Windows 10: File Explorer in Windows 10 Not Opening Folders

I have 2 Windows 10 pc's, Windows 1709 ( OS Build 16299.125,both up to date. One of them has just developed a problem with File Explorer being very slow opening folders after the first one has been opened. If I open Documents, on the first try, it opens immediately, but subsequent openings take at least 45 seconds for it to open again. The same is true with Pictures, Music, Videos, and Control Panel. After opening them once, it again takes the time for them to open again. I have searched this forum, Google, etc and tried oh, so many things with indexing, turning off Windows Search, making sure usb's were all in tightly, and on, and on. No success! The other pc does not have this problem and I have compared the settings and found no significant differences. I am getting at my wit's end, while 45 d

:)

 

File Explorer has gone crazy after last nights upgrade.

My only has icons instead of full descriptions. I can not get back to a point where I have tabs that actually say something. Please tell me how to get my view repaired? help... Help.... HELP!!!

 

File explorer not opening folders from taskbar

the problem still there after sfc /scannow

 

I'm struggling with the same issue, but only with folders not contained in the OS drive (secondary and external drives). I'm almost sure that Microsoft is the one to blame. Let me know if you find any solution.

 

Please disconnect all connected devices to find out problem resolves if it does not perform a clean boot state.


I would like to have you run a Clean Boot.

How to perform a Clean Boot.

Warning: Disabling items in Services or Startup may leave your antivirus disabled until the process is ended. For this reason I would suggest that you perform this process off line.

Press the

keys to open Run, then type msconfig in the search box. This will open System Configuration.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, you should enter the password or provide confirmation.

(1) Click/tap on the General tab.

(2) Click/tap on the Selective startup option.

(3) Remove the check mark in the Load startup items check box.





4. Click on the Services tab.

5. Place a check mark in the Hide all Microsoft services check box, this will remove the Microsoft Services from the list but will still be running.

6. Click Disable all, this will remove all of the check marks in the Services list.





7. Click on Apply then OK





Click on Restart in the window that opens.

When the computer is restarted it will boot normally.

If the problem does not continue after the restart please do the following.

8. Divide the number of these services and startup programs by two and you place checks in the first half of these, then restart the computer.

9. If the problem doesn't return in those services and startup programs remove the checks and place checks in the remaining services and startup programs and restart the computer.

10. When you find which half the service and startup programs is in go on to the next step.

11. The half which has the service and startup programs causing this problem remove half of the checks as you did previously to see which half has this service. Restart the computer.

12. If it isn't in the first half of these services and startup programs, do the same with the last half of the services and startup programs.

13. Once you have narrowed it down to the last three or four services and startup programs remove the checks one at a time till you find the service or startup program at fault.

Once you have found the service or startup program post it in your topic. Do not take any action until I suggest the next step.

 

Framani - will post here if I find solution. Funny thing, tho, I even restored the pc to a point before this was happening and even that didn't work.

FreeBooter, thanks for the suggestion, but I had done a clean boot - tried it again just in case - no success!

 

I tried the solution posted just in case I had forgotten anything, but it didn't work either. I'm having issues mainly with a 5400 rpm hdd, no problems whatsoever with ssd and 7200 rpm hdd. It's really weird cause the disk is almost new and any test I've performed on it has not thrown bad sectors or mechanical issues.

 

Request: Post a screenshot of your right click menu (right click folder)

Would like to see what shows up in context menu.





Grab a copy of this and run it then right click a problem folder:

Explorer++ - A small and fast file manager for Windows

You can see that the context menu is missing installed shell extensions. Screenshot below is the same folder as in the first screenshot.





If it works better in Explorer++ we can say that it's a shell extension issue.

Other than that it might be a folder template issue.

 

Try setting folder template to "General Items" for all folders, subfolders and libraries. Reboot to test.

Change Folder Template in Windows 10 Customization Tutorials

 

Explorer++ is working a tad better but the shell extensions are exactly the same as in the regular explorer.

 

Do you mean the right click context menu is showing exactly the same options in Explorer vs Explorer++ ?

If so what is shown exactly.

Grab autoruns:

Autoruns for Windows - Windows Sysinternals | Microsoft Docs

Extract files then Right click and run as admin.

autoruns.exe is for 32bit windows
autoruns64.exe is for 64bit windows
Wait for scan to complete.

Post a screenshot of Explorer tab please. Also try the folder template tweak.

Grab a copy of UVK.

UVK - Ultra Virus Killer

Use "Scan And Create Log" button with the following settings. Upload the results.

 

Callender - thanks so much. Explorer++ fixed my problem completely. Absolutely fantastic. You are great - thanks again!

 

Just like John I no longer have any issues accessing the folder I had problems with. Weird bug I experienced. Thanks.

 

Cheers but if you mean that Explorer++ works but you still have problems with Windows File Explorer then the problem is not really fixed - just bypassed.

Sounds like a third party software shell extension issue.

However if you're happy you can use the option to replace explorer.

 

Or if you mean that everything woks now - ignore that last post!