Windows Explorer Opens Automatically Multiple Times in Windows 7

Question

I have a Toshiba L645 on which I had to replace the hard drive and re-install Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit.

The minute I complete the Windows installation and log on, I get Windows Explorer opening automatically, with "Search Results" showing in the address bar and the cursor flashing in the search box.

Sometimes it's just one Windows Explorer window, sometimes multiple Windows Explorer Windows.

The only way to get rid of it is to type something (anything) into the search box, and then I can close all the Windows Explorer windows.

I have beat myself up researching every possibility. I have tried installing Windows 7 32 bit, 64 bit, and finally even ordered the recovery media disks from Toshiba.

Same thing happens every time. I have run a boot-time virus scan, Malwarebytes and even used Autoruns to try to identify the problem with no luck.

If I disable Windows Search in control panel/ programs and features/ turn windows features on or off, and then reboot, I get  a popup that tells me there is no program associated to perform the requested action. The action is displayed as "search:crumb=location:c%3A%5CUsers%5CSteve%20Roos%5CDesktop.

Multiple instances of this message pop up and I have to X them all out before I can continue.

I have checked that "Restore Previous Folder Windows at Logon" is unchecked, and a bunch of other suggestions I found online.

I have run CCleaner to clean the registry - no luck.

Anyone come across this problem before? I would love some help if possible.

Answer 1

Problem solved - Eureka!

I still don't know how or why it happened after a clean installation of Windows 7, and I have never experienced the same problem on any other PC I have fixed, but I finally solved it.

I had to disable Windows search via Add or Remove Windows Features in the control panel, then reboot the computer, which brought up and error message telling me that there was no program to run the culprit file/program/script - whatever it was.

I then ran CCleaner and cleaned the registry, which found an unused extension called "search.ms", which I removed.

I rebooted, reactivated Windows Search, regenerated the search index, and the problem was finally gone.

Thanks for trying to help me guys. If anyone else ever gets this same problem, I'd be happy to try and help.

Hope you all had a good Easter.

Answer 2

I have a Toshiba L645 on which I had to replace the hard drive and re-install Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit.

How exactly did you do this?

Answer 3

Yes - the problem persists in safe mode.

CCleaner is the only registry cleaner I trust. It allows me to save before I make changes, and yet I have never had to revert any changes.

This is the first time I have ever seen this problem. I am beginning to think it has something to do with this Toshiba model, because the problem occurred the instant I logged in after installing the operating system, and it happened with clean installations of Win7 32 bit, 64 bit and the Toshiba Recovery Disks.

Answer 4

I have run CCleaner to clean the registry - no luck.

Using the registry cleaning function of CCleaner is not a good idea. In this forum we regularly see complaints about this tool.

Does your problem persiste when you boot the machine into Safe Mode?