Windows Explorer Crashes

chumps52 · Jun 21, 2014

Hi,

I pretty frequently get explorer crashes. I reinstalled Windows 8 yesterday (and then 8.1) to see if that would fix the issue, but it hasn't.

So far since then I have only had one crash. This is the error log - taken from the reliability monitor:

Source
Windows Explorer

Summary
Stopped working

Date
‎21/‎06/‎2014 19:05

Status
Report sent

Description
Faulting Application Path: C:\Windows\explorer.exe

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: Explorer.EXE
Application Version: 6.3.9600.17039
Application Timestamp: 53156588
Fault Module Name: combase.dll
Fault Module Version: 6.3.9600.17031
Fault Module Timestamp: 53087867
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 0000000000173eaf
OS Version: 6.3.9600.2.0.0.256.48
Locale ID: 2057
Additional Information 1: 66db
Additional Information 2: 66db98b704d501cd95286430dedd0474
Additional Information 3: ce83
Additional Information 4: ce83373352028d76fb3be24db4d987c2

Extra information about the problem
Bucket ID: acddd20795fc8aa91db92ac7477b5122 (85915369211)

Any solution/help would be greatly appreciated!

SFC /scannow did not find anything btw

harry_r_s · Jun 21, 2014

If it is a virus than it could transferred back if you used a usb stick to reinstall windows..
Or your ram is low and not supporting windows 8 and other running services..
Then Try increasing the priority of your explorer from tasks.

chumps52 · Jun 21, 2014

harry_r_s :

Did a clean install apart from documents (which are on a separate HDD from the programs). Scanned with Norton before and after and still nothing :/

8GB RAM and only around 2.7GB used with many Chrome tabs, spotify, outlook, steam and even a Norton scan going (again) open....

harry_r_s · Jun 21, 2014

chumps52 :

Don't trust any usb stick or hdd.
Try doing a clean install. Even if you have a partition the virus can be transfered to the windows partition easily !
Or try installing windows on the partitioned disk and don't open the other partitions for some time.. and check.
Or It can be the RAM problem..

chumps52 · Jun 21, 2014

harry_r_s :

I have a HDD with purely documents/photos etc., nothing else, no programs, and then an SSD with programs and the OS.

Just did another scan, including the HDD and there is nothing at all.

The HDD is literally just documents, nothing else.

I have run memory checking programs and no errors there.

harry_r_s · Jun 21, 2014

So you are installing windows in the ssd after formatting. And don't connect the hdd for a while to see if problem persists..
You can always connect it back !
.
Also give your build specs?

chumps52 · Jun 21, 2014

harry_r_s :

Honestly I know that it is not the HDD! I am not spending another few hours reinstalling Windows 8... Again, for no reason.

i5 3570k
GA-Z77-D3H
8GB G-Skill RAM (As seen here http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004HZG4ZO)
ASUS 660TI 2GB

1TB WD Caviar Blue drive for documents etc.
250GB Samsung EVO SSD for programs, os etc.

harry_r_s · Jun 21, 2014

Everything looks good..
Did you install programs before the last crash after installing windows ?
.
Read this too -
http://www.eightforums.com/general-support/10358-windows-8-showing-file-extensions-causes-crash.html

chumps52 · Jun 21, 2014

harry_r_s :

Just tried that, didn't work :/ It seems to just happen completely randomly. That error that I posted above occured when I wasn't even on the computer; I left the room for about 10-15 minutes and came back to see some of the icons in the notification area missing and parts of my desktop rearranged; which is how I know it has restarted.

harry_r_s · Jun 21, 2014

chumps52 :

What the other forums are saying also is true..
This is a heavily used file, and it has its hands in the major operations. So it is rare to have problem in that file!
Its function can be affected if any external program puts its hand in the explorer files !
That is why I told you that it can be a virus coz you said you reinstalled the window !
.
You should have tried system restore before installing a new windows !

chumps52 · Jun 21, 2014

harry_r_s :

chumps52 :

What the other forums are saying also is true..
This is a heavily used file, and it has its hands in the major operations. So it is rare to have problem in that file!
Its function can be affected if any external program puts its hand in the explorer files !
That is why I told you that it can be a virus coz you said you reinstalled the window !
.
You should have tried system restore before installing a new windows !

Didn't mean to pick solution... It's not a virus, I did a clean install to be able to remove that possibility.

It was a completely clean install, and I have not downloaded anything dodgy since yesterday.

harry_r_s · Jun 22, 2014

Put the same question again in the forums.
May be a senior member may help you, also put this in other forums like anandtech, etc..
.
Its completely a software question !

dodger46 · Jun 22, 2014

Things to try.
RAM. If you have a bad stick, it's just possible Windows Explorer occupies the same memory block each time Windows is loaded, so assuming your 8Gig comprises 2 x 4 Gig, try running on one stick at a time to see if System more stable.
Although SFC found nothing, try Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
It compares your installation with an online image and corrects any disparities...

When you clean installed Windows I hope you deleted all partitions on your SSD and installed to Unallocated Space....

chumps52 · Jun 22, 2014

dodger46 :

Hi

Changing RAM sticks etc. made no difference. I ran that command and got this in return:

The restore operation completed successfully. The component store corruption was
repaired.
The operation completed successfully.

I'm assuming that means it fixed something?

EDIT: When I reinstalled Windows I used a CD and formatted the SSD completely, the HDD was left untouched throughout (again; just documents)

harry_r_s · Jun 22, 2014

chumps52 :

I am telling you there is no problem with your hardware.
The problem is at software level.
The error file is combase.dll
.
Because after a new install, even if the ram is 2gb, it shouldn't crash. And G-skill is durable !

chumps52 · Jun 22, 2014

harry_r_s :

But as I said surely reinstalling the OS would have fixed this/removed this as a possibility? It was the same error both before and after reinstalling, which to me implies it is a hardware issue.

Just ran MemTest and got this (no errors)

2014-06-22 08:16:05 - Attempting to retrieve the root directory of the data partition.
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - Found 2 handles that supported SimpleFileSystem
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - Checking handle 0 (DB1D6498)
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - Handle is own partition
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - Checking handle 1 (DB1D6198)
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - HD node found: MBR type(2), Signature type(2), Part #(2), Start LBA(104448), Num Sectors(202719)
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - Self node: MBR type(2), Signature type(2), Part #(1), Start LBA(2048), Num Sectors(100353)
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - =============================================
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - MemTest86 V5.1.0 Free Build: 1000 (64-bit)
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - =============================================
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - Intializing screen for graphics
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - Getting CPUID
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - Getting cache size
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - get_cache_size - Vendor ID: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3570K CPU @ 3.40GHz
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - get_cache_size - max_cpuid = 13
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - Measuring CPU/cache/mem speed
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - cpuspeed - rdtsc instruction supported: 1
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - cpuspeed - start ticks: 43589032670, end ticks: 43759204802 (difference: 170172132)
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - cpu_cache_speed - (Attempt 1) clock cycle (ms): 3403442
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - cpu_cache_speed - CPU speed: 3403.4MHz
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - cpu_cache_speed - measuring L1 cache speed at 0xD0F15000 (32 KB)
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - cpu_cache_speed - L1 cache speed: 94019 MB/s
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - cpu_cache_speed - measuring L2 cache speed at 0xD0A9B000 (256 KB)
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - cpu_cache_speed - L2 cache speed: 51692 MB/s
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - cpu_cache_speed - measuring L3 cache speed at 0xD02CC000 (6144 KB)
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - cpu_cache_speed - L3 cache speed: 33711 MB/s
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - get_mem_speed - measuring mem speed at 0xCD64C000 (51712 KB)
2014-06-22 08:16:06 - get_mem_speed - mem speed: 18824 MB/s
2014-06-22 08:16:07 - cpu_cache_speed - Memory latency: 22.541 ns
2014-06-22 08:16:07 - Retrieving CPU MSR data
2014-06-22 08:16:07 - GetIntelArchitectureSpecificMSRInfo - Nehalem et al detected
2014-06-22 08:16:08 - GetIvyBridgeFamilyMSRInfo_Static - MSR[0xCE] = 00081010F0012200
2014-06-22 08:16:08 - GetIvyBridgeFamilyMSRInfo_Static - ExternalClock = 100101
2014-06-22 08:16:08 - GetIvyBridgeFamilyMSRInfo_Static - MSR[0x1A2] = 0000000000691400
2014-06-22 08:16:08 - GetIvyBridgeFamilyMSRInfo_Static - MSR[0x1AD] = 0000000024252626
2014-06-22 08:16:08 - IsIntelTurboSupported - CPUID[0x6][EAX] = 00000077
2014-06-22 08:16:08 - DisableTurboMode - MSR[1A0] = 0000000000850089
2014-06-22 08:16:08 - DisableTurboMode - New MSR[1A0] = 0000004000850089
2014-06-22 08:16:08 - GetIntelArchitectureSpecificMSRInfo - Turbo disabled
2014-06-22 08:16:08 - GetIntelCPUMaxSpeed_CPU_CLK_UNHALTED - CPUID[0x6][ECX] = 00000009
2014-06-22 08:16:08 - GetIntelCPUMaxSpeed_CPU_CLK_UNHALTED - CPUID[0xA][EDX] = 00000603
2014-06-22 08:16:08 - GetIntelCPUMaxSpeed_CPU_CLK_UNHALTED - MSR[0x38F] = 00000000000000FF
2014-06-22 08:16:08 - GetIntelCPUMaxSpeed_CPU_CLK_UNHALTED - MSR[0x38D] = 0000000000000000
2014-06-22 08:16:08 - GetIntelCPUMaxSpeed_CPU_CLK_UNHALTED - high perf counter freq = 3403442000
2014-06-22 08:16:08 - GetIntelCPUMaxSpeed_CPU_CLK_UNHALTED - time in ns = 420270862
2014-06-22 08:16:09 - GetIntelCPUMaxSpeed_CPU_CLK_UNHALTED - FreqCore in KHz = 3403441, FreqRef in KHz = 3403442, Ratio = 99
2014-06-22 08:16:09 - GetIntelArchitectureSpecificMSRInfo - MaxRatio = 99
2014-06-22 08:16:09 - GetIntelArchitectureSpecificMSRInfo - Mult = 3366
2014-06-22 08:16:09 - GetIntelArchitectureSpecificMSRInfo - raw_freq_cpu = 3403434
2014-06-22 08:16:09 - EnableTurboMode - MSR[1A0] = 0000004000850089
2014-06-22 08:16:09 - EnableTurboMode - New MSR[1A0] = 0000000000850089
2014-06-22 08:16:09 - GetIntelArchitectureSpecificMSRInfo - TargetRatio = 108
2014-06-22 08:16:09 - GetIntelCPUMaxSpeed_CPU_CLK_UNHALTED - CPUID[0x6][ECX] = 00000009
2014-06-22 08:16:09 - GetIntelCPUMaxSpeed_CPU_CLK_UNHALTED - CPUID[0xA][EDX] = 00000603
2014-06-22 08:16:09 - GetIntelCPUMaxSpeed_CPU_CLK_UNHALTED - MSR[0x38F] = 00000000000000FF
2014-06-22 08:16:09 - GetIntelCPUMaxSpeed_CPU_CLK_UNHALTED - MSR[0x38D] = 0000000000000000
2014-06-22 08:16:09 - GetIntelCPUMaxSpeed_CPU_CLK_UNHALTED - high perf counter freq = 3403442000
2014-06-22 08:16:10 - GetIntelCPUMaxSpeed_CPU_CLK_UNHALTED - time in ns = 420207164
2014-06-22 08:16:10 - GetIntelCPUMaxSpeed_CPU_CLK_UNHALTED - FreqCore in KHz = 3403441, FreqRef in KHz = 3403441, Ratio = 100
2014-06-22 08:16:12 - GetIntelCPUMaxSpeed_CPU_CLK_UNHALTED - time in ns = 420422601
2014-06-22 08:16:12 - GetIntelCPUMaxSpeed_CPU_CLK_UNHALTED - FreqCore in KHz = 3403442, FreqRef in KHz = 3403442, Ratio = 100
2014-06-22 08:16:12 - GetIntelArchitectureSpecificMSRInfo - MaxTurboRatio = 100
2014-06-22 08:16:12 - GetIntelArchitectureSpecificMSRInfo - TurboMult = 3400
2014-06-22 08:16:12 - GetIntelArchitectureSpecificMSRInfo - new TurboMult = 3480
2014-06-22 08:16:12 - GetIntelArchitectureSpecificMSRInfo - CPUSpeedTurbo = 3483514
2014-06-22 08:16:12 - GetIntelArchitectureSpecificMSRInfo - CPUSpeedTurboTheoreticalMax = 3803838
2014-06-22 08:16:12 - GetIntelArchitectureSpecificMSRInfo - Freq: 3403434, 3400, 100101, Turbo: 3483514, 3480, 0 (3803838)
2014-06-22 08:16:12 - Getting memory size
2014-06-22 08:16:12 - mem_size - Number of entries: 142
2014-06-22 08:16:12 - mem_size - Max address: 0x21F000000
2014-06-22 08:16:12 - mem_size - Total memory size(8648302592 bytes)
2014-06-22 08:16:12 - Getting memory SPD info
2014-06-22 08:16:12 - Searching PCI for SMBus Controller
2014-06-22 08:16:12 - Found SMBus device: VID:8086 DID:1E22 Bus:00 Dev:1F Fun:03 IO Add:F000 MMIO Add:0 PCI Add:{00:00:00:0000} Rev:04 [Intel Panther Point (PCH)]
2014-06-22 08:16:12 - Finished searching PCI for SMBus Controller
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - Raw SPD bytes for DIMM#0:
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - 92 10 0B 02 03 19 00 09 03 52 01 08 0A 00 FC 00 69 78 69 30 69 11 18 81 00 05 3C 3C 00 F0 83 81 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0F 11 21 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 04 CD 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 24 48 46 33 2D 31 32 38 30 30 43 4C 39 2D 34 47 42 58 4C 00 00 00 04 CD 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0C 4A 0D 12 01 08 00 00 00 2A 0A 57 20 00 46 57 57 78 10 ED 47 3F 00 00 05 3C 30 00 F0 3C 00 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - Raw SPD bytes for DIMM#1:
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - 92 10 0B 02 03 19 00 09 03 52 01 08 0A 00 FC 00 69 78 69 30 69 11 18 81 00 05 3C 3C 00 F0 83 81 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0F 11 21 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 04 CD 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 24 48 46 33 2D 31 32 38 30 30 43 4C 39 2D 34 47 42 58 4C 00 00 00 04 CD 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0C 4A 0D 12 01 08 00 00 00 2A 0A 57 20 00 46 57 57 78 10 ED 47 3F 00 00 05 3C 30 00 F0 3C 00 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - Getting memory controller info
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - find_mem_controller - found Intel E3-1200v2 (8086:0150) at 0-0-0
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - Intel E3 Sandy Bridge chipset init
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - MCHBAR_LO=FED10001
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - MCHBAR_HI=00000000
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - MCHBAR=FED10000
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - CAPID0_A=E280809E
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - ERRCMD=0000
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - find_mem_controller - Intel E3-1200v2 (8086:0150) at 0-0-0
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - find_mem_controller - Intel E3-1200v2 ECC mode: detect: no, correct: no, scrub: no, chipkill: no
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - ECC polling disabled
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - Successfully located the PI MpService protocol.
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - BSP is Proc 0
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - This platform has 4 logical processors of which 4 are enabled.
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - ProcID Enabled Type Status Pkg Core Thread
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - -------- -------- ---- -------- ----- ---- ------
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - 00000000 Y BSP 00000007 0 0 0
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - 00000002 Y AP 00000006 0 1 0
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - 00000004 Y AP 00000006 0 2 0
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - 00000006 Y AP 00000006 0 3 0
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - This platform has 4 logical processors of which 4 are enabled.
2014-06-22 08:16:13 - Loading images

dodger46 · Jun 22, 2014

Faultfinding errors like this is a process of elimination, looks as if RAM is OK and Windows core checked out by Dism, so we can rule out Installation errors for the time being.
Does combase.dll appear regularly in the Reliability Monitor Report? Whatever, I would suggest you try Clean Startup to try to eliminate a process/driver that is causing the problem. It's long winded but I suspect it's a driver peculiar to your system causing the error.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

harry_r_s · Jun 22, 2014

Same thing.
Or try running in safe mode and check if the problem persists !
This way driver fault can be verified.

chumps52 · Jun 22, 2014

dodger46 :

Did that pretty soon after you posted that and left it until now. Nothing happened...
But then again I don't know whether one specific thing/action causes the crash.

When it happened yesterday I wasn't even at the computer, I had left it on and was out of the room for 10-15 minutes, came back and saw it had crashed/restarted...

I never checked reliability monitor before yesterday, so all the crashes before me reinstalling Windows I don't know what caused (pretty stupid yes).

Booted back into "normal" mode now, and I guess I'll just see if/when it happens again and check to see if it is combase.dll all the time.

chumps52 · Jun 24, 2014

Just to say that this hasn't happened since Sunday, so I guess it's fixed. I assume it was dodger46's idea, as that said it fixed something.

Thanks

dodger46 · Jun 24, 2014

chumps52 :

Erm, which particular one worked?? Dism? Or Clean Startup??

chumps52 · Jun 24, 2014

dodger46 :

Dism

chumps52 · Jun 27, 2014

Well... It's happened again :/ But a different error code/thing:

Source
Windows Explorer

Summary
Stopped working

Date
‎27/‎06/‎2014 21:03

Status
Report sent

Description
Faulting Application Path: C:\Windows\explorer.exe

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: Explorer.EXE
Application Version: 6.3.9600.17039
Application Timestamp: 53156588
Fault Module Name: RPCRT4.dll
Fault Module Version: 6.3.9600.16384
Fault Module Timestamp: 5215e50e
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 0000000000002382
OS Version: 6.3.9600.2.0.0.256.48
Locale ID: 2057
Additional Information 1: 057e
Additional Information 2: 057ea0865c92fe2983ea41e53a704e68
Additional Information 3: 5243
Additional Information 4: 5243798a2a7fe5961b0ec29fa7506c65

Extra information about the problem
Bucket ID: b51cf306695307fa070a709f03aeff95 (85918597143)

dodger46 · Jun 27, 2014

I'll sleep on it and have a rethink in the morning, but may not come up with anything!

chumps52 · Jun 28, 2014

dodger46 :

Thanks... It appears to just happen completely randomly :/

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