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    Notepad++ v8.7.1 (32-bit) NppShell.dll is intermittently crashing Windows Explorer.

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    • NicholasN
      Nicholas @Mark Colvin
      last edited by

      @Mark-Colvin said in Notepad++ v8.7.1 (32-bit) NppShell.dll is intermittently crashing Windows Explorer.:

      OS Name : Windows 8 Pro (64-bit)
      OS Version : 24H2

      This doesn’t look right. 24H2 is a Windows 11 version. There could be a bug where they are detecting the wrong version and trying to do something with the new Windows 11 context menu.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
      • Mark ColvinM
        Mark Colvin @Terry R
        last edited by Mark Colvin

        @Terry-R ,

        1. This laptop computer is running a complete Win11 Pro OS. - MAC is named related identification.
        2. Not recently checked plugin versioning. I will do that soon. [edit] performed plug-in updates, still crashed Explorer.
        3. I assume that you suggested read my help with Windows Explorer random crashes when no directly using NPP?
        4. That may be possible, but how can I tell this action is related to Explorer crashes?

        Thanks.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • Mark ColvinM
          Mark Colvin @Nicholas
          last edited by

          @Nicholas
          There were reasons during Win10 x64 usage of staying with NPP x32 instead of NPP x64. I don’t remember that reason at the moment. I think it had to do with another Windows apps running at the same time as NPP and there were problems. I will try to find the details on this decision.

          But I will try disable the Content Menu feature on NPP to see if the Explorer crashes go away.
          I can also try switching back to NPP x64 to see if I can find the reason for staying with NPP x32.

          Thanks.

          xomxX 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • xomxX
            xomx @Mark Colvin
            last edited by

            @Mark-Colvin

            It is a buffer overflow caused somehow by the NppShell.dll in the Windows Explorer process. As a temporary workaround, you can disable this shell extension by going to your C:\Program Files (x86)\Notepad++\contextMenu\ folder and run there this command in cmd (with admin rights): regsvr32 /u NppShell.dll

            This is a known problem for some users (they reported it for x64 too) but unfortunately I was not able to reproduce it, so I cannot say if it is a problem of NppShell shell extension, Notepad++ app or some other SW. It can also be a conflict with some other shell extension installed in your system (otherwise I cannot explain why most Notepad++ users do not have this problem).

            If you switch to x64 Notepad++ with its x64 NppShell and you still get these Explorer crashes, you can try to follow these instructions to help me with debugging of the issue:
            https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/issues/15683#issuecomment-2492113826

            @Mark-Colvin said in Notepad++ v8.7.1 (32-bit) NppShell.dll is intermittently crashing Windows Explorer.:

            OS Name : Windows 8 Pro (64-bit)

            I am also surprised to see this info when according to your post it should be reported as Win10 or Win11.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
            • xomxX
              xomx @Mark Colvin
              last edited by xomx

              @Mark-Colvin

              Could you please report your Windows Registry relevant info:

              1. Save the following to a file (named e.g. WinVerRegKeys-export.cmd) somewhere writable on your disk:
              PowerShell "$Key='HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion'; Get-ItemProperty -Path $Key -Name *" > WinVerRegKeys64.txt
              PowerShell "$Key='HKLM:\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion'; Get-ItemProperty -Path $Key -Name *" > WinVerRegKeys32.txt
              
              1. Run the WinVerRegKeys-export.cmd batch file by e.g. doubleclicking on it in Explorer.
              2. Take the contents of the created WinVerRegKeys32.txt and WinVerRegKeys64.txt files and post them please here.
              Mark ColvinM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
              • Mark ColvinM
                Mark Colvin @xomx
                last edited by PeterJones

                @xomx ,
                posted here are the files you requested.

                Also, I uninstalled NPP x32 and not seen any Windows Explorer errors nor crashes for over 48 hours. (normal laptop usage, about 6 to 10 hours per day)

                WinVerRegKeys32.txt

                
                BaseBuildRevisionNumber   : 1
                BuildBranch               : ge_release
                BuildGUID                 : ffffffff-ffff-ffff-ffff-ffffffffffff
                BuildLab                  : 26100.ge_release.240331-1435
                BuildLabEx                : 26100.1.amd64fre.ge_release.240331-1435
                CompositionEditionID      : Enterprise
                CurrentBuild              : 26100
                CurrentBuildNumber        : 26100
                CurrentMajorVersionNumber : 10
                CurrentMinorVersionNumber : 0
                CurrentType               : Multiprocessor Free
                CurrentVersion            : 6.3
                DisplayVersion            : 24H2
                EditionID                 : Enterprise
                EditionSubManufacturer    : 
                EditionSubstring          : 
                EditionSubVersion         : 
                InstallationType          : Client
                InstallDate               : 0
                ProductName               : Windows 10 Enterprise
                ReleaseId                 : 2009
                SoftwareType              : System
                SystemRoot                : C:\WINDOWS
                UBR                       : 2894
                RegisteredOwner           : __________@gmail.com
                PSPath                    : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windo
                                            ws NT\CurrentVersion
                PSParentPath              : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windo
                                            ws NT
                PSChildName               : CurrentVersion
                PSDrive                   : HKLM
                PSProvider                : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry
                
                

                WinVerRegKeys64.txt

                
                
                SystemRoot                : C:\WINDOWS
                BaseBuildRevisionNumber   : 1
                BuildBranch               : ge_release
                BuildGUID                 : ffffffff-ffff-ffff-ffff-ffffffffffff
                BuildLab                  : 26100.ge_release.240331-1435
                BuildLabEx                : 26100.1.amd64fre.ge_release.240331-1435
                CompositionEditionID      : Enterprise
                CurrentBuild              : 26100
                CurrentBuildNumber        : 26100
                CurrentMajorVersionNumber : 10
                CurrentMinorVersionNumber : 0
                CurrentType               : Multiprocessor Free
                CurrentVersion            : 6.3
                DisplayVersion            : 24H2
                EditionID                 : Professional
                EditionSubManufacturer    : 
                EditionSubstring          : 
                EditionSubVersion         : 
                InstallationType          : Client
                InstallDate               : 1732282151
                LCUVer                    : 10.0.26100.2894
                ProductName               : Windows 10 Pro
                ReleaseId                 : 2009
                SoftwareType              : System
                UBR                       : 2894
                PathName                  : C:\Windows
                PendingInstall            : 0
                ProductId                 : 00330-53097-84373-AAOEM
                DigitalProductId          : {164, 0, 0, 0...}
                DigitalProductId4         : {248, 4, 0, 0...}
                RegisteredOwner           : __________@gmail.com
                InstallTime               : 133767557516344286
                PSPath                    : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows 
                                            NT\CurrentVersion
                PSParentPath              : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT
                PSChildName               : CurrentVersion
                PSDrive                   : HKLM
                PSProvider                : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry
                
                
                

                Sorry, not enough karma to attach files to posts yet. Supplied as code.

                Mark
                —
                moderator edited to remove real email address

                xomxX 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                • xomxX
                  xomx @Mark Colvin
                  last edited by

                  @Mark-Colvin

                  Thanks.
                  But I didn’t find anything wrong in your data (that could explain your previously reported Win8).

                  But all this gives me the idea that perhaps the affected users here have something unusual/wrong in their Registry, which in turn causes the N++ shell extension to crash. I have checked the NppShell source code and indeed - some parts of the code are not the best in terms of resilience to unexpected input or some resource or data unavailability. I didn’t manage to crash Explorer exactly the same way as all affected users report, but in principle that could be it (maybe I just didn’t simulate the right bad data in the Registry).

                  I’ll try to raise some questions in the NppShell project issues.

                  Mark ColvinM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                  • Mark ColvinM
                    Mark Colvin @xomx
                    last edited by

                    @xomx ,

                    Update: I installed npp.8.7.5.Installer.x64 five days ago without Context Menu feature and fewer plugins. So far, no Windows Explorer crashes.

                    I really miss the Context Menu feature, NPP is so easy to open many file types with this quick step for a quick peek.

                    I will re-configure NPP soon with Context Menu turned on and see if the problem returns. Any advice on data collection for this issue if it re-occurs?

                    TIA,
                    Mark

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • xomxX
                      xomx
                      last edited by xomx

                      @Mark-Colvin said in Notepad++ v8.7.1 (32-bit) NppShell.dll is intermittently crashing Windows Explorer.:

                      Any advice on data collection for this issue if it re-occurs?

                      As I already said:

                      @xomx said in Notepad++ v8.7.1 (32-bit) NppShell.dll is intermittently crashing Windows Explorer.:

                      If you switch to x64 Notepad++ with its x64 NppShell and you still get these Explorer crashes, you can try to follow these instructions to help me with debugging of the issue:
                      https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/issues/15683#issuecomment-2492113826

                      So if you can, please follow the instructions in that GitHub comment and then somehow forward me the relevant Explorer crash dump file generated along with a possible NppShell.log.

                      If the GitHub procedure seems too complicated for you - the main thing is to get the crash-dump file while using my special version of the “C:\Program Files\Notepad++\contextMenu\NppShell.dll”, so download it and after the usual reinstall of your Notepad++ with the shell context extension, replace the standard NppShell.dll file there with the file from this archive: https://github.com/user-attachments/files/17850910/NppShell_v1500_x64_Debug.zip

                      If you have any questions about the GitHub instructions, do not hesitate to ask me.

                      Mark ColvinM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • Mark ColvinM
                        Mark Colvin @xomx
                        last edited by

                        @xomx ,
                        Thank you for the alternatives on this investigation. I will update as I get more information.

                        Thanks again,
                        Mark

                        Mark ColvinM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • Mark ColvinM
                          Mark Colvin @Mark Colvin
                          last edited by

                          @xomx,
                          Posted dump file and error dialog at:
                          https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/issues/15683#issuecomment-2492113826

                          Saw when open .ZIP file… got the error dialog, clicked retry, and all explorer windows vanished.
                          Hope it helps…

                          Mark ColvinM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                          • Mark ColvinM
                            Mark Colvin @Mark Colvin
                            last edited by

                            @xomx,
                            5 hours later, another error with NppShell.DLL, but no new dump file created.
                            This occurred during a copy/paste operation from one Window to another.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • xomxX xomx referenced this topic on
                            • xomxX
                              xomx
                              last edited by

                              @Mark-Colvin

                              Could you please check if you are not running N++ in Windows8 compatibility mode? More about it here.

                              Mark ColvinM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • Mark ColvinM
                                Mark Colvin @xomx
                                last edited by

                                @xomx
                                How does this compatibility mode affect the Explorer context menu invocations?
                                The one Shortcut I have is NOW set to Compatibility mode with Windows 8. But rarely use it directly…

                                What about the errors with NppShell.DLL which occur without NP++ even turned on?
                                (I am missing something on how this NppShell.DLL works outside of NP++)
                                See NppShell.log files posted in github thread…

                                Thanks,
                                Mark

                                xomxX 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • xomxX
                                  xomx @Mark Colvin
                                  last edited by

                                  @Mark-Colvin said in Notepad++ v8.7.1 (32-bit) NppShell.dll is intermittently crashing Windows Explorer.:

                                  How does this compatibility mode affect the Explorer context menu invocations?

                                  Good point, this probably influences the N++ app only and not the NppShell extension DLL invoked by the shell Explorer.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • David MSD
                                    David MS
                                    last edited by

                                    Hello,

                                    I have also constantly the problem that NppShell.dll crashes the Windows 11 Explorer.
                                    After uninstalling Notepad++ the explorer runs without crahes.

                                    I use the latest version of Notepad++ (8.7.9).

                                    Does exists a workaround or a fix?

                                    Thank you very much.

                                    Best regards,

                                    David

                                    xomxX 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • xomxX
                                      xomx @David MS
                                      last edited by

                                      @David-MS said in Notepad++ v8.7.1 (32-bit) NppShell.dll is intermittently crashing Windows Explorer.:

                                      Does exists a workaround

                                      If you mean by this a workaround to not have to completely uninstall the N++ for preventing the Explorer crashes, then yes - unregistering of the NppShell context-menu handler helps: https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/99261

                                      or a fix?

                                      I could not exactly reproduce the issue myself but found some potential problematic places in the NppShell source code and put a “hardening” of that code to my TODO. Unfortunately not enough free time yet. More info and possible future progress in the GitHub issue.

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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