Why does Windows Explorer crash after I play a game?

I've attempted to play several games (which aren't even particularly new) and after I play them, the taskbar at the bottom is completely white (except for the start circle). I can't click on anything on this taskbar because it has that loading blue circle, and if I do, then Vista pops open a message box saying, "Windows Explorer has crashed" and it asks if I want to quit it, restart it, or check for a solution." It might restart, but then I still can't click on the DESKTOP, so eventually I have to shut down. Sometimes, it doesn't even heed the call to shut down so I have to unplug the battery from my laptop.

I have a Dell Vostro 1400 with Nvidia Geforce 8400M GS, and I am trying to play Civilization IV, Civilization III, Rise of Nations, and Call to Power II (and all of those games feature this problem.)

UPDATE: if I check the task manager dealie (from ctr+ alt+del) then what I find is that when I tell windows to RESTART explorer.exe, it just creates a new one. This new one fixes the taskbar, but does not fix the desktop...so the explorer.exe that is in charge of the desktop is still broken.

 

could be a vista compatibility issue with some older games, no?

 

Might be a virus that affected explorer.exe. Also,you might want to check the event log, or the error that appears after the crash and google on that particular note.

 

jujube: I wonder how I'd go about finding out more about that. I hear from others (particularly on the Civ IV issue) that they have no problem with playing it...so they say it's not Vista that's the matter.

eleron911: I doubt it's any virus. nod32 finds nothing after several in depth searches...how would I check the event log? The error that appears after the crash is very generic...it just states that Windows Explorer is not responding and doesn't give any more specific information on WHY it's not responding or WHAT the specifics are.

 

Does anyone have any idea how to view the event log for explorer.exe?

 

:/ I guess I'll just have to play games on my old laptop or something.

 

Have you tried running the games with the 'Run as administrator' option or the the 'Windows XP SP2' compatibility option?

 

When the taskbar goes white n all, you can end explorer.exe and then restart it using run.

I got a virus and it messed with my explorer.exe, I guessed I could just rename explorer.exe using regedit, so it then said ManicPenguins.exe instead of the explorer.exe and it was fixed, but then after some weird OCing issues it died on me (not because I renamed explorer though)

 

If I use the Windows XP SP2 compatibility option, then the computer can no longer read the disc, and unfortunately, the game does not run without the disc.

 

I can't end explorer.exe. Whenever I try, it does not end properly. When Vista prompts me to restart explorer, it actually doesn't close the first version of explorer. Instead, it creates a new explorer.exe over the old one that only fixes the taskbar; the desktop remains frozen no matter what else I try.

 

Are you running the latest Video drivers? That has to be the problem or maybe like everyone else said...it could be some virus stuff especially since ending explorer.exe should automatically restart it or at least do something.

Also, if you legally own the game...then using a crack so you don't have to use the CD anymore is legal. So look into that if its interfering with everything else.

 

I updated to the 163.67 forceware drivers...is there something newer? I really don't know where to look for the most updated drivers, so I have no idea if there's anything newer.

Once again, unless nod32 occasionally misses things, I don't think it's a virus or malware.