What is the Windows file explorer? What does it help a Windows user? How to fix it if it stops working?
Windows explorer (File Explorer in Windows 8(.1) and 10) is the file manager that grants us access to files, and allows us to copy, paste, install, modify them, as well as to manage network connections, among the multitude of tasks resting on its back. It is also responsible for the toolbar, and the desktop environment. It is available in every Windows version, including Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10. If it stops working properly, we won't be able to use our Windows PCs.
The most frequent causers of the Windows Explorer has stopped working are the following ones:
Based on expert opinion, and on users who had this issue, the solutions listed below will help you diagnose the causer and fix the issue with the file explorer, if you follow them carefully, and to the detail.
RAM (Random Access Memory) is the computer’s "short-term" memory, and one of the most important components of a computer, smartphone, tablet, and more. It stores (remembers) every process running on your PC, temporarily, making your computer experience much faster, and sparing your CPU (processor) from searching through the slower hard drives for those processes. Maybe the RAM is the culprit for this issue. If you tried all the other solutions, but none of them worked, you will need to replace the RAM.
Before replacing the RAM, as a last test, run the Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool, which will test the RAM. To run the tool:
The video below shows how the memory diagnostic tool works:
Reinstalling Windows means that you will lose most, if not all the files stored to your computer's memory, i.e. that you will start afresh. If you tried all the other solutions, but none of them worked, consider reinstalling Windows.
Before reinstalling Windows, you may want to make a backup of your files. You can make a backup to:
Please bear in mind that this is not a simple procedure, and that involves data loss. To learn the safest way to reinstall Windows, check out the don't know how to install and operating system guide.
The System Restore feature ‘rewinds' Windows to a certain restore point in the past when your computer was working properly, and system files were intact, especially the one related to the Windows Explorer. Maybe restoring the computer will solve this problem with explorer.exe.
To restore your computer, follow the steps below:
Note: Do not interrupt the process to avoid irreversible software damages and data loss. If you use a laptop, make sure to connect it to the AC adapter before you start restoring Windows.
If you don’t receive the email in the next 2 minutes please check your junk folder, and add [email protected] to your safe sender list.