Windows Explorer stuck in a crash loop with Windows completely unusable (even in Safe Mode)

Windows Explorer started randomly crashing when browsing files/folders, becoming worse over time, and it's now to the point Explorer continually crashes every few seconds from the moment I log in, with the TaskBar flashing and unresponsive. I can't open any programs, and if I launch Task Manager, it closes immediately when the TaskBar flashes again.

• I booted to Safe Mode, but the same thing occurs
• Sfc /ScanNow completed successfully in Safe Mode, but the problem persists

3 Answers

The problem seems to have been a bad thumbcache.db within %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer, and after renaming the Explorer directory, everything works fine when I boot Windows normally.

Ctrl+Alt+Del → Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Microsoft OneDrive

It may have to do with the Windows 10 settings for thumbnail preview databases, which can be verified by logging into another account to see if that account is also affected. For me, an .odt file within %UserProfile%\Desktop or a folder with a shortcut to Deskop was the cause, with the solution being to move it to %UserProfile%\Documents.

1. A workaround may be to create a new account:
   1. Ctrl+Alt+Del → Task Manager → File → Run new task → compmgmt.msc
   2. Local Users and Groups → Users → Action → New User...
   3. Right-click newly created user → Properties → Member Of → Add... → Administrators
2. Terminate the current session, boot to Safe Mode, and login with new user
   1. Copy the %UserProfile%\Desktop folder to the original user's Documents folder
3. Stop Windows 10 from using thumbnail preview icons for folders