Windows Explorer has Stopped Working in Windows 7 [Solved]

Last Updated: 1 year ago

If you run into “Windows Explorer has stopped working” in Windows 7, don’t worry. You can fix the issue with one of the solutions below.

When you meet the issue, try the solutions below and then the error should resolve.

Solution 1: Copy file “explorer.exe” to another location

This fast and painless solution may work like a charm for you.

First, navigate to this folder: C:\Windows, and inside this folder, find the file “explorer.exe“. (Navigate navigate to the drive where Windows is installed on. In this case, Windows is installed on C:\.)

Then copy and paste the file to folder: C:\Windows\System32. After that, check to see if the problem is resolved.

Solution 2: Change Settings for Files and Folders

Windows Explorer would stop working if some of the image files are corrupted. To fix this problem, you can try to change some settings for handling these files.

Follow these steps:
(Note: This solution requires you to perform the instructions in Windows Explorer, you can use this solution when Windows Explorer works. If you can’t open Windows Explorer at all, skip this solution.)

1. Open Windows Explorer.

2. Click Organize in top left corner, and on drop-down menu, select Folder and search options.

3. Select the View tab. Ensure the option “Always show icons, never thumbnails“ is ticked as below.

Solution 3: Use System File Checker to Scan and Check your Files

The issue caused could be due to corrupted system file. So to fix the issue, try to check and fix the corrupted system file.

1. Click the Start menu button and type cmd in the search box.

2. Right-click on cmd on the pop-up menu and select Run as administrator.

3. Type sfc /scannow and press the Enter key on your keyboard. As you can see on the screen, the process will take some time until the verification 100% completes.

4. Check to see if the problem is resolved.

Solution 4: Perform a Clean Boot

First, reboot PC in Safe Mode and see if the issue exists.
If the problem also exists in Safe Mode, follow below steps to perform a clean boot to find out the root cause of the issue.

1. Click the Start menu button and type msconfig in the search box.

2. Right-click on the msconfig and select Run as administrator. This is to start System Configuration utility.

3. Under the General tab, select Selective startup and uncheck the box next to Load startup items.

4. Go to Services tab, check the box next to Hide all Microsoft services and click the Disable all button.

5. Click OK.

6. Restart your PC in Normal Mode and see if the issue persists.

If the issue is resolved, it mostly is caused by third party software. Then find out which specific software is causing the issue.

Refer to the steps above to enable those disabled services. It is recommended that you enable several services at a time then reboot your PC. Keep doing this until you find a group which are causing the problem. Then check the suspect services one by one until you figure out which one is causing the problem.

After figuring out the problem software, uninstall and reinstall it and see if the issue resolves. If the issue persists, you might need to uninstall the software.

After you are done with the troubleshooting, remember to reset the computer to start as usual:

1. Click the Start menu button and type msconfig in the search box.

2. Right-click on the msconfig and select Run as administrator. This is to start System Configuration utility.

3. Under the General tab, click Normal startup option and click the OK button.

4. Reboot your PC.

Solution 5: Run Virus Scan

If you have installed antivirus software, use it to perform a full scan and see if your computer is infected by virus or malware.

Hope the solutions above would help you fix the Windows Explorer has stopped working issue. If you have any questions, ideas or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below.

Internet Explorer Has Stopped Working (Windows 7, 64 bit, IE 11 version 11.0.9600.18617)

Any website I try to access by keying into IE returns the «Internet Explorer Has Stopped Working» message, then goes the you’re out of luck screen after a couple of attempts by windows to find a solution.

There’s no network connectivity issues. I have internet access. I can click to links from eMails and go to IE 11 (Windows 7, 64 bit) with no problem. I access and send eMail through Outlook 10 on my computer. I can even go to saved websites on my favorites bar. But any other website, or any other saved website not from the favorites bar gets me the error.

A number of Windows updates ran. I am current with all updates. I have Kaspersky Internet Security on my computer, but it is no longer loading . . . . although there is a note that I have a Kaspersky Secure Connection.

I was able to download the IE 11 64 bit file to my desktop, just in case; but I would think there would be a repair tool . . . the link Microsoft has sent others just shows the files; no repair link; no instructions on what to do.

***Post moved by the moderator to the appropriate forum category.***

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To help us identify the cause of the issue, and then find the proper resolution for it, let us know if you made any significant changes on your PC prior to the issue. Some of the possible reasons why you are getting this error message are corrupted or mismatched system files, a Virus or Malware infection, and some applications or services running on your PC may be causing Internet Explorer to stop working.

Let’s perform a clean boot to try to eliminate software conflicts. If Internet Explorer runs correctly, the issue might be caused by application or service interferences. You may refer to this Microsoft article for more information. Follow the steps provided in the article on how to determine what is causing the problem by performing a clean boot.

Let us know if you need further assistance.

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The only update adds made to the machine were windows updates. Some Dell installed programs that.I wasn’t using were removed. My son also updated the BIOS to the most current version. Since then, however, I was able to get IE working . . . Sometimes it would take 2 attempts to get in to a website, but it was working.

My Kaspersky also won’t load. I’ve been working with then to resolve. We tried the clean boot, it had no effect. I also removed a program they thought may be causing the problem, also to no effect.

If I search for a website in the search bar, it will bring up a list of search results, and it’s hit and miss if it lets me in to the Web page. I’ve been getting in that way. Odd that none if my saved favorites work, as doesn’t the standard Bing search.

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Thank you for keeping this thread updated. We’d like to know if you have already tried the following troubleshooting steps to try to resolve the issue:

• Resetting Internet Explorer settings
• Disabling and enabling Internet Explorer through the Control Panel
• Disabling add-ons

If you haven’t done so, please be guided by the steps below:

Resetting Internet Explorer settings (Important: Note that resetting Internet Explorer isn’t reversible, and all previous settings are lost after reset.)

1. Close all Internet Explorer windows. Select the Tools button, and then select Internet options.
2. Select the Advanced tab, and then select Reset.
3. In the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box, select Reset.
4. When Internet Explorer finishes applying default settings, select Close, and then select OK.
5. Restart your PC to apply changes.

Disabling and enabling Internet Explorer through the Control Panel

1. Right-click on the Start button, and select Control Panel.
2. Select Programs >Programs and Features.
3. Select Turn Windows Features on or off.
4. In the Windows features window, uncheck the Internet Explorer program option.

Disabling add-ons

1. Open Internet Explorer, select the Tools button , and then select Manage add-ons.
2. Under Show, select All add-ons and then select the add-on you want to turn off.
3. Select Disable, and then Close.

For more information about managing add-ons in Internet Explorer 11, you may refer to this article.

How To Fix: “Internet Explorer Has Stopped Working”

Table Of Contents

Though there are a plethora of web browsers available for people to use, each of them certainly comes with its own baggage. Those who’ve been using Internet Explorer for the years are probably way too familiar with the message, “Internet Explorer has stopped working,” but we’re going to show you how to fix that in the article below. It’s frequently a problem that puts an abrupt end to your browsing, and thus it’s something that we want to happen as infrequently as possible.

Thankfully, it’s not too difficult to solve! Keep reading, to find out how.

If you’ve been a dedicated Windows user, then you’re already familiar with Internet Explorer. Even though Microsoft has been touting its recently-released Edge browser more frequently in Windows 10, every single installation of the Windows operating system comes with a baked-in copy of Internet Explorer. It might not be the default, but we can promise you it’s there. And it’s intricately tied to a lot of Windows’ connectivity features.

It’s also fairly lightweight and hasn’t changed a great deal over the years. That makes it one of the more accessible browsers on the market since it doesn’t require a bunch of tertiary extensions or extraneous login info to get its full functionality (looking at you, Google Chrome.) Perhaps most importantly, you never have to install anything “extra” to use Internet Explorer. Even if you’re just cracking open a brand new computer for the first time, this application is ready to go.

That accessibility is, in part, also its downfall. I’m not sure why Internet Explorer is so prone to errors. Perhaps because of its ties to the Windows operating system itself, or because it’s not necessarily the primary browser that Microsoft is focusing on, any longer. Quite a few will argue that Edge is far and away the better product, and I would agree with them. If you’ve never given Edge a try, do so! But where that’s not an option — older computers, and work or school machines — you might very well be stuck using Internet Explorer for most of your online activity. And when this particular error crops up, it means that your browser is shutting down. Sometimes, it isn’t even able to restore your previously open tabs, when you open it again.

Internet Explorer Errors

The fact that Internet Explorer is particularly error prone is one of the primary factors working against it. That, and also how limiting it can be for users that want the expanded functionality of plug-ins and extensions. Google Chrome, especially, has become the master of incorporating third-party solutions to shape users’ browsing experiences into whatever they want it to be. Mozilla Firefox isn’t far behind, and even Microsoft Edge is kicking butt when it comes to extensions and flexibility.

“The Internet is so big, so powerful and pointless that for some people it is a complete substitute for life.” – Andrew Brown

To many, Internet Explorer is comparatively ancient. But it still works and should work when you need it to, without the sorts of disruptive problems that cause it to flat out shut down.

“Internet Explorer Has Stopped Working”

There are several different things that can prompt this error. Occasionally, that makes it difficult to diagnose and fix. But we have tried-and-true steps that will almost certainly fix it. Keep in mind that there are still some outlying circumstances that might keep Internet Explorer from working, which require more extensive fixes. Some of them might even involve resetting Windows entirely if the .dll files that Internet Explorer depends on have been in any way corrupted.

When this error occurs, it usually comes out of nowhere. Your work freezes, your tabs are locked down, and a popup notification appears telling you that “Internet Explorer has stopped working” and needs to close. It’s up in the air whether your work is actually going to be preserved, next time you open the browser.

Ironically, this sort of problem becomes more prevalent as you add more third-party options to Internet Explorer, and make more changes in the application’s base settings.

Solutions

The vast majority of users don’t exactly have to jump through hoops to resolve this problem. It can usually be fixed by one of a handful of simple methods, all of which we’re going to describe below. But since Internet Explorer is somewhat intricately tied into Windows’ larger internet properties, rare circumstances occur when more drastic actions are necessary. This usually consists of resetting Windows itself.

If you have to do that, in the end, rest assured that both Windows 8 and 10 give you the utilities necessary to reset the operating system without losing your personal data — documents, pictures, and the like. However, it can still be immensely useful to make sure that this kind of data is backed up, either on the cloud or off of your computer.

Reset Internet Explorer

There are two different ways that you can go about resetting Internet Explorer — one within the application itself, and another within the internet settings of the Windows operating system. We’ll walk you through both methods, even though they’re almost entirely identical.

You won’t need any particularly deep knowledge of Internet protocols in order to do this, so don’t worry! It just requires a minuscule amount of menu-delving.

Using Internet Explorer

This method works as long as you’re able to boot up Internet Explorer without it crashing.

• Open Internet Explorer, and on the menu bar, click Tools.
• Next, select Internet Options.
• In the subsequent window, click on the Advanced tab.
• Click on Reset…
• Check the Delete Personal Settings box, and then click Reset.

This will effectively roll Internet Explorer back to its default settings. You’ll lose many of your personal adjustments to the browser, but should be able to avoid future crashes from this particular error.

Using Internet Properties

If you’re currently unable to open Internet Explorer, use this method to reset it, instead. Occasionally, when the application has to force close due to an error, it won’t open again until you’ve either reset it or reset your computer — one of which is less time-consuming than the other, depending on the machine that you’re using.

• Navigate to your Windows Control Panel by way of the Start Menu.
• Find and select the Network and Internet option.
• Next, select Internet Options.
• In the subsequent window, click on the Advanced tab.
• Click on Reset…
• Check the Delete Personal Settings box, and then click Reset.

You’ll likely have noticed that the final few steps of this reset method are identical to the one mentioned above, and that isn’t accidental. You’re resetting the exact same thing, between the two, and are only choosing to go about it a different way. This goes to show just how intricately tied to the Windows Internet properties Internet Explorer happens to be.

Disable Add-ons

Occasionally, the various add-ons that you’ve attached to Internet Explorer can be the reason for its crashing over and over. Thankfully, these are easy to disable once you have Internet Explorer booted up, and you can do it right from the browser’s menu system.

• Navigate to Tools in the Internet Explorer menu bar.
• Select Manage Add-ons.
• Click on Show.
• Once you have a visible list of all of Internet Explorer’s add-ons, you can click off any of them that you want to disable.
• After you’ve finished, select Disable followed by Close.

It’s ultimately up to you, to decide which add-ons to disable and which to leave active. If you’re receiving the “Internet Explorer has stopped working” message repeatedly, we’d recommend turning them all off, in an effort to debug this particular problem. If disabling the add-ons doesn’t outright resolve it, however, you can proceed to other diagnostic steps.

Reset Windows

If none of the above steps have helped to resolve the issue, and the error is still force closing your browser whenever you try to use it, this is probably indicative of a deeper problem in the Windows .dll files. In these cases, it can be helpful to reset the Windows operating system entirely.

However, we have a brief disclaimer to offer, beforehand. When you reset your operating system, it rolls your installation back to default settings. This means that any changes you’ve made or programs that you’ve installed will be rolled back as well. Effectively, this means some programs are going to have to be reinstalled, which you should prepare for. And though Windows offers methods to ensure the safe-keeping of your personal data and files, we recommend backing those up as well, just to be safe.

Simply type in Reset This PC in the Windows search bar. You’ll be given the option of doing either a soft or hard reset, with the latter being a more thorough reset of Windows than we require. Follow the on-screen prompts to get the Windows operating system reset back to its factory default settings.

Hopefully, you won’t have to perform such drastic action as this final step, but in the case that you do, it should guarantee a fix for the Internet Explorer crashes. If you still encounter the same problem, after, consider seeking the help of a computer repair professional. Meanwhile, we hope that this article has shown you how to fix the “Internet Explorer has stopped working” error, so that it won’t plague your browsing any further. Any remaining questions? Let’s hear ’em in the comments below!

Ryan is a computer enthusiast who has a knack for fixing difficult and technical software problems. Whether you’re having issues with Windows, Safari, Chrome or even an HP printer, Ryan helps out by figuring out easy solutions to common error codes.