Windows XP SP3 failure
Rather disappointed with the result of yesterdays upgrade to SP3 for Windows XP. I use a notepad replacement called metapad. I actually replace notepad.exe with it. That is “ALL” instances of it. This is done within micro seconds of each other so windows doesn’t realize it is being done until the files that windows would use to replace the alleged corrupt notepad with have been replaced so the one that appears corrupt is replaced with what is actually metapad. I have had windows XP pro installed for over 3 years now. My notepad replacement has never been an issue before.
Ok so with that said here I notice a problem right off the bat. Metapad has been replaced with notepad after the SP3 upgrade completed. No big deal right? Wrong. I start to overwrite the file(s) as I have done on many machines now for years and the second I right click on the file to copy it into the copy buffer for pasting into the 3 other folders exploder.exe crashes.
That was the first time I noticed it happen anyway. That was within minutes of having upgraded to SP3. Since then I would say every 1 out of 3 times I right click in a folder or on a file explorer crashes. It restarts itself right away but crashes. A few times I submitted the report windows generates. Maybe they will have it fixed in a day or two? We shall see.
It obviously has nothing to do with the fact that I replaced notepad, that much I do know. I am considering reverting back to SP2 if this keeps up though. I don’t care how many alleged security fixes SP3 takes care of because they are all useless if the shell can’t handle a right click.
I have since found that even ctrl + c to copy a file can trigger this explorer crash. After a day of fighting to keep windows exploder stable and free from crashes every few minutes I decided it was an incredible waste of precious time and money so I attempted to uninstall SP3 with the methods that Microsoft outlines for SP3 removal. The first two methods were a total bust. Tried to uninstall, just hung there for 2 hours at the very end. Killed the uninstaller process. Tried the second method to no avail with similar results. Tried the last method, System Restore. That worked like a charm and the crashing exploder is now gone. I am rather disapointed though that I have used XP for over 3 years and not once has explorer deserved to be titled exploder till now. Leave it to good Ole M$ to spoil a good thing.