Another day another problem -> Windows explorer crashing

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Bitlocker enabled?

by seanferd · 12 years ago In reply to Another day another probl ...

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930979
(For the BSOD)

Not sure why this is crashing explorer, but instead of rebooting, open task manager with Ctrl+Alt+Del, and start a new task explorer.exe. Or, in the Vista equivalent of Folder Options > View, select "open folder windows in a separate process" or similar, so if that instance of explorer as a file manager crashes, it won't crash the entire shell.

Finding out why the drive crashes explorer in the first place will be interesting. Have you checked the event logs or drwatson logs?

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Not Bitlocker

by .Martin. · 12 years ago In reply to Bitlocker enabled?

I did try to activate it, but needed to partion my hard drive, I couldn't be bothered, so it still off.

as for Microsoft, I tried installing the hotfix they say is relevant for the problem, the hotfix though, says it does not apply to my system, otherwise they say scan the disk for errors, none were found.

as for error log here are 2 critical messages, both received twice:
- The device Storage Media (location (unknown)) is offline due to a user-mode driver crash. Windows will attempt to restart the device 4 more times. Please contact the device manufacturer for more information about this problem.
- A problem has occurred with one or more user-mode drivers and the hosting process has been terminated. This may temporarily interrupt your ability to access the devices.

otherwise, I selected to Launch folder windows in a separate process.

I'll see how this goes, and keep you posted.

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With the exact Microvault part, we may be able to go further

by seanferd · 12 years ago In reply to Not Bitlocker

but have a look through these, they may be important. There are recommended updates.

http://www.sony.net/Products/Media/Microvault/

http://www.sony.net/Products/Media/Microvault/support/index.html

I wonder if any of these could directly be the problem:
Enhanced for Windows? ReadyBoost?

Pre-loaded with Virtual Expander to virtually store 3 times as much data2 (Compression)

Fingerprint reader

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the drive

by .Martin. · 12 years ago In reply to With the exact Microvault ...

the drive is a Sony 8GB USM8GL Microvault.

as for the programs:

don't use ReadyBoost, don't need to

uninstalled Virtual Expander on XP a few months ago

does not have a fingerprint reader

also tried formatting drive with sony software, no change.

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Perhaps one or more of these may help

by seanferd · 12 years ago In reply to the drive

I'd make sure that all possible drivers or software for the USML are updated from Sony. Also, when you removed the Expander, did you use the Sony removal tool?
http://www.sony.net/Products/Media/Microvault/products/usm-l/dl.html

http://www.sony.net/Products/Media/Microvault/support/index.html#support03

**When the Micro Vault is connected to a USB port, the device is recognized and the drivers are installed, but the Micro Vault drive does not appear in My Computer.
If you are using a network drive, please set the drive letter of the network drive to one that is at least 2 higher than the actual drive letter. For example, if a hard disk is Drive C:, another hard disk is Drive , Drive E: is the CD-ROM, Drive F: is a Memory Stick and Drive G: is the network drive, the Micro Vault drive will not appear. In this case, set the network drive as Drive H:. After doing so, plug the Micro Vault back in and the Micro Vault drive will appear in My Computer as Drive G:.

**My computer does not recognize the Micro Vault.
You cannot use the Micro Vault with unsupported operating systems. Please check the OS
compatibility chart. In addition, the USB switch in the BIOS of older PCs may be turned OFF.
Please read the PCs instruction manual and turn the USB functions in the BIOS ON. (We do not
recommend that beginning PC users change BIOS settings.)
If the host device does not recognize the Micro Vault Tiny, please make sure that the device is plugged in correctly as described in the product package.

- When using on Windows Vista -
The driver cash file for Windows may be damaged. Please download available software patches from Microsoft Online Support site (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940199/en-us), and apply it in line with the instructions.

** The message "Storage device in use" appears and the Micro Vault cannot be disconnected.
An application that is using the Micro Vault is still running. Quit the application software before disconnecting the Micro Vault.

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A couple of checks

by Jacky Howe · 12 years ago In reply to Another day another probl ...

Check the Event Viewer.

Check the problem history in the Problem Reports and Solutions control panel.

Have you recently installed anything new?

Edit: to add

It could be caused by a mis-behaving shell extension. Try using ShellExView to disable all shell extensions that are displayed in a light shade of red and then, if the problem goes away, enable a few at a time until you find the culprit.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html

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event viewer

by .Martin. · 12 years ago In reply to A couple of checks

event viewer only reports
- The device Storage Media (location (unknown)) is offline due to a user-mode driver crash. Windows will attempt to restart the device 4 more times. Please contact the device manufacturer for more information about this problem.

and

- A problem has occurred with one or more user-mode drivers and the hosting process has been terminated. This may temporarily interrupt your ability to access the devices.

Problem Reports and Solutions shows windows crashing a couple of time (all the same problem), some programs that crashed, and device that drivers could not be found.

as for recently installed programs, the computer is nearly 2 weeks old, so everything is new. I think there might be something wrong with FusionHDTV (tv card driver/program). it is the only program that I didn't use on my old XP box

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Did you install

by Jacky Howe · 12 years ago In reply to event viewer

the drivers for Logitec.
Do as Sean suggests and update any drivers that you may find for the stick. Have a look at ShellExView.

Try uninstalling FusionHDTV and if you have a card remove it to see if it is at fault.

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More info

by .Martin. · 12 years ago In reply to Another day another probl ...

it seems the problem is with windows not mounting the drive properly.

when it mounts correctly, a windows comes up asking what I want to do.

when it does not mount correctly, this window does not come up, explorer crashes (Vista doesn't die now, thank you seanferd) and GoodSync trys to, but can not connect.

what is weird though, is that the drive still comes up under safely remove hardware, but you can not remove it (send it into continuous thinking)

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You could

by Jacky Howe · 12 years ago In reply to Another day another probl ...

also drop the amount of RAM that you have in there. 32bit only supports up to 4GB.

Hardware

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