Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working Fix

Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working Fix: "

Windows Explorer is an essential program of the Windows operating system. It is one of the backbones of the operating system powering not only file browsing and operations but also the taskbar and start menu.

The message “Windows Explorer has stopped working” is relatively common judging from the number of web pages and solutions that users and webmasters have posted over the years on the Internet.

The goal of this troubleshooting guide is to provide users who are experiencing the Windows Explorer error with the most common solutions and fixes.

Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working

Solution 1: File Check

This solution checks the operating system for missing and corrupt files and replaces them with the original file version to make sure only valid files are used. This helps in cases of data corruption and malicious attacks that have modified or deleted core operating system files.

1. Click Start, and then type cmd in the Start Search box.
2. In the results area, right-click cmd.exe, and then click Run as administrator. You will be prompted to type the password for an administrator account. Click Continue if you are the administrator or type the administrator password. Then, click Continue.
3. At the command prompt, type Sfc /scannow, and then press ENTER..

Solution 2: Scan Disk

The files and folders may be valid but it can still be that the hard drive has bad sectors or other problems that lead to this Windows Explorer error message. Scanning the hard drive that Windows is installed on for disk errors is another option to resolve the issue.

1. Open the Start Menu and click on the computer link.
2. Right-click the hard drive that Windows is installed on (usually c:) and select Properties from the context menu.
3. Switch to the Tools tab and select the Check Now button under Error-checking
4. Make sure that both options are selected before you press the Start button.
5. The Disk check needs to be scheduled as the disk is in use when the operating system is running. It will start the scan automatically on the next startup.

Solution 3: Updates

Make sure your system is up to date. Check for Windows updates (via Start button > all programs > Windows Update) and software updates if the software is running in the background. Make sure you update drivers for the hardware as well (especially video card)

Solution 4: Scan the system with security software

A virus or other malicious software might be the cause for the issues with Windows Explorer. Scanning the system with security applications ensures that no virus or other malicious code is running on the system that is causing the problems.

Check out this extensive listing of security applications. Recommended are for instance Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, DrWeb and Gmer. You might want to run at least one program in the categories anti-malware/spyware, anti-rootkit and anti-virus.

Solution 4: Disable Third party services and tools

Another possible cause for the Windows Explorer has stopped working error message is a third party program or service that might be conflicting with it.

To eliminate that possibility we need to disable all third party services and programs. This is best done in the System Configuration tool.

1. Click on the start button, type in msconfig in the run form and select the Msconfig tool from the search results.
2. Switch to the Startup tab first and remove all selected entries there. Please note that this can mean that a security software is disabled. You might want to keep that checked just in case. It can however be the cause for the explorer problems.
3. Switch to the Services tab and check “Hide all Microsoft services” at the bottom. This ensures that only third party services are displayed. Disable all the selected services as well and restart the computer afterwards.

Solution 6: Check For Memory Problems

This can be done in Vista and Windows 7. Click on the start button, type mem and hit enter. This will open the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool which will perform a memory scan on the next system startup.

Solution 7: Corrupt non-system files

The error message can appear if the Windows desktop or the startup directory of Windows Explorer contains corrupt files. The most common cause are multimedia files that are corrupt. It can also be that you are only experiencing the issue when opening a specific folder or drive in Windows Explorer.

Try to locate the corrupt file and move it or delete it so that it resolves the problems. If you cannot use Windows Explorer to delete or mote the files use the command line to do so.

This sevens solutions have resolved the “Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working” issue in the past. You might want to check the Event Viewer if the problem persists or fall back to a previous system restore point to resolve it.

Have you been experiencing this error message? If so, what have you done to resolve it?

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Convert Youtube Videos To MP3

Convert Youtube Videos To MP3: "

The video hosting website Youtube hosts all kinds of videos from movie trailers to music videos, from educational videos to personal ones. We all know that it is possible to download videos from Youtube so that they can be watched locally without additional bandwidth costs. Furthermore, it is possible to copy the videos to devices lacking Internet access in order to view the video on them as well.

Youtube videos are commonly converted to mp3, which basically means that the audio portion of a video is extracted and saved as an mp3 file. Especially music and educational videos are prime candidates for this process. It is possible to convert the Youtube videos to mp3 for playback on an mp3 player or cell phone afterwards.

Different tools are available for the process, all with their distinct advantages and disadvantages. They usually fall into the categories of online services, browser add-ons and desktop tools. We have decided to review one of each category. Note that Youtube recently revised their API, which breaks many tools that we have tested in all three categories.

Convert Youtube Videos To MP3 Online

Dirpy is an online service that can convert a single Youtube video to mp3. All that needs to be done is to copy and paste the Youtube video url into the web form on the Dirpy page and to click the download link afterwards. The conversion and download of the mp3 to the local computer system begins immediately. Dirpy offers several tools on their website, including a transcoder and mp3 tag editor. Furthermore, it is possible to download the video as well.

Convert Youtube Videos with a bookmarklet

Dirpy also provides a bookmarklet to make the process easier. A bookmarklet is basically a bookmark which can be added to the web browser’s bookmarks. It will send the url directly to Dirpy when it is activated on a Youtube video url page. Bookmarklets work in all modern web browsers, an advantage over web browser plugins which only work in one or a few.

Convert Youtube Videos To MP3 locally

Desktop applications often offer features which online services do not. It is actually not that easy to find a working program to download and convert Youtube videos in one go. Due to the recently revised Youtube API, most applications appear to be broken at this point in time.

DamnVid is a Youtube downloader and mp3 converter that is available for Windows, Linux and Apple Macintosh systems. The program is actually compatible with lots of different video hosting services. Videos can be converted to mp3 right away by selecting the mp3 profile from the right sidebar. The application features a built in search, which however did not work when we tested it. Nevertheless, it is possible to copy and paste video urls from Youtube directly into the program interface. It is likely that the developers will fix the search problem in the near future. The Damn Vid Youtube downloader will also catch any Youtube video URLs which are opened in a web browser and add the videos automatically in its interface. DamnVid is available from the Google Code profile site.

Tubequeue is a Windows-only Youtube downloader that offers batch conversions and a build in search. This has the advantage that the user does not have to copy URLs from the Youtube website into the application. The batch processing feature can convert multiple Youtube videos to mp3 files at once. Tubequeue supports general searches and custom searches. It will display 25 videos per results page. The user can then move none, some or all of the videos that have been found to the conversion settings queue. The output file format can be selected here. The mp3 format is but one of the possibilities, other options include mp4, avi and flv file formats. The selected videos are then added to the processing queue from where they can be converted with a click on the download/convert button. Tubequeue is currently not able to download videos.

Please let us know if you know of free alternatives to the programs that we have discussed and reviewed in this article. Let us know how you convert Youtube videos to mp3.

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The Difference Between Firefox Personas And Themes

The Difference Between Firefox Personas And Themes: "

If you are a user of the Firefox web browser you probably heard the term Personas before as the feature has been pushed by the Mozilla developers lately. You might also know that Personas can change the look and feel of the Firefox browser. But how do Personas differ from Firefox themes then? Personas can probably be best described as lite themes that come with a few advantages but also limitations.

The biggest advantage of Personas is the fact that they can be added to the browser without restart (except maybe for the very first installation to switch from the old theme to the selected Personas theme). It is furthermore possible to preview themes directly in the web browser without installation. Another benefit is the sheer number of Personas that are available; Currently way over 30,000.

The main limitation of Personas is that they can change the design of existing elements but not the elements. Personas do not change buttons and other elements of the web browser. Only graphical changes are made when Personas are activated.

This is a similar difference to how themes are handled in the Windows 7 operating system. Microsoft made it easier to change some standard theme elements but users who want to change more than these basic themes offer need to patch files to do so.

To sum it up:

• Personas: Basic themes that only change the design of the browser, can be installed without restart. Unlikely to break things.
• Firefox Themes: Can change all elements of the web browser, require a restart. Can break things

Personas offer an interesting way to quickly change the look and feel of the Firefox web browser. It is however unfortunate that they are not compatible with third party themes.

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Set Firefox to Use Google Results for Default Address Bar Searches [Firefox]

Set Firefox to Use Google Results for Default Address Bar Searches [Firefox]: "

When you type a non-address into the Firefox address bar it uses Google's 'I'm Feeling Lucky' search to match the keyword with something. Switch it from feeling lucky to showing actual search results with this simple hack. More »

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How Do You Know If Your Download Really Has a Virus? [Antivirus]

How Do You Know If Your Download Really Has a Virus? [Antivirus]: "

Antivirus and anti-malware apps fill an important need on our computers, but they're not foolproof (*ahem*, McAfee). More often than you'd think, they're just plain wrong. Here's what to do when you're not sure whether a download has a virus. More »

How To Burn A DVD With ImgBurn

How To Burn A DVD With ImgBurn: "

Despite being a common usage scenario, the process of burning a new DVD is not intuitive on a default Windows install. The question of how to burn a DVD is often answered with a counter-question about the type of data the user intends to burn. Will it be a video DVD, audio DVD or a data DVD? What about the source files? Are they in an image format, or are they files and folders on the hard disk?

This article exemplifies how to burn a DVD with the free DVD burning software ImgBurn, which can be used for all DVD burning tasks. In addition to the standard ISO format, ImgBurn supports a wide variety of alternative disc image formats including BIN, CUE, DI, DVD, GI, IMG, MDS, NRG and PDI.

Burning Disk Images

Burning a disk image is probably the easiest of all the DVD burning operations in ImgBurn. Users have two options to perform that operation. The first is to load the disk image directly in ImgBurn by right-clicking the disk image in Windows Explorer and selecting to open it with the DVD burning software. The second option is to open ImgBurn first and then click on the Write image file to disk option in the launch wizard. It is then necessary to select the disc image manually by browsing the file system.The user may now insert a blank DVD into the drive and click the DVD burning icon to initiate the burn process.

Burning Files And Folders

One of the options in the ImgBurn launch wizard is to write files and folders to disc. This opens a new window from where files and folders can be added to the DVD.

The left area with the source title is used to add the files and folders. Buttons on the right can be used to add metadata to the DVD. The calculator icon on the right side will display the size of all files and folders that have been added to the DVD. By default, ImgBurn assumes a single layer DVD for the calculating disc information, however it will automatically switch to a dual layer DVD if the total selected files’ and folders’ size exceeds the storage capacity of a single layer disc. Dual layer DVDs can store almost double the amount of data that single layer DVDs can. Most options in the configuration window can be left untouched. The destination menu can be used to select one of the DVD recorders if more than one device is connected to the computer system.

Inserting a blank disc into the active DVD burner will activate the “Burn DVD” icon to start the DVD burning process. ImgBurn will automatically display the default volume labels, which can be changed in that dialog.

The burning process can take some time depending on the type of DVD, the data that has been selected to be burned and the speed of the DVD burner. ImgBurn displays the elapsed time as well as the time remaining to complete the process in the progress window. Upon completion a confirmation dialog about the successful (or unsuccessful) job is displayed. It is recommended to write information about the contents of the DVD directly on the disc’s label surface so that it becomes easier to identify them. We recommend a special DVD pen for this to avoid scratching the label surface or damaging the sensitive plastic disc material.

Burning Videos

ImgBurn can be used to burn a Video_TS folder directly to DVD. Burning a Video_TS folder is slightly more complicated than burning a disc image. Start by selecting Mode > Build from the menu bar. Make sure that the Output parameter in the menu bar is set to Device. Now click the Browse For Folder icon and select the Video_TS folder on the hard drive of the computer system.

Click the calculator icon to make sure the data will fit on a blank DVD, and after inserting a blank DVD into the DVD writer initiate the DVD burning process by clicking on the Burn A DVD icon.

Imgburn in this regard is only handy if a Video_TS folder is available, for instance after ripping a DVD to the PC to create a backup copy of it. However, the software will not automatically convert video files such as avis or mpgs to DVD format for playback on a DVD player. Two tools for converting such files are are the Open Source software DVD Flick and Free DVD Creator. Both applications support tens of video file formats and include their own DVD burning modules.

This concludes the tutorial on how to burn a DVD with ImgBurn. Please leave a comment if you have questions about the process, additions to the article or want to tell us how you burn DVDs on your computer.

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How To Add Information To The Windows Task Manager

How To Add Information To The Windows Task Manager: "

The Windows Task Manager provides much information about the current state of the operating system. It can display running processes, applications, services, PC performance graphs, network adapters and connected users. Although the Task manager does not display as much information as advanced third party tools such as Process Explorer, it is usually sufficient for basic tasks and a first overview of what is running on the computer system.

Many Windows users do not know that it is possible to display additional information in the Windows Task Manager. The following guide gives an overview on how to enable the display of additional information in the Windows Task Manager.

Loading the Windows Task Manager

The keyboard shortcut to load the Windows Task Manager is [Ctrl][Shift][Esc]. The task manager can also be loaded by right-clicking the Windows Taskbar and selecting Start Task Manager from the menu.

Windows Processes

Although it is not the left-most tab, the Processes tab is the default tab activated when opening the Task Manager. The Processes tab provides detailed information on running processes, such as CPU and memory usage, PID and user rights, and in newer Windows versions includes a short human-readable description of the process. By default the display is filtered, a click on the button labelled “Show processes from all users” will display all running processes.

A click on View > Select Columns opens a configuration menu to add columns to the display. Most of the additional information that can be enabled in this menu is intended for developers and administrators, but end users may find it helpful as well. For instance, it is possible to display the path of running processes, which can be very helpful to identify the program that has started the process.

The Memory Peak Working Set column is another interesting column that can be enabled. It displays the maximum amount of computer memory of each process in the task manager. The configuration menu can also be used to remove columns from the display in case they are not needed or used. A recommended setting is to keep all columns that are activated by default and add the Image Path Name and Memory – Peak Working Set columns.

Networking

The Networking tab displays information about each network adapter. Most Windows users will not see much information, if any at all, when they open the tab in the Windows Task Manager. Like the Processes tab, the Networking tab can be configured to display additional information by clicking on View > Select Columns.

In addition to the total amount of data transfer, separate graphs representing Bytes Sent and Bytes Received can be enabled. The network traffic will be monitored and displayed once the selections have been made.

These just two examples of Windows Task Manager tabs that can be configured to display additional information. The rest of the Task Manager can be similarly configured as well. End users will especially benefit from the additional information in the Processes tab. What other Task Manager configuration tips do you have? Let us know in the comments.

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Create Your Own App Collection Installer With FreeApp

Create Your Own App Collection Installer With FreeApp: "

FreeApp is an online service that offers a simple concept. Pick all your favorite applications from the list of offered apps to create a custom installer that will install all those applications on the target system once executed. The idea is not new as there are other services like Ninite which offer a similar functionality.

FreeApp is on the other hand an easy to use service. All it takes is to pick the apps to install from a list of available ones on the start page of the service and to click the Get Installer button afterwards to download the application installer to the local computer system.

The service promises that all applications have been tested for viruses and spyware. They even inform the user about toolbars that are included in the installer.

Programs are offered in categories like anti-spyware, communications, anti-virus and firewall, office software or imaging. Most categories list four or more applications that can be added to the installer. Computer users find lots of familiar programs in the listing from browsers like Firefox over media players like Winamp or itunes to compression programs like 7-zip.

The installer is a small program that will download and install the selected programs. It begins by selecting an installation directory for the applications.

The selected applications are then displayed in the interface. Each program is downloaded from the Internet and installed in the selected program.

Program updates are displayed in the installer’s interface as well which can be handy if the installer is opened regularly.

FreeApp is a helpful service for users who plan to install multiple popular (and free) programs on a Windows computer system. It can be helpful for system administrators who have to install a pack of applications on all computer systems.

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How To Burn Videos To DVD

How To Burn Videos To DVD: "

We here at Ghacks are very fond of the commercial DVD burning software ConvertXToDVD when it comes to burning videos to DVD so that they can be viewed in a standard DVD player. There are some free alternatives that can be used for that as well.

Free Video to DVD converter is such an alternative. It requires almost no configuration at all and can convert most popular video formats to a DVD compatible format.

The program is offered as a standalone software and as part of a suite at the developer’s website. Both applications are free and offer the same functionality. We did have troubles with the standalone software which did not install properly on our Windows 7 test system.

Uninstalling that version and installing the complete software suite solved the problem. The installer offers to install a toolbar during installation which most users probably do not want at all. Unchecking the box will prevent the installation of the toolbar.

The interface of Free Video to DVD Converter is as basic as it can get. There are virtually no options except for the presets where the quality and video standard (NTSC or PAL) can be selected.

The program supports both single layer and dual layer DVDs and displays the output size of the added video files in a bar at the bottom of the screen to give an indication if the user has to burn a single or dual layer DVD.

Files can be added by clicking on the browse button in the interface. The program does not limit the video files that can be added for conversion (or warn the user) which means that it is possible to end up with a size that does not fit on one DVD. This is obviously problematic as it is not possible to burn the videos to DVD if they exceed the maximum capacities. The program does not split the DVDs or reduce the quality settings automatically.

The user has to make sure that the maximum capacities of a single or dual layer DVD are not exceeded. The converter will create a Video_TS folder out of the video files that are added by the user.

It is possible to just create the Video_TS folder or burn the DVD automatically in the end. Another nuisance is that the program will display an advertisement to install the toolbar again when the user closes it.

Free Video to DVD Converter is nevertheless one of the easiest to use programs to burn videos to DVD. Users of all experience levels can use it to create video DVDs easily. The developers should consider to add warnings when the space limit is exceed or implement an option to automatically split the videos on multiple DVDs if the space is exceeded.

Free Video to DVD Converter can be downloaded from the developer’s website. The program is compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit editions of the Windows operating system. A free alternative with an advanced functionality is DVD Flick.

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Microsoft Fix It Center Online

Microsoft Fix It Center Online: "

Microsoft Fix it solutions provide one-click help for problems that are encountered in Microsoft products. The small portable programs are not available for every support issue a Microsoft user might have but their number is increasing as Microsoft seems to have grown fond of these one-click solutions.

The Microsoft Fix it Center Online is a new beta service by Microsoft that offers information on a centralized web page, especially a software compatible with many Microsoft operating systems that can be installed to fix various OS related issues.

The software program is not what users familiar with Fix it solutions would expect. It does not list all the Fix it solutions in its interface. It rather is a independent solution that offers help for many different support issues (and how to questions) that users experience and have when working with the Windows operating system.

The Microsoft Fix it Center installation will automatically identify possible troubleshooting issues during installation

It is furthermore possible to link the software to a Microsoft Fix it Center Online account which can be entered or created during setup.

The main Microsoft Fix it Center is displayed afterwards. Several common support issues are displayed in the interface from changing the display quality to creating a Homegroup, troubleshooting the network adapter or printer problems.

A click on the Detail button next to each Fix it solution displays a short description and the time it takes to complete the troubleshooting process.

The run button will launch the tools to support the user in troubleshooting the selected issue. Those are usually opened in new windows to aid and guide the user.

Experienced computer users will not find a lot of issues listed that they cannot fix on their own. The program in its current stage seems to have been developed for casual users who are having difficulties with their Windows operating system.

Microsoft Fix it Center Online is currently released as a beta. The software program is compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 as well as Windows server 2003 and 2008. It can be downloaded from the Fix It Center website.

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Microsoft And Facebook Launch Docs.com

Microsoft And Facebook Launch Docs.com: "

Many Internet users who want to view and edit documents online use Google Docs to do so. There are other services besides Google Docs but none that can compete with Google’s service on an eye to eye level. This however could change in the near future with the public release of Docs.com, an online document processing service by Microsoft and Facebook.

Docs.com is built on Microsoft Office 2010 Web Apps platform. It will allow Facebook users to create, edit and share Microsoft Office documents directly on the website.

The service is currently in private beta. Interested users can use their Facebook account to join the waiting list and receive notifications when the service becomes available for them.

Let’s take a moment to walk through a typical social document lifecycle. Creating a document is the first step—and it couldn’t be easier. You can start the document on your desktop version of Microsoft Office, or you can go to Docs and start one in the cloud.

Once you’ve saved a document to docs.com, you can begin sharing by granting viewing and editing rights to your friends. By clicking on the ‘edit’ button beside ‘viewers’ when you have one of your docs open, you can choose to add one or multiple friends, let all your friends view the doc…or share your doc with all Facebook users. By clicking on the ‘edit’ button beside ‘editors,’ you can also add one or multiple friends…or let all your friends edit this doc.

Once you’ve shared a doc, your friends will discover it just like they discover photos or videos today. Friends who log into Facebook to see what you’ve been up to will see the docs you’ve shared. They can also see your docs integrated directly into your profile. You can also add a tab to your profile page that will let your friends see any documents that you’ve shared just with them…and docs you’ve share with everyone.

On Facebook, you can discuss a doc just as you would a status update or photo —so there’s really nothing new to learn here. To start using Docs, just pop over to docs.com and upload or create a new doc. If you need a little more help, go to docs.com/about and watch the ‘Getting Started’ tutorial.

Microsoft has created two demonstration videos that explain the basic functionality of Docs.

The beta version supports Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations which can be uploaded, created and edited in Docs.com. That’s different from Google Docs which allow a user to upload other document formats as well.

Another difference between the two services is work collaboration which exists in Google Docs but not in Docs.com.

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