File Explorer freezing when trying to open USB drive

Question

_{Friday, October 25, 2019 6:12 PM}

I recently started encrypting all of our machines with Bitlocker. After doing so, the file explorer goes not responding on most of our machines when we insert a USB drive. Sometimes rebooting resolves the issue, but only for a minute. If you eject, and then unplug the USB drive... file explorer just freezes up again when you plug the USB back in.

I've played around some with the Local Group Policy settings for Bitlocker regarding Removable Data Drives, but I haven't found a solution as of yet.

Has anyone else encountered this with Bitlocker?

Note: the USB drives themselves are not encrypted, just the internal SSDs.

All replies (3)

_{Saturday, October 26, 2019 4:49 AM}

Hello, 

Try resetting File Explorer (explorer.exe) process: 

1. Press Windows Key + R and type SYSDM.CPL in Run. Click OK or press Enter key. 

2. In System Properties window, switch to Advanced tab, click Settings under Performance. 

3. Next, in Performance Options, under Processor scheduling, make sure that Adjust for best performance of: is set to Programs. 

4. Then in the same window, under Virtual memory, click Settings button. 

5. On Virtual Memory page, make sure Automatically manage paging file sizes for all drives option is checked. Click OK, then Apply, OK on rest of windows. 

6. Reboot the machine and see if issue is resolved now. 

Let us know if this helps! 

Reference: https://www.kapilarya.com/fix-file-explorer-not-working-in-windows-10

Note: Included link in this reply refers to blog post by a trusted Microsoft MVP.

Microsoft MVP (Windows and Devices for IT)

Windows Insider MVP

Windows Help & Support [www.kapilarya.com]

_{Monday, October 28, 2019 8:41 AM}

Using bitlocker on the fixed drives has no effect on removable hardware. None at all.

So please make sure that it's not a coincidence and decrypt one machine, for a test.

_{Tuesday, October 29, 2019 7:35 AM}

Hi Michael, 

Any update?

Bests, 

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