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When trying to change folder/library properties, file explorer closes

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Friday, May 10, 2019 1:34 PM

When trying to change properties of "images", or "videos", for instance, I right click the icon "videos"/"images", then "Properties" and file explorer closes. I just wanted to include/exclude some folders to "images" and "videos", but I haven't succeeded since I can't open the properties window because file explorer closes.

Any ideas?

I am using Windows 10 x64, updated

All replies (8)

Wednesday, May 15, 2019 1:11 AM âś…Answered | 1 vote

If you log on to your machine with a different account, does it have the same problem? That will tell us if you have a machine wide problem, or something that is related just to your account. 

Does the explorer window just close or does the process crash?

From an admin command prompt run "tasklist | findstr -i explorer.exe". Then recreate your problem. Run the tasklist command again and see if the pid number changes.

C:\Windows>tasklist | findstr -i explorer.exe
explorer.exe                  6228 Console                    1    169,624 K 

If it crashes then we can get a dump and analyze it.

In the meantime, download and run autoruns. 

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns

Look at the Explorer tab. 

Start by looking for "File not found errors". If you find any, right click the entry and select copy. Paste the info back here so we can research it.

I'm not 100% sure on this, but I think that the entries that you want to focus on are PropertySheetHandlers. I found 3 sections. Start with these entries.

HKLM\Software\Classes\Directory\Shellex\PropertySheetHandlers   
HKLM\Software\Classes\AllFileSystemObjects\ShellEx\PropertySheetHandlers 
HKLM\Software\Classes\\ShellEx\PropertySheetHandlers     

If you see any entries that are not labeled "Microsoft Corporation", you can temporarily disable them by unchecking the box on the entry. Do that and see if your problem goes away. You can reenable them if that doesn't fix it.  

If you see entries for software that you know that you have uninstalled, you can uncheck those too. 

As KeithM_60601 pointed out, there may be problems with other extensions. Look over the other enties. If you suddenly realize that "this was working right up to the point that I installed xxxxxxx", then disable any entries for xxxxx and test. 

Saturday, May 11, 2019 4:31 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]

Saturday, May 11, 2019 6:42 PM

When trying to change properties of "images", or "videos", for instance, I right click the icon "videos"/"images", then "Properties" and file explorer closes. I just wanted to include/exclude some folders to "images" and "videos", but I haven't succeeded since I can't open the properties window because file explorer closes.

Any ideas?

I am using Windows 10 x64, updated

You mention including/excluding folders are you working with Libraries?

Right-click issues in Explorer are often the result of shell extensions added by non-Microsft software. Have you tried in Safe Mode?

Keith

Monday, May 13, 2019 6:44 AM

Hi,

 

Have you tried running the native System File Checker to see if it finds any issues?

 

Run sfc /scannow to see what it produces in the way of information.

 

Also you could refer to the following link for solutions:

Fix Right click properties not working/opening in Windows 10

 

Note: This is a third-party link and we do not have any guarantees on this website. And Microsoft does not make any guarantees about the content.

 

I hope this can help.

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help.
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Tuesday, May 14, 2019 11:45 PM

Thanks, but it didn't work.

ademarfj

Tuesday, May 14, 2019 11:45 PM

Thanks, but it didn't work.

ademarfj

Tuesday, May 14, 2019 11:57 PM

I guess I am working with libraries. When I click on "images", for instance, it shows some predefined folders. But those are not the ones where I keep my photos. I would like to change that. I tried booting in safe mode, but it didn't work. When I right click either on "images" or "videos" and then on "properties", file explorer shuts down.

ademarfj

Wednesday, May 15, 2019 1:15 PM

Thanks, it worked. I ran autorun, disabled some extensions and it worked. I am not sure which extension is reponsible for the issue yet since I have not tried one by one, but I will do it.

ademarfj