Windows 10 - File Explorer won't open

EddScott · 25 Mar 2016 at 18:09

I'm trying to avoid having to perform a fresh install on PC but it's looking more and more likely.

Noticed the other day that File Explorer won't open. At the same time the start button wasn't working either and that cortana thing.

Oddly, everything else seems fine.

I found one solution online regarding making registry changes to the user profile and it fixed the start menu and cortana but File Explorer still won't work.

When the PC first boots, if I'm quick and open FE it does work for a bit then closes.

Under safe mode it does the same thing.

I've tried SFC /scannow and it gets to 17% and fails. Powershell crashes when I try to open it so using SFC through admin'd command prompt.

Tried re-setting the build and that failed. Even tried re-ding the Windows 10 upgrade and that failed.

Any other suggestions before a clean install?

flowrider99 · 25 Mar 2016 at 18:15

I had a similar issue where i couldn't open various Windows 10 apps. Searching the Internet revealed this to be quite a well known issue, the only fix for me was a clean install unfortunately. I believe Microsoft are aware of the issue and are working on a fix.

something daft already!! · 25 Mar 2016 at 18:21

Me too:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18723961

It even affects those on the fast ring. The latest version just keeps freezing for a few seconds for me, every so often.

Don't bother re-installing.

EddScott · 25 Mar 2016 at 18:59

I have network shares running and one of them is down so I get the little "Unable to connect" tag on the bottom right come up. I click on that and it goes straight to File Explorer without flinching. Even games seem unaffected.

Shame as 10 as been fine on this machine for a good while. I'll re-install when I've got a spare afternoon!

bledd · 25 Mar 2016 at 19:34

create a new user account, see if it affects that user too.

foster grant · 25 Mar 2016 at 23:13

So...how is Windows 10 for SLI ?

EddScott · 26 Mar 2016 at 11:30

bledd. said:
create a new user account, see if it affects that user too.

Tried that, didn't work.

The most ridiculous issue I've ever experienced.

If I open Word, go the "About" and go into System Info. Click on "Open" and File Explorer opens no problem.

opethdisciple · 26 Mar 2016 at 12:13

Very odd. Does sound like a bug. But clearly not affecting everyone.

If it was me, I'd probably reinstall, rather than mess about with the registry.

There is another bug in Win 10 which MS still havens fixed.

During the setup process, if you choose to create your account from your outlook.com email, it creates the account minus the last letter of your name....

Work around is to create a local account and then add your email to the email app which upgrades your account to online one.

Columbo · 26 Mar 2016 at 15:43

Yep had this myself too a few weeks ago and the only solution was a clean installation. Its started with the Windows App store failing to open, then I lost the icon completely, then file explorer started to play up.

I just wiped it rather than spend hours and hours trying to fix it. It only took me 2 hours to turnaround a full installation as all my Photos / Videos / Steam / Origin files are on different drives to my OS.

Rroff · 26 Mar 2016 at 15:54

Columbo said:
Yep had this myself too a few weeks ago and the only solution was a clean installation. Its started with the Windows App store failing to open, then I lost the icon completely, then file explorer started to play up.

I just wiped it rather than spend hours and hours trying to fix it. It only took me 2 hours to turnaround a full installation as all my Photos / Videos / Steam / Origin files are on different drives to my OS.

In my experience this only temporarily fixes it - a few weeks later it has started happening again on the system I've 10 on that does that - weirdly it doesn't seem to correlate that much with usage as sometimes it has been hardly used for a few weeks before it starts happening again other times I've been using it for testing stuff over the same time sort of duration of time before it starts happening again.

Columbo · 26 Mar 2016 at 17:50

Rroff said:
In my experience this only temporarily fixes it - a few weeks later it has started happening again on the system I've 10 on that does that - weirdly it doesn't seem to correlate that much with usage as sometimes it has been hardly used for a few weeks before it starts happening again other times I've been using it for testing stuff over the same time sort of duration of time before it starts happening again.

Well I'm hoping that this installation will be ok as its a fresh install, my previous installation was an upgrade from W7 but if it happens again I'll just revert back to 7.