windows explorer keeps restarting

hi whenever i open folders in my documents i get a message saying windows explorer has stopped working, then another saying windows explorer is restarting. i have tried using msconfig and disabling all options under the startup tab and under the services tab (after first ticking the hide all Microsoft services box) but after restarting my laptop the problem is still there. i am using windows 7 and have an asus laptop if that helps. I'd be grateful of any help you can provide.

Hi paul1, welcome to WhatTheTech.

Try creating a new user account as a test and see if the problem still occurs. If yes then you can logoff that account then delete the account and it's files from User Accounts.

If it doesn't occur, then see here: Fix a corrupted user profile

thanks just tried this but i still get the message saying windows is restarting when i open folders.

Okay, try these next: How to run chkdsk or System File Checker (SFC) from the Recovery Console

• Boot your Vista or Windows 7 installation DVD
• When you see "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD", press Enter
• At the "Install Windows" screen, click on Repair your computer at lower left
• At the System Recovery Options screen, make note of the drive letter assigned to your boot drive (normally C:) and click Next
• At the Chose a Recovery Tool window, click on Command Prompt. You will be sitting at X:\Sources directory
• Run chkdsk or SFC
• If you did not note the drive letter of your boot disk, you can enter bcdedit and look at the osdevice line to see what it is.
• For chkdsk, type chkdsk c: /r and press Enter (use the letter from above if not C:).
• For sfc, type sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c:\ /offwindir=c:\windows and press Enter (use the letter from above)

Let either run to completion undisturbed.

If you don't have a install DVD, you can download a legal copy with SP1 integrated from here: Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River.
Make sure you get the same version you have, Home Premium, Pro or Ultimate and 32 or 64 bit. Note that Basic or Starter is not available.

I recommend using ImgBurn at 4X speed (or the slowest available) to create the DVD from the downloaded .iso file.

You can do this on any computer capable of burning a DVD.

For techies or folks who work on computers: Create Windows 7 Universal ISO With All Editions Selection On Install with ei.cfg Removal Utility.
This will fit on a 6GB flash drive or can be burned to a DVD.

When did this started to happen? Do you remember installing something right before the problem, like video codecs or something? If you did, you can try a system restore.

thanks again! had to create a disk first, and then i ran chkdsk, but problem still remains. is there anything else to try? also, no i dont remember installing anything right before the problem started.