Avast conflict causing Windows Explorer crashes?

[igor]

If you get another crash, please post some more details about the problem (from the error window - at least the faulting module and address).

[xenopii]

In my error logs, the first problem was Avast-related:

"Faulting application ashsimp2.exe, version 4.6.739.0, faulting module unknown,
version 0.0.0.0, fault address 0x64b861df."

The next one was at Fault bucket 253480604.

Most of the crashes that happened after that were in explorer.exe:

"Faulting application explorer.exe, version 6.0.2900.2180, faulting module ntdll.dll,
version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x000111de." (The .dll on these varies, but ntdll.dll is the most frequent one.)

When trying to debug the Windows Explorer crashes, I would also get these:

"Faulting application drwtsn32.exe, version 5.1.2600.0, faulting module dbghelp.dll,  version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x0001295d."

And there was also one at Fault bucket 00733296.

Eventually, errors like this started coming up:

"Acrobat IE Helper: Expolrer.EXE - Application Error: The instruction at "0x5ad94d42" referenced memory at "0x3443464d." The memory could not be read."

I gave up on small fixes yesterday. I tried system restore, and rolled it back to the day before the problems started. Explorer still crashed, so last night, I called HP tech support. They had me run scannow, which also didn't correct it, then chkdsk. They said that if chkdsk didn't fix it, the next step is re-installing the system. At this point, I'm just waiting to see if the problem persists.

[Lisandro]

Did you install any other antivirus or security program in your computer?
PrevX, ProcessGuard, WinPatrol, etc.?

Expolrer.EXE

Is this a typo or it's really expolrer.exe and not explorer.exe.
Expolrer.exe: http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&q=expolrer%2Eexe

[xenopii]

Re: Security programs: The system came with NIS. I switched to AVG the next day. I've used Spybot Search & Destroy for a few weeks (on-demand only; no TeaTimer), and added the Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta a few days before switching from AVG to Avast. I'm using the firewall that came with XP. I haven't worked up to installing anything that seems too complicated.

Re: Expolrer.exe: Yeah, that's a typo. (Those, I'm good at.) It should say explorer.exe.

[Lisandro]

Please, go to folder \windows\minidump and send the newest (recent) .mdmp files for analysis.
Better if you can compress (zip) them and add some information about the BSOD and the link for this thread. 

Send an email to any of these addresses:
vlk (at) avast.com
rypacek (at) asw.cz

Please, show a link to this thread.

[xenopii]

Sorry, Tech, but I don't have a \windows\minidump folder.    Nothing turns up in SuperFinder, either, whether I search for the minidump folder or for .mdmp files.

[Lisandro]

Sorry, Tech, but I don't have a \windows\minidump folder.    Nothing turns up in SuperFinder, either, whether I search for the minidump folder or for .mdmp files.

Any info in the avast logs?
Any dump file in these folders? C:\...\Avast4\Data\Log or C:\...\Avast4\Setup
Anything into Windows Events?

[xenopii]

I no longer have any Avast folders on my system. I deleted them when I uninstalled Avast (unless they are somewhere other than the Programs folder? Search returns nothing.) I sent a list of error descriptions to Avast support before I posted here, and someone emailed me back, today, stating that he wasn't sure if the problem was brought on by Avast and giving me instructions about how to do a repair using the Windows CD. I've also posted some of those errors here. This is the info on what is left in my error log. All of these, however, are from the past few days:


Error   1/9/2006   9:27:30 PM   Application Error   None    1000   
Faulting application explorer.exe, version 6.0.2900.2180, faulting module ntdll.dll, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x000106c3.

Error   1/9/2006   9:10:15 PM Application Error    None   1000   
Faulting application explorer.exe, version 6.0.2900.2180, faulting module ntdll.dll, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x000111de.

Error   1/8/2006   8:17:04 PM Application Error    None   1000   
Faulting application explorer.exe, version 6.0.2900.2180, faulting module ntdll.dll, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x000106c3.

Error   1/8/2006   7:27:38 PM Application Error  None   1000   
Faulting application explorer.exe, version 6.0.2900.2180, faulting module ntdll.dll, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x0002ae22.

Error   1/8/2006   5:38:34 PM Application Error  None   1000   
Faulting application explorer.exe, version 6.0.2900.2180, faulting module ntshrui.dll, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x000020ba.

Error   1/8/2006   4:47:40 PM Application Error  (100)   1000   
Faulting application drwtsn32.exe, version 5.1.2600.0, faulting module dbghelp.dll, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x0001295d.

Error   1/8/2006   11:28:45 AM  Application Error (100)   1000   
Faulting application drwtsn32.exe, version 5.1.2600.0, faulting module dbghelp.dll, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x0001295d.

Error   1/8/2006   11:28:36 AM  Application Error  None   1000   
Faulting application explorer.exe, version 6.0.2900.2180, faulting module ntdll.dll, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x0001220d.

Error   1/7/2006   11:59:04 AM  Application Error  None   1000   
Faulting application explorer.exe, version 6.0.2900.2180, faulting module ntshrui.dll, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x0000162f.

Error   1/7/2006   11:53:38 AM  Application Error  (100)   1000   
Faulting application drwtsn32.exe, version 5.1.2600.0, faulting module dbghelp.dll, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x0001295d.

Error   1/7/2006   11:53:27 AM   Application Error  None   1000   
Faulting application explorer.exe, version 6.0.2900.2180, faulting module ntdll.dll, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x00011f52.

Error   1/7/2006   8:19:13 AM  Application Error  None   1000   
Faulting application explorer.exe, version 6.0.2900.2180, faulting module ntdll.dll, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x0002ae22.

Error   1/6/2006   7:03:38 PM  Application Error  (100)   1000   
Faulting application drwtsn32.exe, version 5.1.2600.0, faulting module dbghelp.dll, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x0001295d.

Error   1/6/2006   6:46:12 PM  Application Error  None   1000   
Faulting application explorer.exe, version 6.0.2900.2180, faulting module ntdll.dll, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x000111de.

Error   1/6/2006   1:17:06 PM   Application Error  (100)   1000   
Faulting application drwtsn32.exe, version 5.1.2600.0, faulting module dbghelp.dll, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x0001295d.

Error   1/6/2006   1:16:56 PM  Application Error  None   1000   
Faulting application explorer.exe, version 6.0.2900.2180, faulting module uxtheme.dll, version 6.0.2900.2180, fault address 0x00002d80.

I'll email the guy who answered me today, with this info and a link to this thread. I still think it's suspicious that the problems began not long after installing Avast, but I don't see how that trigger could still be effecting my system after the system restore (to before I installed Avast) and the chkdsk repair. Again, I appreciate the help, and your patience. Sorry I don't understand  more about what I need to do.

[Vlk]

When Explorer crashes, you're given the chance to send the error information to Microsoft, right? Are you doing this? Because in some cases, it tells you the source of the problem (if known) after submitting the info.


If not, please start the "drwtsn32" program (just type drwtsn32 in the Run dialog), confirm with OK.
When Explorer crashes, a dump file should get generated (its path is visible in the DrWtsn32 GUI). Please send me that file for analysis.

Thanks
Vlk

[cowland]

I just got hit with the same problem 3 days ago after an Avast update.  I've never had another anti-virus program except Avast Home on this machine, and Windows Firewall as the only firewall.  So no nasty Norton problems - I learned that lesson years ago.  When I have the Avast On-Access Scanner on, it crashes IE, Netscape, and Opera within 2-3 web pages.  When I turn it off, I can surf forever without a problem.  Any ideas?

I'm attaching my latest drwtsn32.log file in case that helps.

Thanks for any help I can get - I don't want to have to go to some other anti-virus program!!!