File Explorer stuck in windows folder

[steve43]

Hi folks,

I currently have a problem with file explorer. I opened the windows folder and now I am stuck with the time icon, I wait...and I wait... and nothing happens it freezes the phone. After a soft reset and then going back into file explorer it goes back to the folder I last looked at which is the windows folder and freezes again.. so basically I can't use file explorer anymore? Any suggestions?

Steve

[wizzzard]

Is it locking up? or does it just need more time to load and display all the contents of \windows. Can you minimize file explorer by pressing the hang up key and work on something else, then go back later to file explorer. Are you able to change directories now?
Are you using a shortcut to launch file explorer
I always use Total commander for file management and \windows does take a while to load. It too tries to open the last used directory but if the folder is not available, eg network share, it defaults to the root directory after a warning. Not the answer to your problem, I know, but Total Commander is free and it is much better featured than the standard file explorer.

[da_mayhem]

Is it locking up? or does it just need more time to load and display all the contents of \windows. Can you minimize file explorer by pressing the hang up key and work on something else, then go back later to file explorer. Are you able to change directories now?
Are you using a shortcut to launch file explorer
I always use Total commander for file management and \windows does take a while to load. It too tries to open the last used directory but if the folder is not available, eg network share, it defaults to the root directory after a warning. Not the answer to your problem, I know, but Total Commander is free and it is much better featured than the standard file explorer.


Try this on a Registry Editor:

HKLM - Software - Microsoft - File Explorer - LastLocation - 0 (zero)

Soft Reset then try to launch File Explorer again. :D

[insanenyc]

Hi folks,

I currently have a problem with file explorer. I opened the windows folder and now I am stuck with the time icon, I wait...and I wait... and nothing happens it freezes the phone. After a soft reset and then going back into file explorer it goes back to the folder I last looked at which is the windows folder and freezes again.. so basically I can't use file explorer anymore? Any suggestions?

Steve

IT WILL TAKE A WHILE IF IT IS SET TO TYPE FOR SOME REASON when the files finally display chnage where it says type to date and it will display quicker next time

[steve43]

Thanks folks, got it working. I needed to change the registery values. The phone was freezing up and even after 10 minutes was still not showing the contents of the windows folder.

Da_mayhem just fyi I edited the localpath folder from '/windows' to '/' this seemed to solve the problem. The lastlocation value was already set to 0 for some reason?

Thanks for your help guys...
Steve

[da_mayhem]

Thanks folks, got it working. I needed to change the registery values. The phone was freezing up and even after 10 minutes was still not showing the contents of the windows folder.

Da_mayhem just fyi I edited the localpath folder from '/windows' to '/' this seemed to solve the problem. The lastlocation value was already set to 0 for some reason?

Thanks for your help guys...
Steve


Nice to know it helped you somehow he he he

[kugelfish]

I seem to have the same Problem with my HTC Touch (non-branded, German Version). However I do not have the aforementioned registry values. There is no "file explorer" unter HKLM - Software - Microsoft.

Any Ideas on how to get my file explorer running again?

In the meantime I'm using TotalCommander, however TC doesn't support sending files via Bluetooth, or at least not that I know of. I can only send via Infrared, or am I missing something?

[sethsaad]

What is REGISTRY EDITOR? Please help me that! I m having the same problem on my XDA ORBIT ii

[jsr]

Try this on a Registry Editor:

HKLM - Software - Microsoft - File Explorer - LastLocation - 0 (zero)

Soft Reset then try to launch File Explorer again. :D

I tried this, but didn't have a "File Explorer" entry. So I created one and the LastLocation value as noted, but it still opens in the Windows folder and locks up. Any clues?

Thanks,
JSR

AT&T Tilt
Stock ROM no bloatware

[S.V.I]

I tried this, but didn't have a "File Explorer" entry. So I created one and the LastLocation value as noted, but it still opens in the Windows folder and locks up. Any clues?

Thanks,
JSR

AT&T Tilt
Stock ROM no bloatware

perhaps because that is usualy in HKCU not HKLM.

[montecristo1]

perhaps because that is usualy in HKCU not HKLM.

I know this is an old post...but after extensive searching and frustration...S.V.I fixed my issue. I just wanted to say thanks to S.V.I

I couldn't find file explorer and it was freezing...like S.V.I pointed out- it is HKCU and not HKLM.

I had done 2 hard resets...and removing "windows" from the path fixed it.


Thanks to all that posted solutions here on this great site!


Update:
Spoke to soon...I can't enter my Windows folder at all using file explorer- I could earlier. I can enter anywhere else...just not my Window folder...I can with Resco explorer. I have to apply S.V.I suggestion to stop it from freezing...but magically-"\windows" keeps re-appearing in my registry.

Update:
Found another solution that actually worked for me!
open File Explorer
Click on Menu>Sort> change it to Name

[ayobi]

i too have experienced the same problem like this. but then this is what i do. and it's surprisingly works.

1) soft reset your phone
2) click on file explorer again
3) the loading symbol will always appear, but for now just let it be.
4) close the file explorer by tapping 'hang up' key/button. this will supposedly bring you back to home screen
5) wait for half an hour or longer
6) open file explorer
7) the windows folder loaded successfully

[Jay100]

Ayobi's solution worked.

I have a HTC Diamond 2 WM6.5. File explorer froze as I sorted the files in the Windows folder. Exactly followed Ayobi's suggestion. Got out of the mess.

I won't visit Windows folder again!!!

Thanks Ayobi and others for their suggestions.

Jay.

[b84]

Hi folks,

I currently have a problem with file explorer. I opened the windows folder and now I am stuck with the time icon, I wait...and I wait... and nothing happens it freezes the phone. After a soft reset and then going back into file explorer it goes back to the folder I last looked at which is the windows folder and freezes again.. so basically I can't use file explorer anymore? Any suggestions?

Steve

Hi, i have the same issue but currently do not have a registry editor installed. So i can't really follow the above instructions to resolve the issue. Any help with executing a .cab without file explorer?? got annoying aussie telstra rom installed

[bossrobertrobert]

IT WILL TAKE A WHILE IF IT IS SET TO TYPE FOR SOME REASON when the files finally display chnage where it says type to date and it will display quicker next time

Definatly works. great help. thanks man.:D

[mobileguy2108]

IT WILL TAKE A WHILE IF IT IS SET TO TYPE FOR SOME REASON when the files finally display chnage where it says type to date and it will display quicker next time

This definitely worked - on a related note you can go into Registry Editor (HKCU - Software - Microsoft - File Explorer) and change the SortOrder value to anything but 2 (apparently 2 is for Type). Soft reset and reload the program, and it should load a lot faster.

[phi11yphan]

Try this on a Registry Editor:

HKLM - Software - Microsoft - File Explorer - LastLocation - 0 (zero)

Soft Reset then try to launch File Explorer again. :D

I had same problem, because I tried to sort Windows folder by file Type. Oops.

I know it's an old post, but here's my two cents (because this thread guided me to a slightly modified resolution.)

My resolution on Tilt2 TP2 WinMo 6.5 was found here:
HKCU - Software - Microsoft - File Explorer - LastLocation - 0 (zero)
HKCU - Software - Microsoft - File Explorer - LastPath - \ (slash)
HKCU - Software - Microsoft - File Explorer - SortOrder - 1

That did the trick for me. Was able to open File Explorer. Strangely, it took me to the Windows folder again; but didn't hang this time. Maybe because I skipped soft reset (so maybe registry change may not have taken effect entirely?)