What is Explorer.exe? Why does it give an error and how to fix it?

Including a computer, do you often think about the operating principles of the operating system that is installed on it? Certainly not. Meanwhile, you need to know at least some things. For example, for most users Explorer is associated exclusively with one browser, while there is a much more important system utility - Explorer.exe. What is it and what is it for?

This article is devoted to the disclosure of these issues. This is very important, since your knowledge of the basics depends on your skills in working with Windows operating systems.

Basic concepts

The Explorer program (explorer.exe) is the file manager of the operating systems of the Windows family. With it, we can see the graphic structure of directories and files, navigate through disks, create, rename, delete and copy documents.

History of appearance

Once upon a time there was not even a single "Explorer" talking. If you find DOS times, then remember the flashing cursor on the command line. It was the command line that replaced everything: the mouse cursor and the file manager ... Of course, the convenience of working with such an interface left much to be desired, so that programmers very soon began to look for alternatives. Moreover, the "hardware" by that time already allowed to display the graphical interface.

It was from those times that there were file managers like "Norton" or "Volkov-Commander". They consumed a minimal amount of computer resources, very quickly worked, and the number of errors was negligible. But the convenience for users was still very relative: you had to memorize a lot of text commands, and not everyone liked working with keyboard shortcuts. And then appeared Explorer.

In the classical view, the "Explorer" consists of two parts: the left and the right. On the left, all available disks and libraries are represented in tree-like form. Note: if there are subfolders in the directory, you can see a small "+" sign next to it.

Submission of folders and documents

If you click on this icon, the folder will open, providing all its components for review. To collapse it again, click the "-" icon with the left mouse button. However, to get acquainted with the contents, it is enough to look at the right panel in which it will be displayed for the folder that is currently active.

If you have ever used Windows in your work, you know about the icons for cataloging: they are represented in the form of yellow stylized images of paper folders, while the file icons depend on the application with which they are associated in Explorer.exe. What does it mean? Simply put, the .doc document will probably be represented as a Microsoft Office icon.

The basic controls

Looking at the header of the file manager, you will see the name of the folder or specific document with which the user is currently working. Below it is a menu bar from which you can manage the "Explorer". At the bottom there is a status bar.

Context menu commands and hotkeys

Let's look at all the basic operations that are available directly from the Explorer.exe utility window. What it is, we already know.

Create a new folder or document

To perform this action, simply right-click on any free space in the right pane of Explorer, and then select the command you need from the shortcut menu that opens.

Copying

To perform this action, simply right-click on any directory or file, and then select Copy from the menu. In addition, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + C, previously selecting the desired object with the left mouse button.

Moving

This is a kind of copying, but the document in this case is completely transferred to a new place. To do this, you need to right-click on the file, select "Cut" in the context menu, then do all the same in the receiver directory by selecting the "Paste" command. The same is done when using the "hot keys" Ctrl + X and Ctrl + C.

Rename

Click on the folder or file with the right mouse button, select "Rename", then enter a new name. Note that some characters can not be used when renaming. Do not worry: they will all be indicated in the form of a hint in the case of some forbidden symbol.

Delete

Also click on the file or folder with the right mouse button, click on the "Delete" option. In addition, you can select an object by clicking on it with the left key, then click on the Delete button on the keyboard.

Errors of Explorer

Like any file manager, Microsoft products are not perfect. For the sake of justice, it should be noted that she makes mistakes very rarely. The most common of them is the termination of the "Explorer" and its subsequent reboot.

What is the reason for such disgrace? As a rule, the viruses are to blame for everything. They affect OS system files, as a result of which it begins to behave not too adequately. The fight is simple: scan your computer with any of the free healing tools available on the Internet . We recommend using programs from Doctor Web or Kaspersky, which in some cases can even cure the Explorer.exe file.

Restore system files

It makes sense to use the sfc / scannow command. To do this, click on the "Start" button, and in the "Search" field write CMD. On the right side, a window with the found files opens, in which you have to right-click the file with the same name (CMD), selecting the item "Run as administrator".

In the terminal window that opens, enter the command sfc / scannow. After that, the system will independently scan its most important areas, if necessary, restoring them. Of course, the Explorer.exe application will also be brought to a working state in this case.

In addition, Explorer occasionally crashes due to compatibility problems between older operating systems and some new versions of programs. If you have XP, try to install all the latest service packs, then make sure there is or there is no problem. If the error begins to appear immediately after installing an application, it is better to delete it. Typically, the installation of an older version often helps, which on a particular system can be more stable.

Important to remember

The Windows Explorer.exe errors are often associated with device and program drivers. Remember, did not you install a new video card or other equipment just before the failure of the operating system. If the answer is yes, we recommend that you remove the device drivers that came with it on the disk and install them using the Windows Update service.

When the desired program is found on the Microsoft website, it will be installed automatically. And if it was not there? Then you have to go to the device manufacturer's website and write to the technical support about your problem. Again, it often happens that the error completely disappears after installing the old version of the drivers.

Of course, some not very important hardware functions may suffer (or performance will decrease slightly), but it is still better than a non-working system, in which Explorer.exe error always appears.

A little more about compatibility

By the way, speaking about programs, we mentioned compatibility. How can you check such a mysterious and important feature of some new version of the utility?

To do this, once again visit the manufacturer's website: there should in any case be information about which versions of Windows supports their application. Note that new releases of the programs do not support XP at all or work with it in limited mode. This is especially true of modern browsers, some of the functions of which simply can not be implemented on older systems. As a result, internal failures leading (including) to Explorer.exe errors. What does it mean? Alas, but in this case it is necessary either to change the browser of the Internet, or at last to be updated on a newer version of the operating system with improved Explorer.exe. The application error in this case immediately disappears. In addition, the new OS of the Windows family has significantly improved protection against malicious programs, so that from attacks of malware you will also be reliably relieved.