Explorer crash after right click on a file

[cbadoud]

Before reporting your issue

• I have confirmed that this issue does not happen when ExplorerPatcher is not installed
• I do not have "register as shell extension" enabled
• I have tried my best to check existing issues

Repro ExplorerPatcher versions

22631.5335.68.2

Repro Windows Versions

Windows 11 23H2 22631.5699

3rd party tweak software installed

QTTabBar from QuizoApps
QuickLook

Describe the bug

Right-click is OK after a fresh restart of the explorer, but after a certain amount of time, it causes a freeze in the file explorer. Of course, I've deactivated the new Windows 11 right-click.

Expected outcome

Right-click effect should be unaffected and stable.

Actual outcome

Contextual menu appear without freezing the explorer.

Additional info

No response

Crash Dumps

No response

Media

No response

[pyrates999]

just to be sure, did you try uninstalling EP to see if it is still happening?

[cbadoud]

Sorry, I've just had a crash with EP uninstalled. So it doesn't seem to be the problem.

[pyrates999]

I would uninstall one of the other software you installed:
QTTabBar from QuizoApps
QuickLook

And see if it is still happening. If it is, then uninstall the other

[selsie]

This is an excerpt from a conversation with ChatGPT who helped me find that Spybot Search & Destroy was the reason for my Explorer crashing:

Things you can check

1. Check Shell Extensions

• Download the small tool ShellExView from NirSoft.
• Filter for Context Menu Handlers.
• Temporarily disable all non-Microsoft extensions (right-click → Disable).
• Restart Explorer or reboot the PC.
• Try right-clicking on your drive again.

→ If it no longer crashes, then the problem was caused by a third-party extension.

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2. Check System Files
(Because SHELL32.dll is involved, better to be safe.)

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

• Run the following command to check system files:

  sfc /scannow
  

  → This will scan for and automatically repair corrupted system files.

• After that, if problems remain, run the following commands one by one to repair the Windows image:

  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  

• Restart the computer when finished.

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That’s the complete set of diagnostic steps usually recommended for context menu / right-click Explorer crashes related to SHELL32.dll.