When selecting multiple files Explorer crashes and restarts

Question

Hi!

The new context menu from Windows 11 is working, but "Show more options" (Ctrl+RMB), which calls the old "detailed" context menu, causes Explorer to crash and restart. This is probably started with some software that I installed about half a year ago

• In Safe mode the problem disappears.
• Disabling the context menu items didn't bring results. All third-party services are disabled in ShellExView, and so are Autoruns.
• In msconfig>services, all third-party services weren't turned off, I turned them off via CMD, nothing has changed.
• The commands sfc /scannow and dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth did not bring any results.
• The file from ProcDump via WinDbg, as I see, showed that the problem with shel32.dll. (I do not know if it was necessary or not, but) replace it with dll-files.com didn't work because of security block. Unlocker didn't unlock it. I've replaced it through CMD in System recovery (Shift+Restart), but explorer stopped working and started at all. But maybe it was because earlier I had cleaned the registry for the from extra cells in shellex folders, etc. Or maybe not, because shell32.dll' date is still half a month ago. Returned everything to previous state with sfc and/or dism.

explorer.exe_240727_012803.dmp
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D_U6C6FgAx5DlM3rjO4S_aRIS5I9s6ul
or https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xl6g6nl06x8qbmi89d641/explorer.exe_240727_012803.dmp...

What WinDbg shows from ProcDump' file:
SYMBOL_NAME: shell32!CRegistryVerbsContextMenu::QueryContextMenu+226b
MODULE_NAME: shell32
IMAGE_NAME: shell32.dll
STACK_COMMAND: ~51s; .ecxr ; kb
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID: NULL_POINTER_READ_c0000005_shell32.dll!CRegistryVerbsContextMenu::QueryContextMenu

System Stability Monitor:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: Explorer.EXE
Application Version: 10.0.22621.3880
Application Timestamp: 0a9e5890
Fault Module Name: SHELL32.dll
Fault Module Version: 10.0.22621.3880
Fault Module Timestamp: 36c21d15
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 000000000009f52b
OS version: 10.0.22631.2.0.0.256.48
Code of the language: 1033
Additional Information 1: 502f
Additional Information 2: 502f7bfca51f60e08bb8f533e668795b
Additional Information 3: 97b6
Additional Information 4: 97b6b20922f2852f9284653da71d71c1
Extra info: Bucket ID: 9c9e0ab6cf22489217c128ec04e06e88 (1711694327536709256)

Answer 1

Hi, thank you for replying, the last method will not delete any apps or files, it will just repair the system files, without deleting any data on the PC.

Answer 2

The problem is caused by a third-party context menu handler. From what you posted, it sounds like you already suspect this.

Uninstall third-party apps, that have added items to the context menu, until the problem is gone. Uninstall one app at a time and test.

Once you know what app is to blame, try reinstalling the latest version of that app and see if the problem is resolved.

Answer 3

Hi! Thanks for your answer.

Clear cache of File Explorer didn't work :c

And I can't reinstall Windows right now and probably for quite a long time yet, sorry. The main reason is that I'll have to reinstall a bunch of programs, but I'm not able to do that now

Answer 4

Hi, thanks for reaching out. My name is Bernard a Windows fan like you. I'll be happy to help you out today.

I understand the issue you have, there is nothing to worry I am here to help, as per checking and analyzing the DMP file there is an error shell32.dll, this is a Windows system file that is necessary for file explorer to function, and for us to sort out the issue, we will re-calibrate the file explorer by following the steps below:

Method 1. Clear cache of File Explorer

-Open Run Command ( Press Windows key + R)

-Copy, paste, and enter the file path below:

%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations

Delete everything inside the AutomaticDestinations folder

-Restart the PC and check

If none will work from the above solution, I suggest an in-place upgrade wherein the device will be upgraded to the latest version and all issues will be repaired without deleting any files.

Kindly follow the steps from this link:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

Let me know how it goes and I hope that helps.

Bernard