Windows Explorer is not responding

If not already tried, temporarily turn off antivirus/security programs.

Have you tried running HiJackThis to see if there is some unwanted hack, malware, addon thats affecting Explorer?

It could be a virus - scan as suggested above.

It could be an issue with the operating system - Run SFC /SCANNOW in an Admin Command prompt. Restart and see if that corrects the issue.

@Peter, I ran Malwarebytes and it found nothing.  If I run HijackThis, do I download and run it in my regular session, or do I need to do it in Safe Mode? Also, can you paste an idiot proof link to HijackThis?

@John, I"ll try SFC /SCANNOW  and report back shortly.

@John, after running SFC /SCANNOW is said it did not find any integrity violations

When Explorer slows down, are you trying to access a network drive that is busy or orphaned (not there)?

Try running disk cleanup (Admin Tools), although many temp files will not normally slow down Windows Explorer if you are not looking in the temp folder.

Also check your hard drive for errors as disk errors could cause what you have.

Seems random, but does it many times every day.  I am VPN'd to our home office.  It doesn't seem to be the shared drive causing it, as I am usually not accessing the shared drive.  I am running a RDP session to another computer and have that up all day. I have Outlook 2007 up all day and IE11 and Ninja charts running. Sometimes I run Jing and have noticed when I shoot a screen shot, many times it does the Windows Explorer not responding thing after shooting a screen shot, but, it also does it randomly many times during the day even if I have not shot any screen shots.

How do I check hard drive for errors?

Also, went to Control Panel>Administrative Tool, but not seeing a Disk Cleanup in there.

And to further clarify, when Windows Explorer not responding thing happens, all my applications are fine. I can do anything in any of my apps, I just can't get to the Start menu.  I can launch other apps by doing to the desktop icons and clicking on Word doc, Excel doc, PDF doc, etc and the stuff opens and runs normally, I just can't get to the Start menu...not sure if I said that well what I mean is, everything runs normally while the Windows Explorer not responding thing is happening, so, that seem like something unique.

when Windows Explorer not responding thing happens ...   I just can't get to the Start menu

I know. That is why I suggested SFC earlier.

For Windows 7 Pro, Disk Cleanup should be in Admin Tools and I do not know why not. It is on all my machines.

For hard drive test, go the computer manufacturer's Support Site and see if they have a drive test application. Lenovo does. If not, determine the drive type in Device Manager, find the name and Google for a drive test tool.

Back to the first points, the next thing beyond SFC is Windows 7 Repair Install. You need the Windows 7 DVD for this and select Repair when it starts. It should keep your data and applications, but back up first. Here is a Seven Forums tutorial to assist.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

The main reason for Windows Explorer is not responding is as follows:-

When you try to access a resource which can be a network drive, a folder or files in hard disk, there are errors on permission, network or disk corruption. However, the OS is not smart enough and despite of the errors, it continues to try to access the resources which will be eventually caused the explorer.exe process (Windows Explorer) to be stopped and you will see the message of "Windows Explorer is not responding". For example, when a DVD data disc is corrupted and when you try to load it, you will see the message of "Windows Explorer is not responding".

In your situation, you need to check the event viewer to see why explorer.exe process is stopped.

it looks like your disk is sleeping, and you need to wait while it runs up to speed
so check it's settings in power management - and test by setting it to never sleep

@Jackie Man, how do I check the event viewer to see why explorer.exe process is stopped?

@Peter,  can you paste  an idiot proof link for the download for HiJack this?  I went to the link you supplied above, but I don't see a download there.

@nobus and John, I think it has to do with a shared drive. I can make it do the "stopped responding thing by saving a file to the shared drive and it will hang for a few minutes.  But, it will also just randomly "stopped responding" throughout the day.

Hi John,

I ran NET USE and there is only the one shared drive.

How do I turn Persistence OFF?  Or, are you saying to delete the shared drive and re-map it?

Seems to be better the last couple of days, though I am not sure which of the solutions helped. I'll plan to ping this question again if it starts acting up again.  Thanks for the help!

You are very welcome and let us know if we can help further.

Download the Hijack this program from Trend Micro website:
http://www.trendmicro.co.uk/products/free-tools-and-services/

@Peter, thanks for that...here is the logfile

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.5
Scan saved at 7:47:34 AM, on 12/29/2015
Platform: Windows 7 SP1 (WinNT 6.00.3505)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v11.0 (11.00.9600.17280)

FIREFOX: 28.0 (en-US)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Users\jess\AppData\Local\join.me.launcher\join.me.launcher.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver\Application\iusb3mon.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Marvell\storage\tray\MarvellTray.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\acrotray.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\ToolboxFX\bin\HPTLBXFX.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\HP Software Update\hpwuschd2.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology\IAStorIcon.exe
C:\Program Files\JSServices\JSDesktop\JSDesktop.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\OUTLOOK.EXE
C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\Users\jess\Desktop\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://companyweb
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://contusodc3:1234/sirr/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=255141
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=255141
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = C:\Windows\SysWOW64\blank.htm
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In SSV Helper - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.8.0_31\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live ID Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Conversion Toolbar Helper - {AE7CD045-E861-484f-8273-0445EE161910} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll
O2 - BHO: SkypeIEPluginBHO - {AE805869-2E5C-4ED4-8F7B-F1F7851A4497} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Toolbars\Internet Explorer\SkypeIEPlugin.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.8.0_31\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Adobe PDF - {47833539-D0C5-4125-9FA8-0819E2EAAC93} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSScheduler] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe" -start
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [USB3MON] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver\Application\iusb3mon.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSUTray] C:\Program Files (x86)\Marvell\storage\tray\MarvellTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Acrobat Assistant 8.0] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\Acrotray.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StartCCC] "C:\Program Files (x86)\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLIStart.exe" MSRun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ihccontrol] C:\Program Files (x86)\Instant Housecall\InstantHousecall.exe -controlservice -slave -nosplash
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ToolboxFX] "C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\ToolboxFX\bin\HPTLBXFX.exe" /enum:on /alerts:on /notifications:on /fl:on /fr:on /appData:on /tmcp:on
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] C:\Program Files (x86)\Hp\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ISUSPM Startup] C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\INSTAL~1\UPDATE~1\ISUSPM.exe -startup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [join.me.launcher] C:\Users\jess\AppData\Local\join.me.launcher\join.me.launcher.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\RunOnce: [FlashPlayerUpdate] C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashUtil64_18_0_0_209_ActiveX.exe -update activex
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Acrobat Speed Launcher.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Acrobat Synchronizer.lnk = C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AdobeCollabSync.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: Append to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert link target to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert link target to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selected links to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECaptureSelLinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selected links to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppendSelLinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selection to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selection to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Se&nd to OneNote - res://C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 15\Root\Office15\ONBttnIE.dll/105
O9 - Extra button: Skype Click to Call settings - {898EA8C8-E7FF-479B-8935-AEC46303B9E5} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Toolbars\Internet Explorer\SkypeIEPlugin.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files (x86)\common files\microsoft shared\windows live\wlidnsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files (x86)\common files\microsoft shared\windows live\wlidnsp.dll
O11 - Options group: [ACCELERATED_GRAPHICS] Accelerated graphics
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://www.hilton.com
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {E06E2E99-0AA1-11D4-ABA6-0060082AA75C} (GpcContainer Class) - https://akamaicdn.webex.com/client/WBXclient-T27L10NSP32_CP21-15858/webex/ieatgpc1.cab
O16 - DPF: {FD0B6769-6490-4A91-AA0A-B5AE0DC75AC9} (Performance Viewer Activex Control) - https://secure.logmein.com//activex/ractrl.cab?lmi=2063
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: Domain = contuso.local
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{CB9F7016-30DF-41E5-A3A1-C6ED6E6B8729}: NameServer = 192.168.50.21 192.168.50.45
O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: Domain = contuso.local
O17 - HKLM\System\CS2\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: Domain = contuso.local
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O18 - Protocol: skypec2c - {91774881-D725-4E58-B298-07617B9B86A8} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Toolbars\Internet Explorer\SkypeIEPlugin.dll
O18 - Protocol: wlpg - {E43EF6CD-A37A-4A9B-9E6F-83F89B8E6324} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Photo Gallery\AlbumDownloadProtocolHandler.dll
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Alg.exe,-112 (ALG) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\alg.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: AMD External Events Utility - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\atiesrxx.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: AppleChargerSrv - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\AppleChargerSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Intel(R) Content Protection HECI Service (cphs) - Intel Corporation - C:\Windows\SysWow64\IntelCpHeciSvc.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\efssvc.dll,-100 (EFS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\fxsresm.dll,-118 (Fax) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\fxssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Macrovision Europe Ltd. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: GoToAssist Corporate (GoToAssist) - Citrix Online, a division of Citrix Systems, Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\GoToAssist Corporate\1121\G2AC_Service.exe
O23 - Service: HP LaserJet Service - HP - C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\HPLaserJetService\HPLaserJetService.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology (IAStorDataMgrSvc) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology\IAStorDataMgrSvc.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\ieetwcollectorres.dll,-1000 (IEEtwCollectorService) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\IEEtwCollector.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Instant Housecall Service (IHCserver) - Instant Housecall - C:\Program Files (x86)\Instant Housecall\InstantHousecall.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) Capability Licensing Service Interface - Intel(R) Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\iCLS Client\HeciServer.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) Capability Licensing Service TCP IP Interface - Intel(R) Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\iCLS Client\SocketHeciServer.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) PROSet Monitoring Service - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\IProsetMonitor.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Intel(R) Dynamic Application Loader Host Interface Service (jhi_service) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\DAL\jhi_service.exe
O23 - Service: @keyiso.dll,-100 (KeyIso) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: LMIGuardianSvc - LogMeIn, Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\LogMeIn\x64\LMIGuardianSvc.exe
O23 - Service: LogMeIn Maintenance Service (LMIMaint) - LogMeIn, Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\LogMeIn\x64\RaMaint.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) Management and Security Application Local Management Service (LMS) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\LMS\LMS.exe
O23 - Service: LogMeIn - LogMeIn, Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\LogMeIn\x64\LogMeIn.exe
O23 - Service: M4-Service - Unknown owner - C:\Users\jess\AppData\Local\Mikogo4\Viewer\Service\M4-Service.exe
O23 - Service: Marvell Storage Management Service (Marvell Storage Management) - Marvell - C:\Program Files (x86)\Marvell\storage\svc\mvraidsvc.exe
O23 - Service: MBAMService - Malwarebytes - C:\Program Files (x86)\Malwarebytes Anti-Malware\mbamservice.exe
O23 - Service: Mozilla Maintenance Service (MozillaMaintenance) - Mozilla Foundation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Maintenance Service\maintenanceservice.exe
O23 - Service: @comres.dll,-2797 (MSDTC) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\msdtc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: MSU Web Service (MSUWebService) - Apache Software Foundation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Marvell\storage\Apache2\bin\httpd.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\netlogon.dll,-102 (Netlogon) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Nalpeiron Licensing Service (nlsX86cc) - Nalpeiron Ltd. - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\nlssrv32.exe
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\psbase.dll,-300 (ProtectedStorage) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\Locator.exe,-2 (RpcLocator) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\locator.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\samsrv.dll,-1 (SamSs) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Skype Updater (SkypeUpdate) - Skype Technologies - C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Updater\Updater.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\snmptrap.exe,-3 (SNMPTRAP) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\snmptrap.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1 (Spooler) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\sppsvc.exe,-101 (sppsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\sppsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\ui0detect.exe,-101 (UI0Detect) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\UI0Detect.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vaultsvc.dll,-1003 (VaultSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vds.exe,-100 (vds) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\vds.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\vssvc.exe,-102 (VSS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\vssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Wat\WatUX.exe,-601 (WatAdminSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\Wat\WatAdminSvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\wbengine.exe,-104 (wbengine) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbengine.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%Systemroot%\system32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe,-110 (wmiApSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbem\WmiApSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe,-101 (WMPNetworkSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe (file missing)

--
End of file - 14030 bytes

Acrobat 8.0 is not compatible with Windows 7.

@Jackie Man.   Thanks for the comment. I haven't noticed any issues with Acrobat 8.0 on this machine.  The issue seems to come up when I email an attached file from a shared drive, or when I shoot a pic with Jing and view the link in IE11, or after I save a file to the shared drive, or just randomly when I haven't done anything, the Windows Explorer not responding thing goes on for a few minutes.

Acrobat 8 did not work on Vista 64-bit and Adobe upgraded me to V9 for free. That was 6 years ago and Adobe less than V10 is out of support.

Agreed.

Uninstall Acrobat 8 is the only option as it will add an add-on in IE11 and whenever IE11 starts, the add-on will crash your OS.