windows 7 explorer freezing ?

[circlingsky]

I'm another Dell user with Win 7 64bit and Avast 4.8, I have the same problem, here's a copy of the posts to http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7files/thread/08118bac-3ef1-4208-8192-d8252d7cc660

When I first start Control Panel, the Control Panel windows says "not responding", I then get the Windows dialog asking to restart the app etc.  After the Explorer restart I can access the Control Panel functions without a problem (thankfully).  This problem is 100% repeatable after logging in.

The Windows Event Log details are as follows:
The program Explorer.EXE version 6.1.7600.16404 stopped interacting with Windows and was closed. To see if more information about the problem is available, check the problem history in the Action Center control panel.
 Process ID: ae0
 Start Time: 01ca99bb77a8fa90
 Termination Time: 0
 Application Path: C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
 Report Id: 619fe1b6-05dc-11df-b48f-0024e8f2bcb4

The problem only happens after a restart, not if I restart Explorer then logout and login.  I used the Win 7 Clean Boot procedure (msconfig utility) to track it down to the Startup item Avast ALWIL.  ie. disable the startup of this item and the problem goes away.  This suggests its a problem with Avast 4.8

Regards
Paul C

Thanks Paul!!  This one's been bugging me for a couple of months.  Your research and sharing is much appreciated!   Hopefully, version 5 includes a fix for this problem.  I haven't upgraded yet but plan to eventually.

[Luxor]

I had the same problem with a Dell laptop, Win 7 64bit and Avast 4.8 that I set up for a friends daughter last week.
I didn't have time to troubleshoot it (impatient 10 year old) I will try to get hold of it sometime in the not to distant future and install Avast 5, hopefully that will fix things.

[Ral_dell]

Same problem. After restart win7 (64 bit) & I try to open control panel then explorer freezing (after close &restart works fine). Randomly freeze IE8. All this on new clean OS after install avast (4.8 or 5.0). My computer is a DELL XPS 13 (p9600,4GB ram win 7 HP 64). My lap was in service and is all new. It is a problem with this formula avast - dell - win 7. On my desktop avast works fine with no complains  (win 7 - RC 64 or XP Pro 64 bit E7300,4GB ). If is a solution for this issue let me know (patch, registry fix, anything). I use avast on my desktop from some time and i didn't find any problem and i recommended him but with my lap problem...

[jakra]

Yes, I've got the same problem with AVAST 5 and the MS-Explorer (using a dell inspiron 1764 laptop with windows 7 home premium 64bit).
When using Avira AntiVir Personal it's ok.

[BobHelms]

I've also had issues with Windows Explorer "not responding" while using Avast Free 4.8 & 5.0. This would occur almost every time I booted. After restarting explorer everything would be OK. When I upgraded to 5.0 Free I ran it with default settings. The "not responding" issue continued to occur. Then I turned automatic updates off. That was over a week ago and I have not had any problems since. I'm running W7 Pro-64 on a Lenovo T500 Thinkpad.
Bob Helms

[naviathan]

I just had this exact problem with a Dell Inspiron 1440, Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit and Avast! 6.  I confirmed Avast! was the culprit by using msconfig and disabling all startup items and non microsoft services then enabling them one by one and restarting.  It wouldn't start freezing up until I opened the Control Panel though.

[naviathan]

I've done all the updates and this problem persists.  I'm going to try disabling Automatic Updates and see if that works.  Either way there needs to be a fix this.

[naviathan]

Nothing is working.  Anyone have any advice on this?

[naviathan]

Found the fix.  This is a Microsoft issue.  See the following KB:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/972685