2

The problem

I have been using Windows 8 for a few months now, and today my taskbar has been crashing every few seconds. The taskbar will lose all its icons, then they will all reappear in a few seconds. File Explorer also crashes, however all my programs remain intact.

I've spent the last few hours looking everywhere online, and I couldn't find a solution. How can I analyze and fix this issue?

Additional information

  • This is the error event that got logged:

    Log Name:      Application
Source:        Application Error
Date:          08/03/2014 21:55:33
Event ID:      1000
Task Category: (100)
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      Turtle
Description:
Faulting application name: explorer.exe, version: 6.3.9600.16441, time stamp: 0x5265dec8
Faulting module name: verifier.dll, version: 6.3.9600.16384, time stamp: 0x5215f8f7
Exception code: 0x80000003
Fault offset: 0x000000000000abd4
Faulting process id: 0x2dfc
Faulting application start time: 0x01cf3b18fa56ab86
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\explorer.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\system32\verifier.dll
Report Id: 5eb78db3-a70c-11e3-8277-8056f2a58ef6
Faulting package full name: 
Faulting package-relative application ID: 
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
        <Provider Name="Application Error" />
        <EventID Qualifiers="0">1000</EventID>
        <Level>2</Level>
        <Task>100</Task>
        <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
        <TimeCreated SystemTime="2014-03-08T21:55:33.000000000Z" />
        <EventRecordID>21019</EventRecordID>
        <Channel>Application</Channel>
        <Computer>Turtle</Computer>
        <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
        <Data>explorer.exe</Data>
        <Data>6.3.9600.16441</Data>
        <Data>5265dec8</Data>
        <Data>verifier.dll</Data>
        <Data>6.3.9600.16384</Data>
        <Data>5215f8f7</Data>
        <Data>80000003</Data>
        <Data>000000000000abd4</Data>
        <Data>2dfc</Data>
        <Data>01cf3b18fa56ab86</Data>
        <Data>C:\Windows\explorer.exe</Data>
        <Data>C:\Windows\system32\verifier.dll</Data>
        <Data>5eb78db3-a70c-11e3-8277-8056f2a58ef6</Data>
        <Data>
        </Data>
        <Data>
        </Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

    In the Event Viewer there is a 'Event Log Online Help' button which gives a 404 error.

  • The sfc.exe command did not find any integrity violations.

  • I've tried merging this .reg file into the registry:

    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting\LocalDumps\Explorer.exe]
"DumpFolder"=hex(2):43,00,3a,00,5c,00,4c,00,6f,00,63,00,61,00,6c,00,44,00,75,\
  00,6d,00,70,00,73,00,00,00
"DumpType"=dword:00000002

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\explorer.exe]
"GlobalFlag"=dword:02000100
"PageHeapFlags"=dword:00000003

    No dumps where created, however.

|improve this question
  • If you haven't already, go get the latest drivers for your motherboard, video, sound and peripherals like printers. – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 Mar 9 '14 at 2:49
  • This is my .reg file. Is the Windows Error reporting service running? Also go to the registry and change the localdump folder. – magicandre1981 Mar 9 '14 at 6:20
  • @techie007 I have updated all my drivers and rebooted but the problem persists. – mxbi Mar 9 '14 at 10:32
  • @magicandre1981 How would I go about doing that? – mxbi Mar 9 '14 at 10:33
  • run regedit.exe, go to the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting\LocalDumps\Explorer.exe and change the patch in the string DumpFolder. Also run services.msc and look if the Error reporting service is running. – magicandre1981 Mar 9 '14 at 18:52
0

If you have Windows Restore enabled, try restoring to a previous point. If that does not help I would create new user or user profile.

As you have also tried sfc method, if this does not help I believe the only way to fix it is to reinstall Windows.

|improve this answer
  • I tried to create a new user profile, but the problem still occurs on the other user. – mxbi Mar 9 '14 at 11:06
  • I see, did you try Windows Restore or was it disabled? – phoops Mar 9 '14 at 13:35
  • Windows Restore was disabled. – mxbi Mar 9 '14 at 16:43
  • Then I think the only option you have is to reinstall Windows as you have already tried running sfc. Unless anyone comes up with a better option of course, but I very much doubt it. – phoops Mar 9 '14 at 18:16
0

Exact thing happened to me today on 8.1 laptop. Problem did not occur in Safe Mode, so I worked my way through turning Services on and off. Found Windows Error Reporting Service to be the culprit. Disabled the Service and laptop working now. Might continue to find cause for this service failing.

|improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking "Post Your Answer", you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.