Can anyone help with a Microsoft error message?

[Sue]

For the last few months, when I have been using Windows Explorer eg to move documents to an external hard drive, I am getting an intermittent error message headed "Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library" and saying "This application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way. Please contact the application's support team for more information."

When this happens, it is impossible to get rid of the message without starting Task Manager and closing Windows Explorer down from there :(

The laptop runs Vista and it's only quite recently that this problem has started.

I have tried googling and clearly this is not an uncommon problem, but I still don't understand how to resolve it and I'm hoping someone might be able to explain it in words of one syllable or at least non-techy.

It's very very annoying and particularly as it doesn't happen all the time, but once it starts it just keeps on doing it :(

[TheArtfulDogger]

it sounds like a problem with ie

two recommendations

1 reinstall ie to see if that solves it

2 upgrade to windows 7 or Mac

[Salsaboy]

Try doing a system restore to a point where the message does not appear any more. It may have been a Windows update that installed something which causes the message to appear.

[Sue]

Thanks both, that's helpful :)

But it's Windows Explorer, Artful, not ie (I never use ie). I don't want to spend money upgrading - not at the moment, anyway.

[right-clicking]

These errors are caused by one or two things, A. missing files from the visual C++ runtime library B. installed program causing a conflict. Had you installed a program around the time the problem started? try uninstalling it and see if explorer works normally. system restore would turn your system settings back, but also wipe out any updates as well.

Good luck!! Right-Clicking

[DulwichFox]

I have recently Utilised The Microsoft C++ Visual Studio.

This is a package that comes with Vista & Windows 7 and is Free to use.

It is for Developers to produce C++ Windows & Console Applications.

You need a Microsoft Account (Formally Windows I.D) to access.

I am assuming that you have no use for The Microsoft C++ Visual Studio. (Unless you want to learn C++ Programming)

It is possible that you have accidently Deleted the C++ Runtime Libraries or they have become Corrupted.

The Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package installs runtime components of Visual C++ Libraries required to run applications developed with Visual C++ on a computer that does not have Visual C++ 2010 installed.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5555

Foxy.

[Sue]

right-clicking Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> These errors are caused by one or two things, A.

> missing files from the visual C++ runtime library

> B. installed program causing a conflict. Had you

> installed a program around the time the problem

> started? try uninstalling it and see if explorer

> works normally. system restore would turn your

> system settings back, but also wipe out any

> updates as well.

> Good luck!! Right-Clicking

xxxxxxx

Thanks, yes, I'll have a look and uninstall anything I don't actually use.

The only thing I can think it might be is that I had to uninstall AVG anti-virus because it was causing a problem, and am now using the standard Microsoft anti-virus.

[ByteLinks]

Hello,

Try to reinstall the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package. If your system, is 32 bit OS choose option 1. If it is a 64 bit OS, choose option 2.

1? Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86)

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5555

2? Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x64)

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=14632

Also use CCLEANER free. It is a free software used by many computer service technicians to optimise your computer registry and delete all the temp files that uses lots of disk space.

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download

Hope this will help.

[Sue]

BytelLinks, do I have to uninstal the existing C++ programmes? I seem to have two of them at present (with slightly different names).

Or will reinstalling the package automatically uninstal the existing ones?

[DulwichFox]

Click the Start button , clicking Control Panel, and then clicking System.

Under System, you can view the system type.

You will most likely to be 32 bit OS.

Just Download Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package as ByteLinks and myself advised earlier.

Check first if the following path exists.

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC\lib (contains library Files)

Fox

[Sue]

Thanks Fox, I already know it is 32 bit - my query was whether to uninstall the existing Visual C++ programs first, not which one to then instal :)

For clarity, I apparently already have:

Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 ATL update k (string of long letters etc) installed 25 January 2012 AND Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable installed 9 November 2011.

I'm assuming the first one was an automatic update as I wouldn't have updated it myself.

ETA: I just don't want to mess things up further, therefore I need to be absolutely clear whether installing a new package will be OK if the old programs are still there, or whether I need to uninstall the old ones first.

[DulwichFox]

I would advise NOT to delete anything ATT.

Microsoft Visual C++ is a IDE that lets you write your own C++ programs, compile and run them to produce

.EXE files that run mainly in Windows Console or for producing Forms.

It is part of Windows.

Can you actually open the Program. ??

You may be denied access or not be able to use the package without a Windows Live I.D. (Microsoft Account)

However You still need the Run time Libraries to run some .EXE files created in C++ not created by yourself.

Bit of a grey area even for me, but as I understand The .lib files are in..

..C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC\lib (contains library Files)

Most likely to be different value for Visual Studio 10.0

If these files are not there or the path is missing, then is likely to be your problem.

Could be your Library files are out of date.

[right-clicking]

Sue I might be stating the obvious but before you change/uninstall any microsoft updates/packages create a restore point!! There are two more redistribution packages since 2005. I would remove the old packages and then down load these in date order

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=32BC1BEE-A3F9-4C13-9C99-220B62A191EE&displaylang=en

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=9b2da534-3e03-4391-8a4d-074b9f2bc1bf&displaylang=en

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=a7b7a05e-6de6-4d3a-a423-37bf0912db84

If explorer still crashes then you can safely assume it is another program causing the conflict

In order to track down this error you must be methodical and use a process of elimination, check to see what programs are running at startup and stop them. C+++ is used on many applications (Office, browsers, java etc etc)run them one at a time and try using explorer.

eventually you will discover the culprit

Right Clicking

[Sue]

Thanks. Nightmare :)

[ianr]

I don't think experimentally un/re/installing different versions of the runtime library is likely to be hazardous, but may be rather tedious, and slow to provide any useful feedback if this is, as you say, an intermittent problem. I doubt that it'll resolve the problem anyway.

If this were something that happened on startup I'd say follow all of Mouneshwar's advice at http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista-performance/microsoft-visual-c-runtime-library-error/72d434c0-887a-4f17-904e-bf16fb42a0f8 .

But as it's not, I think I'd simply check what your event logs report of any such occurrence: see eg http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/What-information-appears-in-event-logs-Event-Viewer .

[Sue]

Just connected the external hard drive again with a view to trying to transfer files and then seeing what is shown in the event log if there's a problem again.

Now I've got "Windows Explorer has stopped working", and the following message:

Problem signature:

Problem Event Name: APPCRASH

Application Name: Explorer.EXE

Application Version: 6.0.6002.18005

Application Timestamp: 49e01da5

Fault Module Name: kernel32.dll

Fault Module Version: 6.0.6002.18449

Fault Module Timestamp: 4da47967

Exception Code: e06d7363

Exception Offset: 0003fc56

OS Version: 6.0.6002.2.2.0.768.3

Locale ID: 2057

Additional Information 1: fd00

Additional Information 2: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160

Additional Information 3: fd00

Additional Information 4: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160

Not sure if this is connected to the previous problems or something different, AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH :(

[right-clicking]

Hello Sue, Try running a file scan, open up command prompt with admin rights, type in sfc /scannow, press enter

If you're up for a challenge read this article from microsoft's knowledge base

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833#method3

There is a space between sfc and the / make sure you write it correctly !!

[Sue]

Thanks, I'm going out shortly, think I will leave this till tomorrow!

I've eliminated the external hard drive as an issue, as I've just tried with a memory stick and got the same thing happening :(

ETA: Where do I do this from? "open up command prompt with admin rights"

[DulwichFox]

Some info about Explorer.EXE APPCRASH

An example very similar to you is given

Pay Special attention to Reference of the need for good spyware software.

Also get some decent Antivirus. like Eset NOD32 v5.

The Free version of AVG is next to useless.

http://www.appcrash.org/

Foxy.

Foxy..

[Sue]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>>

> The Free version of AVG is next to useless.

>

xxxxxxxx

I am not using AVG :)

[DulwichFox]

Well you were using AVG.

[quote}

The only thing I can think it might be is that I had to uninstall AVG anti-virus because it was causing a problem, and am now using the standard Microsoft anti-virus.

It is very likely your problems started while you were using AVG.

As for the Standard Microsoft anti-virus. ? Independent infomation and reviews are Sketchy.

Foxy.

[Sue]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Well you were using AVG.

>

>

>

> It is very likely your problems started while you

> were using AVG.

>

> As for the Standard Microsoft anti-virus. ?

> Independent infomation and reviews are Sketchy.

>

>

> Foxy.

xxxxxxx

My problems with Windows Explorer didn't start when I was using AVG !!!!

There were some other compatability problems which was why I switched, but Windows has been reinstalled since then.

[DulwichFox]

Have been intrigued by this problem.

I have had messages saying that Windows Explorer has 'Stopped Working' and that it is 'Restarting'

Your problem seems to be as you have said, very common.

One thing to check is CPU usage when you are transfering files.

Also Transfering Large Files or multiple files to an External Drive may cause Buffer Overflow.

Would depend on the Drive Write Speed.

You need to check all settings.

Foxy.

[right-clicking]

To get to elevated command prompt, Hit the windows button, in the search box type command prompt, when you have the shortcut, right click and choose run as administrator. type sfc /scannow, this might take hours!!! BTW go to event viewer and find the event, on the same page is an option to show all instances, click on that look at the earliest date and see what program was installed soon after, it might point you to the culprit program causing the error

[ianr]

I've just tried out the SFC scan on a Vista laptop. The simplest way to access it was via Start > Programs > Accessories, then the RIGHT click on Command Tool and select Run As Administrator. It took less than half an hour.