PC locks up when right clicking a shortcut 2

[DellHater]

Have a strange thing happening when I right click a shortcut, be it on the desktop, start menu or in a directory.
This makes windows explorer totally lock up.

Only way out of it is to end explorer task and restart it.

Any ideas on what would make this happen ?

Thanks

 

[bracadar]

Right-click is slow or weird behavior caused by context menu handlers:

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm

Check out this link, it may be helpful.

 

[lhuegele]

Are you sure it's locking up? Try being patient when this happens next time and give the machine plenty of time to open up the right-click menu options.

We see this on machines that have mapped drives or printers on other machines when those machines are down, or when the user is not connected to the network. They have mapped drives pointing to other machines that aren't accessible. This slows down explorer a great deal until a timeout is reached, so try being patient and letting explorer timeout instead of ending the task.

Good luck,

 

[linney]

I too recommend the using ShellExView linked to by "bracadar".

Other things to try if the above doesn't fix the problem include -

310353 - How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310353&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

316434 - HOW TO: Perform Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316434&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310560&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

See if System Restore will get you back to a restore point before your problem with Explorer.

Try Safe Mode (Do you have this problem in Safe Mode?).

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right-click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking. Select both boxes.

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp

Removing adware & spyware
faq608-4650

Try the free version of "Ewido" now called "AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5"

http://www.ewido.net/en/download/

If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[DellHater]

Thanks to all your help!
I installed ShellExView and disabled Offline File Menu context handler and it solved the problem !
Thanks

Steve