Windows Explorer in W10 pro

[Mothie]

Hello.
Any alternative to Microsoft Windows Explorer/ I find it either crashes or freezes from time to time?

 

[Bighorn]

There's a few free or paid for available.

Download File Managers Tools for Windows - MajorGeeks

Manage the files on your drive better

www.majorgeeks.com

Depending upon which computer I'm on will have FreeCommander, TotalCommander or MultiCommander available, my main computer has the paid-for TotalCommander. They all do some things different from File Explorer [renamed from Windows Explorer of earlier versions of Windows].

BUT, File Explorer is pretty much the core of Windows, if it doesn't work right Windows usually won't either. There's a lot of variables involved in preventing File Explorer from operating correctly, frequently could be third-party programs that have been installed, a virus or malware, etc.

 

[Mothie]

Many thanks Bighorn. I take note of your comments.
The problem I find about tracking down which program may be effecting File Explorer is just that. Where do you start?

 

[Bighorn]

I'd first get Windows Defender/Microsoft Security fully updated or whatever program is being used and run a deep scan. If nothing is found I'd get into Safe Mode and see if the same issue occurs. If so it most likely is a problem with Windows and could do a Reset or in-place Upgrade to fix it. Another check would be to open a Command Prompt window as Administrator to run sfc /scannow to check the system files.

 

[Mothie]

Problem occurred whilst using sfc /scannow and DISM.
faulty files (corrupt) found however, sfc could not repair or in the case of DISM, source file missing. Therefore, not able to repair same .
How do I get over (a) Not being able to replace and update via DISM. (b) repair via sfc?

 

[Ron Kelly]

Windows Explorer in Windows 10 or whatever you call it, frustrates me to no end. Half the time I can't even use it! I've searched the internet endlessly for a solution and have yet to find one. I know several of you have had the same problem. I open a folder and the familiar green bar starts across the top and NEVER, EVER gets to the end and stops! I've walked away and let Explorer sit there literally for hours and the green bar never did stop and become available for Explorer to work on the files. "Open With" is nothing more than a title and is completely useless. I do have MultiCommander, but that has no option to "Open With".
I cannot understand why File Explorer, Windows Explorer has worked all these years in other versions of Windows, but constantly fails in Windows 10. I cannot even open many files because as soon as I use Explorer to get to the folder, and then open it, that's the end of it. I'm at the point of going back to maybe Windows 8.1. I never had that problem in that version.
I don't know what causes the problem. It doesn't seem to be consistent. It seems to work okay sometimes and then it goes bonkers again. (like that word?) I've tried everything I've found, everything that's been suggested, and sooner or later the problem starts all over again. Scans haven't found anything. No new programs to upset it. All new updates have been applies. This is version 20H2.
If you can't fix it, either. Just come here and gripe with me. It might not do any good, but at least you can gripe too. You know, misery loves company. That type of thing.
Have a good day.
Ron K

 

[Bighorn]

I just installed MultiCommander on the latest Version and Build of Win10, get this when double-clicking right mouse button on a file:

 

[Ron Kelly]

I just checked my version and it's 9.7. It offered to update so that's what it's doing right now. Thanks for that info. I hope it cures the situation. Thanks again!
Ron

 

[Ron Kelly]

Well, that doesn't work either. Apparently from what I can tell, it activates the native Explorer. It brings up Windows Explorer, and choosing the "Open With" option freezes MultiCommander just like it does Windows Explorer. Then the only way to get out of it is to activate Task Manager and kill the process.

 

[Bighorn]

One thing, File Explorer [renamed from the earlier Windows Explorer] is pretty much at the core of Windows, if it doesn't work right there will be issues, could be as serious as having to reinstall/reset or doing a clean install.

 

[Ron Kelly]

I can see that by what's happening when you try to use another program like Multicommander. When you try to use the "Open With" option, it reverts to the native program, not the one in use. They really need to do an update on that!

 

[Bighorn]

Are you saying Open with in MultiCommander is actually opening the built File Explorer? That suggests there's a problem in your Windows.

I have the paid Total Commander on my main Desktop and FreeCommander on a couple of Notebooks and don't see the problem.

 

[Ron Kelly]

You're not kidding there's a problem. Does Total Commander have "Open With"? When you choose "Open With" in MultiCommander, you can't really tell it's the native Windows Explorer unless you really pay attention to it. But as soon as I tried to use it, it froze exactly like Windows Explorer freezes.

 

[Bighorn]

The default install of Total Commander does not have the Open with... on the right-click context menu.

A note: many Windows-based programs use information within Windows for their own purpose, helps the programmers in how much code they have to come up with to make things work so it's quite possible to see some similarity. What affects one Windows-based program most likely affects something else.

 

[Ron Kelly]

Thanks for the help on that- Total Commander.

 

[Ron Kelly]

Forgot to ask- does FreeCommander have "Open With"?

 

[Bighorn]

Can't recall which Notebook I have it on, neither I have running at this time. Not bragging but I've rehabbed some older Notebooks that several clients have given me for parts instead of putting them in the landfill. They have some value and I've sold a couple cheaply and given away a couple so far.

 

[Ron Kelly]

I'm working on two right now. Have one up and running, one to go.