Windows 10: Windows Explorer Slows and Freezes fix

Hello everyone. I was having an issue where Windows Explorer kept freezing if I chose "open with" in the context menu. I disabled the Windows Search Service and while at first it seemed to help, it didn't really resolve the issue. I then started experiencing thumbnails not loading, entire folder contents not loading, the explorer being slow the green bar at the top never completing and I tried pretty much everything short of a full Windows reset.


I ran system checks, used registry cleaners, deleted the thumbnail cache, etc.


After browsing around online for quite a while, I saw that others had similar problems and while some of the above fixes worked, not everyone's issue resolved like mine.


Then it dawned on me that explorer worked fine until I opened the "downloads" folder which I use a lot. I tried deleting everything in there and it would freeze on trying to calculate what was to be deleted. I narrowed it down to a single file and that individual file refused to be deleted. I eventually got Windows into safe mode with command prompt and was able to delete the file. I rebooted normally and the offending file was gone from the downloads folder and also didn't appear anywhere in the recycling bin. Seems there must have been something corrupt with the file.


Removing the file seems to have completely resolved the issued I had. Every folder now opens buttery smooth and the thumbnails appear almost instantly.


I wanted to post this here as I never found this as a proposed solution and the other threads were locked. Hopefully this will help someone.


TL;DR


If windows explorer is slow and often freezes, a corrupt file may be to blame. Try to isolate which folder has the offending file and once you locate it it will refuse to be normally deleted boot into safe mode and delete it with the command prompt.

:)

 

Windows Explorer Replacement?

are you running IE7? if not that wouold be my first suggestion,upgrade to ie7 that can fix some stability issues with windows explorer

 

Windows Explorer Replacement?

I don't use Internet Explorer, I meant the thing where you can look at files etc. Hotkey Windows+E. Maybe it's the wrong name in english though. *Stick Out Tongue

 

Internet Explorer is slow, crashing, freezing

Hi Albert,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Community.

Method 1: I would suggest you to run the Internet Explorer performance troubleshooter which would tell us the reason behind the issue and check.

Follow these steps to run Internet Explorer Performance troubleshooter.

• Click on search and type troubleshooting.
• Select Troubleshooting.
• Select View all on the top left corner.
• Run Internet Explorer Performance troubleshooter.

Method 2: Follow the steps suggested in this link and check if it helps.

What to do when Internet Explorer isn't working

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/internet-explorer/ie-crashes-stops-working#ie=ie-11

Reset Internet Explorer disclaimer: The Reset Internet Explorer Settings feature might reset security settings or privacy settings that you added to the list of Trusted Sites. The Reset Internet Explorer Settings feature
might also reset parental control settings. We recommend that you note these sites before you use the Reset Internet Explorer Settings feature.

Method 3: I would suggest you to run
System Maintenance Troubleshooter and check if it helps:

• Press Windows + X key.　
• Select Control panel.
• In the search box, type Troubleshooter and then click
  Troubleshooting.
• Under System and Security,
• Click on System Maintenance and Click on Next button.
  

Hope this information is helpful and do let us know if you need further assistance. We will be glad to assist.