Efficient Strategies to Fix and Restore Windows Explorer- A Comprehensive Guide
How to Repair Windows Explorer
Windows Explorer is a fundamental component of the Windows operating system, providing users with a graphical user interface to navigate and manage files and folders on their computers. However, like any software, it can encounter issues that lead to crashes, slow performance, or other problems. In this article, we will discuss various methods to repair Windows Explorer and restore its functionality.
1. Restart Windows Explorer
The simplest solution to fix a misbehaving Windows Explorer is to restart it. This can be done by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, navigating to the “Processes” tab, selecting “Windows Explorer,” and clicking “End Task.” Then, click “File” and choose “New Task (Run…)” to type “explorer.exe” and press Enter.
2. Run System File Checker
System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in Windows tool that scans for and repairs corrupted system files. To run SFC, open Command Prompt as an administrator by pressing Windows Key + X and selecting “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin).” In the command prompt, type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter. The process may take some time, but it will help fix any corrupted files that might be causing Windows Explorer to malfunction.
3. Use DISM Tool
Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is another built-in Windows tool that can help repair system files. To use DISM, open Command Prompt as an administrator and type the following commands, pressing Enter after each:
“`
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
“`
These commands will scan and repair any corrupted files, including those related to Windows Explorer.
4. Reset Windows Explorer
If the above methods do not work, you can try resetting Windows Explorer to its default settings. To do this, open Command Prompt as an administrator and type the following command:
“`
reg delete HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer /v “Shell Folders” /f
reg delete HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer /v “User Shell Folders” /f
“`
After executing these commands, restart your computer and open Windows Explorer to see if the issue has been resolved.
5. Uninstall and Reinstall Windows Explorer
As a last resort, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling Windows Explorer. This can be done by opening Command Prompt as an administrator and typing the following command:
“`
reg delete HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} /f
“`
This command will delete the registry entries for Windows Explorer. After that, restart your computer and open Windows Explorer to see if the issue has been resolved.
By following these methods, you should be able to repair Windows Explorer and restore its functionality. If the problem persists, it may be necessary to seek further assistance from Microsoft Support or a professional technician.
