Windows Explorer Error Message

Newbie to the board. I checked a bunch of help forums before I joined this one. I thought this one seemed to have the most knowledgeable and friendly community that I found. I searched the archives before I posted my question.

I am getting a Windows Explorer Error Message that says Windows Explorer has encountered an error and needs to shut down. When I click on the details it is always a COMCTL32.dll error. Here are some of the things that I've tried. I've pasted a newer version of that in the system32 folder and restarted my computer to no avail. I also have ran the command sfc /scannow with no luck. Currently I am running Service Pack 3. I rolled back to Service Pack 2 and did a repair from the recovery console again no luck. By the way, I was also getting this error message when I was on Service Pack 2. I even backed all my files up and re-formatted and reinstalled Windows without any luck. I know this .DLL has something to do with taskbar, and system tray. Here's the kicker. I only get the message when I move my mouse down onto the taskbar, or the system tray.

Here's the other thing... I am getting this message on two separate computers both Dell Laptops. One is a D531 and the other is a D830.

I greatly appreciate any help that can be provided. I can run a hijack this log, or try to provide any other information necessary that could help.

Thanks, to all who read and try to help.

 

Thanks for your response. I downloaded the program and disabled those shell extensions as the program recommended. So far so good. Would it matter if I just left a lot of them disabled?

 

You can leave them disabled forever. You'll only miss their convenience, or in some cases, the trouble they can cause.

 

Or you can start the extensions one by one & see what causes problems. Just disable that. But be warned, it could be a lengthy process as 2 or more extensions might interact and start causing problems.

 

It does not seem that disabling the third party extensions has worked. I have also posed this question at the following forum know www.brainer.com/PubForum/index.cfm?page=viewForumTopic&topicId=7220

I have three computers that I am running Dragon NaturallySpeaking (preferred) V. 10 (I have downloaded Service Pack 1 but have not installed it on any of the three) on at the present time. Two of them are laptops: Dell Latitude 531, Dell Latitude 830, and an eMachines EL1200 desktop. I have been getting this error message on the Dell Latitude 531 longer than the other two. I get the error message that Windows Explorer has encountered an error and needs to shut down. I only get the error message if I move my mouse pointer down to the taskbar, the system tray, or the start button. Then when I click on details it tells me that it is a COMCTL32.dll error. This file has to do with the taskbar, the system tray, and the start button. All of the computers are running Windows XP with Service Pack 3. Early on I rolled the Dell Latitude 531 back to Service Pack 2, but still continued to get the error message. I posted this question also on www.windowsbbs.com and it was recommended that I disable all third-party shell extensions. I did that on the laptops, but to no avail. Here is where it kind of gets strange. We got the desktop for Christmas, and I have just now got around to setting it up this past weekend. It is basically for my son to use, and become more familiar with the computer, but I am also setting it up so that I can use it. I basically did all this set up on Saturday. I got back on it last night for the first time since. Immediately I moved the cursor down to the taskbar to click on one of the programs to bring it up. Then the Windows Explorer error came up. There does not seem to be any rhyme or reason, or matter what programs are running. The only common thing is that Dragon NaturallySpeaking is running on all three computers when it happens. I have run the command sfc/ scannow and that has not worked. I have also downloaded a newer copy of the file and pasted in the Windows System32 file and renamed the old one, and then upon restart, but no luck with that either. Recently on the Dell Latitude 830 I had to reformat the hard drive, and that did not change anything either. I have also tried to do a repair from the Windows System Recovery Console, but no luck with that either. I would love to be able to not run Dragon NaturallySpeaking, and see if the error comes up. But, I am not afforded that luxury because I have to run Dragon NaturallySpeaking because I'm in a wheelchair and do not have use of my fingers. Any suggestions, or thoughts on this matter are greatly appreciated. I am also going to go back to the original forum that I posted this in and make a similar post there.

 

Re:

Okay, forget about the URL. That is a specialty forum for this speech recognition software that I'm using.

I don't mean to ruffle feathers, but I'm not quite so sure what is wrong with my grammar in that post. By the way, I don't use any of those instant messaging clients, or text on the phone.

I'm just trying to find a resolution to my ongoing problem. As I stated earlier I joined this community because I thought it was the best place to get help with problems.

 

Re:

Okay, I apologize. I just thought the reply was a little harsh. As I said, any help that anyone can provide is greatly appreciated.

 

Re:

Would it help if I possibly posted the specs such as processor speeds and RAM of all 3 computers?

I can have many programs open, but as soon as I move that cursor down anywhere along the taskbar, system tray, or start button it will turn into an hourglass and the message will pop up. It almost seems like a crapshoot sometimes it does sometimes it doesn't. It has even happened before when I have not had any programs open.

Would it help if I posted the Dr. Watson log, or a HijackThis log?