Keep losing acess to explorer.exe and my documents

Hi, 

 

I keep losing access to My Documents and explorer.exe. When I click on My Documents nothing happens. In Task Manager, explorer is either suspended or not responding. When it is not responding, I often lose access to my desktop and start menu. To get that start menu and desktop back I run the Powershell through the Task Manager an execute the following command:

 

Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}

 

It still does not work for my docs. I also noticed that ShellExperienceHost, SearchUI and MicrtosoftPhotos are Uspended in task manager. 

 

MBAM and Norton have come up clean, but I am still concerned. 

 

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks

This seems to be more of a Windows issuemthen malware. Please follow the steps below to help troubleshoot your system. Let me know if you have any questions.

Step 1:
Speccy
Download Speccy to your desktop

1. File > Save Snapshot. This will create a file called [hostname].speccy
2. File > Publish Snapshot. This saves your snapshot to their servers
3 Copy and Paste the link to your next Reply

Step 2:
Click on Start menu
Type command to start searching
Right click on command prompt in list and select Run Administrator
Copy and Paste each the commands below into the command prompt and press Enter key

1. sfc /scannow (best to run 2-3 times, rebooting after each time)

2. (Windows 8 or higher)
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

If any Errors are found with sfc /scannow then:
Copy and Paste the following command, and press ENTER:
findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log >"%userprofile%\Desktop\sfcdetails.txt"
This will copy sfcdetails.txt to your desktop
Upload sfcdetails.txt file

Hi,

 

Every time I run Speccy it crashes when I choose the location to save the snapshot. I'm thinking it has to do with the problem with Windows Explorer. 

 

Sfc/scannow did not find any violations.

 

I created a new username on my PC and that username appears to run better. While it does not have access the full My Documents folder, Windows Explorer does appear to run better. I tried Speccy on that name by entering the admin password for the admin account, but it crashed at the same point as the admin account.

 

Please let me know what I should do next.

 

Thanks

Okay, I would recommend as the next step to try setting up another user account and testing. Are you using the free version of MBAM and Norton? Another option is to perform a Repair install as follows. This will keep all your files, programs and everything. Even though it is a very safe procedure, I always recommend an image backup or at least backing up your important files before performing with the following program. Let me know if any questions.
 
Macrium Reflect free
https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree
 
How to use
https://reflect.macrium.com/webtutorial/How_to_create_a_disk_image.asp
 
Windows 10 Repair Install
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install-winpc/how-to-perform-a-repair-upgrade-using-the-windows/35160fbe-9352-4e70-9887-f40096ec3085?auth=1

Edited by dmccoyks, 09 June 2018 - 08:20 PM.

I have MBAM free and Norton Security Suite. I am currently running the Macrium backup, but it said "VSS-Timeout - Retrying without VSS Writers". What does that mean, and should i adjust something and redo the backup?

 

Thanks

I have never heard of the issue you are having with Speccy. Please try the following for providing the Speccy report.
 
1. File > Publish Snapshot. This saves your snapshot to their servers
2. Copy and Paste the link to your next Reply
 
 
See the following regarding the VSS errors with Macrium. I believe it is related to your VSS service not running. If not, see the following link for troubleshooting or upload your logs for more guidance.
 
https://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Troubleshooting+Microsoft+VSS+errors
 

I created a new username on my PC and that username appears to run better. While it does not have access the full My Documents folder, Windows Explorer does appear to run better.

That is good. If everything is working correctly with the new user then you can copy the old User files to the New user. Do you think this solves your issues or would you prefer to perform the Repair Install?

Here is my Speccy link:

http://speccy.piriform.com/results/CWPxDdpUUAFYXcsoUpCBBLY

 

Before I saw your last post I tried the Repair Install but ran into some problems. When I click on the Windows ISO file on my desktop it brings me to a window to burn the file to DVD. I cannot open the setup file on the DVD because Windows Explorer does not work. Is there another way to do this, or is there something I am doing wrong? I could use the new user, but I would need to convert them to an admin. How do I do that, and how do I transfer over my files and preferences?

 

Here is my Image log that mentions the VSS Timeout is. Is this the log you were referring to?

 

Backup Definition File:

C:\Users\Drew\Documents\Reflect\My Backup.xml

 

Auto Verify:

N

 

Maximum File Size:

Automatic

 

Compression:

Medium

 

Password:

N

 

Intelligent Copy:

Y

 

Power Saving:

N

 

Email On Success:

N

 

Email On Failure:

N

 

Total Selected:

225.67 GB

 

Destination:

 

Backup Type:

Full

 

File Name:

E:\E889ABE0CD60ADED-00-00.mrimg

 

Operation 1 of 2

 

Hard Disk:

1

 

Drive Letter:

N/A

 

File System:

NTFS

 

Label:

SYSTEM_DRV

 

Size:

1.46 GB

 

Free:

1.04 GB

 

Used:

430.3 MB

 

Operation 2 of 2

 

Hard Disk:

1

 

Drive Letter:

C

 

File System:

NTFS

 

Label:

Windows7_OS

 

Size:

449.80 GB

 

Free:

224.55 GB

 

Used:

225.25 GB

 

Starting Image - Sunday, June 10, 2018 10:42:42

 

Initializing

 

Write Method:

Using File System Cache

 

Destination Drive:

Seagate Backup Plus Drive 1 (E:) - Free Space 465.06 GB

 

Free space threshold:

Delete oldest backup sets when free space is less than 5.00 GB

     

Creating Volume Snapshot - Please Wait

 

Failed:

VSS Timeout - Retrying without VSS Writers

   

Success

Volume Snapshots Created

 

Analyzing file system on volume

 

Analyzing file system on volume C:

 

Saving Partition - SYSTEM_DRV

 

Reading File System Bitmap

 

Saving Partition

 

Saving Partition - Windows7_OS (C:)

 

Reading File System Bitmap

 

Saving Partition

   

Saving Index

 

New File: 165 GB

E889ABE0CD60ADED-00-00.mrimg

 

Retention Rules

   

Rules will be applied to all matching backup sets in the destination folder

   

Full:

Retain 12 full images

   

Linked incremental and differential images will also be deleted

   

Backup Sets:

1 sets found

   

Nothing to delete

   

Differential:

Retain 4 differential images

   

Linked incremental images will also be deleted

   

Differential Backups:

0 found

   

Nothing to delete

     

Failed to rename VSS log file, reason: Encountered a sharing violation while accessing C:\Users\Drew\AppData\Local\Temp\vss.log.

 

Image Completed Successfully in 01:51:09

 

   

I/O Performance:

Read 406.4 Mb/s - Write 518.8 Mb/s

It looks like the VSS copy was successful after retrying and your backup image completed successfully.

Success
Volume Snapshots Created

 

I could use the new user, but I would need to convert them to an admin. How do I do that, and how do I transfer over my files and preferences?

Okay, if it seems to be working correctly then I recommend using the new User unless you experience other issues.

 

 

As per your instructions I added another user. I know have the original admin, user 2 and user 3. When I try to view original user's files it says I do not have permission even though I changed it to admin. 

 

Is there something I am missing?

Did you already follow the steps above to copy the old files to the new user?

I cannot access My Documents from the Old User. From the new User I do not have permission to access the Old User's folder. Did I miss a step?

Try booting into Safe mode and copying the files to the new user.

How to Boot to Safe Mode
https://www.howtogeek.com/107511/how-to-boot-into-safe-mode-on-windows-8-the-easy-way/

Another option is to use the following program. I have not used it myself but have heard good things about it.

User Profile Wizard
https://www.forensit.com/downloads.html

Using safe mode I was able to copy most of the files to the new user. There were many files that it would not allow to copy, so I just chose the skip option. Do you think that is okay?

 

I also copied over my Chrome files to get access to my bookmarks and extensions on the new usernam. Are there any other program files or setting I should move over?

I recommend that you Restore the User profile files from your Macrium reflect image to make sure you get all the files

http://reflect.macrium.com/help/v5/how_to/Restore/Restore_Files_and_Folders.htm

I should restore the old user files on the new username, right? If so, isn't it possible that I encounter the same errors as I did when I tried to copy paste the user files from the old user to the new user? The errors said that the files could not be copied and pasted because they were in use.