 error 0n2

*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for atiu9p64.dll

*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for atiu9p64.dll

Unable to load image C:\Windows\System32\aticfx64.dll, Win32 error 0n2

*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for aticfx64.dll

*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for aticfx64.dll

*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for InstallManagerApp.exe

*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for InstallManagerApp.exe

Probably caused by : atiumd64.dll ( atiumd64+4e52c )

There appears to be other AMD files involved.

Just to confirm have you tried uninstalling the old AMD driver prior to installing the new AMD driver?

Answer 2

Hu Nathan,

The issue appears to be similar to what ware reported in the following topic:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-performance/windows-explorer-crashesresets-whenever-opening/0be72c62-6719-4c38-b76d-46d066695355

Try uninstalling and then reinstalling the latest version of the graphics driver.

Answer 3

Hi Nathan,

Since it is working fine in safe mode, I would recommend you to follow the clean boot procedure through steps provided below.

Step 1: a) Press the ‘Windows + R’ key on the keyboard.

b) In the ‘Run’ windows type ’MSCONFIG’ and click ‘Ok’.

c) Click the ‘Boot’ tab and uncheck ‘Safe Boot’ option.

d) On the ‘General’ tab, click to select the option ‘Selective startup’, and then click to clear the option Load startup items check box.

e) On the ‘Services’ tab, click to select the ‘Hide all Microsoft services’ check box, and then click ‘Disable all’.

f) On the ‘StartUp’ tab, click ‘**Open Task Manager’.**In the Task Manager window under startup tab, right click on each startup item which are enabled and select ‘Disable’.

f) Click ‘OK’, and then click Restart.

Step 2: Enable half of the services

a. Follow steps 1a and 1b to start the System Configuration utility.

b. Click the Services tab, and then click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box.

c. Click to select half of the check boxes in the Service list.

d. Click OK, and then click Restart.

Step 3: Determine whether the problem returns.

****If the problem still occurs, repeat step 1 and step 2. In step 2, click to clear half of the check boxes that you originally selected in the Service list.

If the problem does not occur, repeat step 1 and step 2. In step 2, select only half of the remaining check boxes that are cleared in the Service list. Repeat these steps until you have selected all the check boxes.

If only one service is selected in the Service list, and you still experience the problem, the selected service causes the problem. Go to step 6. If no service causes this problem, go to step 4.

Step 4: Enable half of the Startup items

****If no startup item causes this problem, a Microsoft service most likely causes the problem. To determine which Microsoft service may be causing the problem, repeat step 1 and step 2 without selecting the Hide all Microsoft services check box in either step.

Step 5: Determine whether the problem returns

****If the problem still occurs, repeat step 1 and step 4. In step 4, click to clear half of the check boxes that you originally selected in the Startup Item list.

If the problem does not occur, repeat step 1 and step 4. In step 4, select only half of the remaining check boxes that are cleared in the Startup Item list. Repeat these steps until you have selected all the check boxes.

If only one startup item is selected in the Startup Item list, and you still experience the problem, the startup item that is selected in the list is the service that is causing the problem. Go to step 6.

If no startup item causes this problem, a Microsoft service most likely causes the problem. To determine which Microsoft service may be causing the problem, repeat step 1 and step 2 without selecting the Hide all Microsoft services check box in either step. 

Step 6: Resolve the problem.

****After you determine the startup item or the service that causes the problem, contact the program manufacturer to determine whether the problem can be resolved. Or, run the System Configuration utility, and then click to clear the check box for the problem item. 

Step 7: Note: After you have finished troubleshooting, follow these steps to boot to normal startup.

a) Press the ‘Windows + R’ key on the keyboard.

b) In the ‘Run’ windows type ’MSCONFIG’ and click ‘Ok’.

c) On the ‘General’ tab, click the ‘Normal Startup’ option, and then click ‘OK’.

d) When you are prompted to restart the computer, click ‘Restart’.

Hope the information is helpful. Please post back your results for further assistance.

Answer 4

It was working fine about 3 weeks ago, when i first noticed the problem i did a system restore which didn't fix my problem, I didn't make any specific changes to my computer around then or since then. 

There seems to be no crash when booting in safe mode, however when doing a clean boot it still crashes, Also the troubleshooter only said about a program launching on startup. 

Any other ideas?

Thanks

Answer 5

Hello Nathan,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

I understand that explorer.exe increases the memory size and the screen freezes. I will be happy to assist you with your query. Let me ask you;

1. When was the last time it was working fine?
2. Did you make any specific change in the computer prior to the issue?

The issue could be related any recent software or hardware changes on the computer or any third party software conflict. Also, it is advisable that you use a single security software at a time so that it would not conflict with other firewalls.

Let's follow the methods below and check.

Method 1: Run the Performance Troubleshooter.

To optimize Windows performance, try using the Performance troubleshooter to automatically find and fix problems. The Performance troubleshooter checks issues that might slow down your computer's performance, such as how many users are currently logged on to the computer and whether multiple programs are running at the same time.

Open the Performance troubleshooter by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type troubleshooter, and then click Troubleshooting. Under System and Security, click Check for performance issues.

Method 2: Start the computer in safe mode and then perform clean boot to avoid any third party software conflict.

Step 1: Start the computer in safe mode.

Kindly refer to: **Start your computer in safe mode**

Step 2: Perform clean boot

Putting your system in Clean Boot state helps in identifying if any third party applications or startup items are causing the issue. You need to follow the steps from the article mentioned below to perform a Clean Boot.

**How to perform a clean boot in Windows**          

Note: Refer "How to reset the computer to start normally after clean boot troubleshooting" to reset the computer to start as normal after troubleshooting.

Additional Information:

**Optimize Windows for better performance**

Hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to reply in case you face any other issues with Windows in future.