Changing icons causes explorer to continuously crash

Cannot stabilize explorer.exe

from WinCustomize Forums
This had happened to me before but I was able to recover from it after some time, uninstalling IP, Window Blinds and then reinstalling them again after an update I believed resolved the problem. The way it came about was right after I had downloaded a set of icons, in this case the Aqualix icon set, and applied them to my system. As soon as the icons started to refresh explorer began to crash, reload, crash, reload...

I had to manually terminate explorer to stop this cycle. I restarted the system but explorer.exe continued this crash reload cycle. I have scanned my system for corrupted files, unloaded window blinds and windows fX, reverted to the default icons, had my registry scanned again for corrupt entries, but still when I restart XP i get the crash reload explorer.exe cycle. I had been running all the latest stable releases of WB, IP, FX and Object Dock. No beta's for me.

Short of doing a system restore and having to go through the uninstallation of window blinds and other SD apps, what else do you suggest? I don't think I will be installing these apps again if this is how my system will be affected. I am losing to many hours of work in this nonsense,

I appreciate any of your help.

PG
iconpackager
22,954 views 33 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Hy Gelabert, I actually have exactly same problem. First time I reinstal all my OS. Second time I was thinking it's because of windows blind. Finally I find that the problem comes from Iconpackager. As soon as I uninstall it, my problems finished. I tried many times to install again, but every time explorer crashes. I ask support at Stardock, but answers I did not understand theyr answers... Maybe we can advise if somebody find solution...
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Hi Gelabert, bis... I also forgot to tell you that with explorer crashing, my registry backups (in restore prgrogram) have disapear...
CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
what version of IconPackager (help > about)
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Hi Bichur. Thank you for answering. I actually uninstalled IP, but I was running last (3.20.128).
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm still running 3.20.127 - downloaded and archived 128 but haven't installed it yet.
I'll test mine later this weekend when I get more time.

did 127 work for you? did you keep an archive for rollback?

you running xp or vista? 32 or 64?
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
odd. Most issue I've seen like this with IP was due to a package originally created in another language
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
everything makes explorer crash use netscape or some other browser


using another browser won't stop explorer crashes - you're thinking of IE.




Gelabert & pat805

you might consider contacting support
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
i post this message for people who have same problem as above... i make stopping explorer.exe crashing by unselect the "personal icons" options before applaying new iconpackage (only use iconpakager and not theme manager).
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
by unselect the "personal icons" options


?

Is that an .128 option?

or am I just missing something somewhere? (i tend to miss a lot)

I don't find 'personal icons'

I got:

desktop, start, folders, drives, others, files, custom files, cursors, quick launch and control panel

but I still haven't loaded 3.20.128 yet
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This has also happened twice to me. Identical problems and issues. The first time I freaked out because it appeared that the machine was on 'auto-pilot' and there was very little I could do. Explorer was crashing every few seconds. Could not even get it going in safe mode. The only thing I could think of that I had done between the last good session and the crashing one was install a couple of Iconpackager themes. There was very little time between crashes to do anything and I was on the verge of doing a big repair or a clean and reinstall but after the twentieth try I managed to get Iconpackager up and quickly changed the package and suddenly the crashing stopped. Boy, was I relieved.

This is certainly something that needs looking at by Stardock and I'll drop them an email as a heads up. It's also something that Iconpackager users need to be aware of because if it happens to you it will be quite alarming because you feel pretty helpless but if you are quick, in between crashes, you can get into the program and apply the quick fix.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thank heaven! I've been having the same crashing issues and it's been driving me nuts! The last think I would have suspected was IP.
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
HERE IS SOLUTION : if explorer.exe crashing after applying an iconpackage, the solution (given to me by stardock support) is to rename the file "iprepair.dll" in iconpackager's directory in other name : exemple : "iprepair.dll.bak". This should defenitly resolve problem with explorer.exe. Hope this would be helpful...
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks, Pat I'll keep that in mind. I've emailed Stardock Support and I guess they are already aware of this problem and hopefully they will come up with a permanant fix. It's just about the craziest thing I have ever seen happen to a PC in all the the years I have had one. It's like your PC is in a world of its own..........possessed by a demon and it just keeps loading, unloading, crashing without the slightest touch of the keyboard. Quite disturbing really and when you turn it off and start up again it goes back into one like a headless chicken. Never seen anything like it...........
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
rename the file "iprepair.dll" in iconpackager's directory in other name : exemple : "iprepair.dll.bak".




didn't even get a hint of a thought of iprepair - hadn't seen that pop up in well over a year
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
yep leo, first time it happens, I imagined my computer too old or corrupted and install again XP, but everytime it started again... Hope everything OK for you !  
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That did it! Thanks Pat.   
Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top
you're welcome chef garry ! Just a question : are you using Comodo Firewall Pro ?
Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top
Exactly, what do you change to iprepair.dll?

I had the same problem with explorer, I even installed xp from scratch again because I couldn't think of what could be wrong, I searched all over the internet and thanks to this page I didn't have to install xp again! Phew!!

However I am stuck with the normal xp icons until I can find a solution.. So exactly what do I have to change to make iconpackager stop messing with my computer??

Any help is greatly appreciated...

Thank you.
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
rename the file "iprepair.dll" in iconpackager's directory in other name : exemple : "iprepair.dll.bak".


Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks for this thread! Had the same problem for a long time......couldn't find the culprit and iprepair.dll.bak fixed it.