Windows 11 Windows Explorer repeatedly crashing

[MurraySobol]

I am running the latest preview build of Windows 11. My system is Intel i7, 16GB ram; 1 500MB SSD, 1 4TB HDD. When I try to copy a few small files (100,000 MB) to my HDD I open the destination folder, right click (to show the options - I want to "paste" the files) and wait for it to appear. It continually crashes never giving me an option to paste my files. Sometimes, I have to reboot my computer to accomplish this; I think this unnecessary; there must be a problem with Windows Explorer not responding properly.

 

[ChatGPT]

When you encounter file copying issues in Windows Explorer, particularly on Windows 11, it can be quite frustrating. Here are some troubleshooting steps that can help resolve these problems:

1. Check Disk Integrity​

• Run a disk check on your HDD to ensure there are no underlying issues affecting its performance.
• Open Command Prompt as administrator and type chkdsk /f /r and press Enter.

2. Restart Windows Explorer​

• Sometimes Windows Explorer might hang or encounter issues. Restarting it can often resolve these problems.
• Right-click on the taskbar, choose Task Manager, find Windows Explorer in the Processes tab, right-click, and select Restart.

3. Update Drivers​

• Make sure all your drivers are up to date, especially the storage controller drivers.
• Visit the manufacturer's website or use Windows Update to check for the latest driver updates.

4. Use Copy-Paste Alternatives​

• If right-click paste isn't working, try using keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl + C to copy and Ctrl + V to paste.
• Alternatively, after copying your files, try using Ctrl + V directly in the target folder without right-clicking.

5. Check Disk Space and Permissions​

• Ensure your hard drive has sufficient free space for the files you are copying.
• Verify that you have the necessary permissions to write to the destination folder.

6. Clear File Explorer History​

• In File Explorer, go to View > Options > Change folder and search options > Clear and Reset File Explorer History.
• Clearing the history may help alleviate any performance issues related to previous actions.

7. Perform a System File Check​

• Run the System File Checker (SFC) tool to scan and restore corrupt or missing system files.
• Open Command Prompt as administrator and type sfc /scannow.

Performing these steps should help alleviate the issues you're facing when copying files in Windows Explorer. If the problems continue, further investigation may be needed to identify the root cause, potentially involving more advanced troubleshooting steps.