Member Avatar for lollipopper

When I boot up my computer, everything loads up fine; all my start-up programs; everything. But everytime I click on iTunes, Computer, My Documents, anything, it loads but windows explorer suddenly won't respond. I don't know what to do. Will anyone please help?

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Dani AI

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As reported, removing AVG and running a full Norton scan cleared the problem in this case. That pattern — conflicting real-time security components, a resident malware component, or a third-party shell/driver that hooks Explorer — commonly produces the exact symptoms described. Credit to for flagging AV conflicts, to for suggesting Explorer corruption, and to for the file-association angle; all are valid diagnostic directions (back up the registry before applying association fixes).

A concise diagnostic checklist for recurrence:

  • Clean-boot isolation: disable non-Microsoft services and startup items, then reboot to see if a third-party component is responsible.
  • Safe-mode or offline scan: run an updated anti-malware scan from Safe Mode or a bootable rescue scanner to rule out persistent infection.
  • Complete AV removal: use the security vendor's removal utility to clear leftover drivers and service hooks from an incomplete uninstall.
  • Event logs and crash info: inspect Application/System logs for explorer.exe faults and note the faulting module or DLL — that often identifies the offending extension or driver.
  • Shell-extension testing: disable non-Microsoft shell/context-menu extensions with a shell-extension manager and retest file/desktop actions.
  • Profile and quick recovery: test with a new local user profile to check for profile corruption; a temporary restart of the Explorer shell from Task Manager restores responsiveness while diagnosing.

Additional notes and cautions: rebuilding the icon cache, repairing corrupted associations (only after a registry backup), and checking disk/driver health are common targeted fixes. Merging registry patches can help but carries risk — always have a restore point and backup. If malware cannot be fully removed, an image restore or clean install is the safest option.

Prevention: run one up-to-date real-time AV, avoid running competing security suites or unstable beta security tools, keep Windows and drivers current, and maintain regular backups and system restore points.

Recommended Answers

All 6 Replies

Member Avatar for tux4life

What do you mean with 'Desktop Icons won't load correctly' ?
> Do you mean that the program's shortcuts have wrong icons ?

Maybe link is useful for you ...

Member Avatar for smallrabbit

It seems you have corrupted Windows explorer. That is not good.
Did you install any program before this happened?
Do you have beta service pace?
What about virus?

Try fixing Windows explorer by opening command prompt and entering "sfc/scannow". If you have beta software, deinstall it. System restore point might help you as well.

Member Avatar for jbennet

after trying what smallrabbit said, try making sure the handler for shortcut files is set correctly

(before i had a bug where the handler for disk drives was broken so it opened word everytime i clicked it, this seems similar?)

That is a ZIP file, which contains a REG (Registry) file. Download the ZIP and open it. Extract the REG file, right click it and choose MERGE.

Member Avatar for lollipopper

guys, thanks for all your help but my computer seems to be functioning normally.
i dont think it was the program shortcuts.
i left my computer turned off for a couple of days, turned it back on deleted AVG Free antivirus, and ran my Norton Antivirus 360.
that seemed to have gotten rid of my problem for now.

earlier i was reading about a guy with the same problem, except that it was 2004 and that he was using XP. some dude said he had a virus called hungryhands or something. i looked at the viruses deleted by Norton Antvirus but found nothing of that name.

i'm gravy for now, but if i do have problems again i shall post it up.

Member Avatar for tux4life

Yeah, it's NEVER recommended to use 2 AVs at the same time as they will interfere with each other, only causing trouble ...

Member Avatar for lollipopper

oh hahah, im really dumb. its my bad, i thought it would help when the problem began, but it made things a lot worse.
my start up programs didnt load neither did my sidebar. NADA.
so yeah i uninstalled that thing and boom im pretty good now.

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