The symptoms seem to vary. I thought I had it narrowed down to a Context
Menu problem - it would consistently hang when I tried to right-click and
bring up the menu. Another clue to a context menu problem is I noticed prior
to the problem, I was seeing multiple instances of two menu items - one of
them being Open and the other I don't remember.

Each time Windows Explorer hangs, I cannot close it or anything else with
Ctrl-Alt-Delete. I'm also unable for the most part to work in any other
windows that are open - everything just hangs and the only solution is to hit
the restart button and do a hardware restart.

I've been in and out of Windows Explorer umpteen times trying different
approaches. One time I was able to do a single left click on a directory or
file to select it only and no problem. I was then able to drag and drop
files with no problem. As long as I didn't right-click on a directory or
file, I was ok. I could right-click the Recycle Bin, My Computer and any
devices - but not directories or files. The problem seemed to be just when
right-clicking files and directories.

Ok, so I thought I had the problem narrowed down and I went up to Tools |
Folder Options. Now the File Types and Offline Files tabs were missing. So,
I rebooted again and this time they appeared - however, opening this window
now hung me up again.

Rebooted again. This time I opened Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer
without clicking right or left on anything in Windows Explorer - and it hung
up Internet Explorer for the first time.

I just had my system completely rebuilt for the 3rd time in two years and
this is getting very old. The real pain is that since I can't access Windows
Explorer, I can't backup my email - and it contains important business
emails. Everything else I have backed up. A solution that does not involve
reformatting the harddrive and reinstalling everything would be ideal.

Many thanks.

BTW, I have no problem right clicking files and directories on the desktop or
that are the result of a Start | Search.

"SagCynthia" wrote
> The symptoms seem to vary. I thought I had it narrowed down to a Context
> Menu problem - it would consistently hang when I tried to right-click and
> bring up the menu. Another clue to a context menu problem is I noticed
> prior
> to the problem, I was seeing multiple instances of two menu items - one of
> them being Open and the other I don't remember.
>
> Each time Windows Explorer hangs, I cannot close it or anything else with
> Ctrl-Alt-Delete. I'm also unable for the most part to work in any other
> windows that are open - everything just hangs and the only solution is to
> hit
> the restart button and do a hardware restart.
>
> I've been in and out of Windows Explorer umpteen times trying different
> approaches. One time I was able to do a single left click on a directory
> or
> file to select it only and no problem. I was then able to drag and drop
> files with no problem. As long as I didn't right-click on a directory or
> file, I was ok. I could right-click the Recycle Bin, My Computer and any
> devices - but not directories or files. The problem seemed to be just
> when
> right-clicking files and directories.
>
> Ok, so I thought I had the problem narrowed down and I went up to Tools |
> Folder Options. Now the File Types and Offline Files tabs were missing.
> So,
> I rebooted again and this time they appeared - however, opening this
> window
> now hung me up again.
>
> Rebooted again. This time I opened Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer
> without clicking right or left on anything in Windows Explorer - and it
> hung
> up Internet Explorer for the first time.
>
> I just had my system completely rebuilt for the 3rd time in two years and
> this is getting very old. The real pain is that since I can't access
> Windows
> Explorer, I can't backup my email - and it contains important business
> emails. Everything else I have backed up. A solution that does not
> involve
> reformatting the harddrive and reinstalling everything would be ideal.

See if this helps.

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm
Right-click is slow or weird behavior caused by context menu handlers

Also did you try a system restore to before the problem appeared?

Is the system clean of malware? How do you check?

You should use a drive imaging program such as Acronis True Image to image
the drives to an external hard drive when the system is running well. Then
when you make a change, add software or hardware or windows update or update
a driver and problems occur, then restore the most recent good image and
work from there on what caused the problem.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]