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

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    • Mark ColvinM
      Mark Colvin
      last edited by

      I have had this issue with Windows 10 and Windows 11 on the same computer. I have tried a number of simple fixes to stop the Windows Explorer crashes, without any final solution. It occurs every day, one to 5 times a day, seems to be random.
      Recently, I cleared the Windows events logs to help narrow down the last event that occurred during the time that Windows Explorer windows just vanish.

      This is the first time I have been able to find something that points to a cause.
      I have a .DOCX file with Application events log entries and the noted windows.wer file in one of entries.

      Since I was not using NPP application at the time of the Windows Explorer crash, I included the ?/debug info as well.
      Please advise on further steps to determine if this is a REAL NPP problems or not.

      TIA,
      Mark Colvin

      Applications Events:
      Log Name: Application
      Source: Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP
      Date: 1/20/2025 1:00:14 PM
      Event ID: 16384
      Task Category: None
      Level: Information
      Keywords: Classic
      User: N/A
      Computer: MAC-LAPTOP
      Description:
      Successfully scheduled Software Protection service for re-start at 2124-12-27T19:00:14Z. Reason: RulesEngine.
      Event Xml:
      <Event xmlns=“http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event”>
      <System>
      <Provider Name=“Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP” Guid=“{E23B33B0-C8C9-472C-A5F9-F2BDFEA0F156}” EventSourceName=“Software Protection Platform Service” />
      <EventID Qualifiers=“16384”>16384</EventID>
      <Version>0</Version>
      <Level>4</Level>
      <Task>0</Task>
      <Opcode>0</Opcode>
      <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
      <TimeCreated SystemTime=“2025-01-20T19:00:14.6231386Z” />
      <EventRecordID>933591</EventRecordID>
      <Correlation />
      <Execution ProcessID=“11492” ThreadID=“0” />
      <Channel>Application</Channel>
      <Computer>MAC-LAPTOP</Computer>
      <Security />
      </System>
      <EventData>
      <Data>2124-12-27T19:00:14Z</Data>
      <Data>RulesEngine</Data>
      </EventData>
      </Event>

      Log Name: Application***********Win11 Explorer Crash – all windows are gone*******
      Source: Application Error
      Date: 1/20/2025 1:00:56 PM
      Event ID: 1000
      Task Category: Application Crashing Events
      Level: Error
      Keywords:
      User: MAC-LAPTOP\mcolv
      Computer: MAC-LAPTOP
      Description:
      Faulting application name: explorer.exe, version: 10.0.26100.2454, time stamp: 0xdc9c700e
      Faulting module name: NppShell.dll, version: 1.5.0.0, time stamp: 0x66880559
      Exception code: 0xc0000409
      Fault offset: 0x000000000001fc25
      Faulting process id: 0x4824
      Faulting application start time: 0x1DB6B446A90FD36
      Faulting application path: C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe
      Faulting module path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Notepad++\contextMenu\NppShell.dll
      Report Id: 10985112-baaa-4f53-9f4e-9f3fedf967ce
      Faulting package full name:
      Faulting package-relative application ID:
      Event Xml:
      <Event xmlns=“http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event”>
      <System>
      <Provider Name=“Application Error” Guid=“{a0e9b465-b939-57d7-b27d-95d8e925ff57}” />
      <EventID>1000</EventID>
      <Version>0</Version>
      <Level>2</Level>
      <Task>100</Task>
      <Opcode>0</Opcode>
      <Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
      <TimeCreated SystemTime=“2025-01-20T19:00:56.5056321Z” />
      <EventRecordID>933592</EventRecordID>
      <Correlation />
      <Execution ProcessID=“24492” ThreadID=“13172” />
      <Channel>Application</Channel>
      <Computer>MAC-LAPTOP</Computer>
      <Security UserID=“S-1-5-21-2470100382-2049306416-2370556751-1001” />
      </System>
      <EventData>
      <Data Name=“AppName”>explorer.exe</Data>
      <Data Name=“AppVersion”>10.0.26100.2454</Data>
      <Data Name=“AppTimeStamp”>dc9c700e</Data>
      <Data Name=“ModuleName”>NppShell.dll</Data>
      <Data Name=“ModuleVersion”>1.5.0.0</Data>
      <Data Name=“ModuleTimeStamp”>66880559</Data>
      <Data Name=“ExceptionCode”>c0000409</Data>
      <Data Name=“FaultingOffset”>000000000001fc25</Data>
      <Data Name=“ProcessId”>0x4824</Data>
      <Data Name=“ProcessCreationTime”>0x1db6b446a90fd36</Data>
      <Data Name=“AppPath”>C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe</Data>
      <Data Name=“ModulePath”>C:\Program Files (x86)\Notepad++\contextMenu\NppShell.dll</Data>
      <Data Name=“IntegratorReportId”>10985112-baaa-4f53-9f4e-9f3fedf967ce</Data>
      <Data Name=“PackageFullName”>
      </Data>
      <Data Name=“PackageRelativeAppId”>
      </Data>
      </EventData>
      </Event>

      Log Name: Applicationlast reported error******
      Source: Windows Error Reporting
      Date: 1/20/2025 1:01:00 PM
      Event ID: 1001
      Task Category: None
      Level: Information
      Keywords:
      User: MAC-LAPTOP\mcolv
      Computer: MAC-LAPTOP
      Description:
      Fault bucket 2055285806913895911, type 5
      Event Name: BEX64
      Response: Not available
      Cab Id: 0

      Problem signature:
      P1: explorer.exe
      P2: 10.0.26100.2454
      P3: dc9c700e
      P4: NppShell.dll
      P5: 1.5.0.0
      P6: 66880559
      P7: 000000000001fc25
      P8: c0000409
      P9: 0000000000000007
      P10:

      Attached files:
      \?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.b7e9da55-425c-4334-ab3b-74c5a420e371.tmp.mdmp
      \?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.20203e92-8fe2-41d5-ac29-367728e13626.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml
      WPR_initiated_DiagTrackMiniLogger_OneTrace_User_Logger_20241008_1_EC_0_inject.etl
      \?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.f32086fd-1fc9-4212-a7c2-465e271e24ee.tmp.etl
      WPR_initiated_DiagTrackMiniLogger_WPR System Collector_inject.etl
      \?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.74ed2b09-b61e-445f-8c8a-ff15cf1b7c16.tmp.etl
      \?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.b389a25f-72a3-4d73-853e-16c0b3f34b2a.tmp.csv
      \?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.61d12e62-49d2-4d5c-a5ba-7db1229c5ed1.tmp.txt
      \?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.d45344fd-f051-4979-99f6-731764e9ed2b.tmp.xml

      These files may be available here:
      \?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive\AppCrash_explorer.exe_75a7b1a2e2a87c6ffabace606d6bd8c9b7488325_83fa2685_813c2fee-6603-4a7e-bbda-e55df3128adf

      *******got this file from the above folder: Report.wer ***************

      Analysis symbol:
      Rechecking for solution: 0
      Report Id: 10985112-baaa-4f53-9f4e-9f3fedf967ce
      Report Status: 268435456
      Hashed bucket: 7b8ca4834f227c9a4c85d78d51013de7
      Cab Guid: 0
      Event Xml:
      <Event xmlns=“http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event”>
      <System>
      <Provider Name=“Windows Error Reporting” Guid=“{0ead09bd-2157-539a-8d6d-c87f95b64d70}” />
      <EventID>1001</EventID>
      <Version>0</Version>
      <Level>4</Level>
      <Task>0</Task>
      <Opcode>0</Opcode>
      <Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
      <TimeCreated SystemTime=“2025-01-20T19:01:00.4010358Z” />
      <EventRecordID>933593</EventRecordID>
      <Correlation />
      <Execution ProcessID=“24492” ThreadID=“13172” />
      <Channel>Application</Channel>
      <Computer>MAC-LAPTOP</Computer>
      <Security UserID=“S-1-5-21-2470100382-2049306416-2370556751-1001” />
      </System>
      <EventData>
      <Data Name=“Bucket”>2055285806913895911</Data>
      <Data Name=“BucketType”>5</Data>
      <Data Name=“EventName”>BEX64</Data>
      <Data Name=“Response”>Not available</Data>
      <Data Name=“CabId”>0</Data>
      <Data Name=“P1”>explorer.exe</Data>
      <Data Name=“P2”>10.0.26100.2454</Data>
      <Data Name=“P3”>dc9c700e</Data>
      <Data Name=“P4”>NppShell.dll</Data>
      <Data Name=“P5”>1.5.0.0</Data>
      <Data Name=“P6”>66880559</Data>
      <Data Name=“P7”>000000000001fc25</Data>
      <Data Name=“P8”>c0000409</Data>
      <Data Name=“P9”>0000000000000007</Data>
      <Data Name=“P10”>
      </Data>
      <Data Name=“AttachedFiles”>
      \?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.b7e9da55-425c-4334-ab3b-74c5a420e371.tmp.mdmp
      \?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.20203e92-8fe2-41d5-ac29-367728e13626.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml
      WPR_initiated_DiagTrackMiniLogger_OneTrace_User_Logger_20241008_1_EC_0_inject.etl
      \?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.f32086fd-1fc9-4212-a7c2-465e271e24ee.tmp.etl
      WPR_initiated_DiagTrackMiniLogger_WPR System Collector_inject.etl
      \?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.74ed2b09-b61e-445f-8c8a-ff15cf1b7c16.tmp.etl
      \?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.b389a25f-72a3-4d73-853e-16c0b3f34b2a.tmp.csv
      \?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.61d12e62-49d2-4d5c-a5ba-7db1229c5ed1.tmp.txt
      \?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.d45344fd-f051-4979-99f6-731764e9ed2b.tmp.xml</Data>
      <Data Name=“StorePath”>\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive\AppCrash_explorer.exe_75a7b1a2e2a87c6ffabace606d6bd8c9b7488325_83fa2685_813c2fee-6603-4a7e-bbda-e55df3128adf</Data>
      <Data Name=“AnalysisSymbol”>
      </Data>
      <Data Name=“Rechecking”>0</Data>
      <Data Name=“ReportId”>10985112-baaa-4f53-9f4e-9f3fedf967ce</Data>
      <Data Name=“ReportStatus”>268435456</Data>
      <Data Name=“HashedBucket”>7b8ca4834f227c9a4c85d78d51013de7</Data>
      <Data Name=“CabGuid”>0</Data>
      </EventData>
      </Event>

      *****I was not using NPP at the time of the Windows Explorer windows crashed… but here it is:

      Notepad++ v8.7.1 (32-bit)
      Build time : Oct 31 2024 - 00:41:42
      Path : C:\Program Files (x86)\Notepad++\notepad++.exe
      Command Line : “C:\Users\mcolv\OneDrive\Desktop\WindowsCrash all windows gone\Report.wer”
      Admin mode : OFF
      Local Conf mode : OFF
      Cloud Config : OFF
      Periodic Backup : ON
      OS Name : Windows 8 Pro (64-bit)
      OS Version : 24H2
      OS Build : 9200.2894
      Current ANSI codepage : 1252
      Plugins :
      AnalysePlugin (1.12.47)
      BigFiles (0.1.1.1)
      CodeAlignmentNpp (14.1.107)
      ComparePlugin (2.0.1)
      GitSCM (1.4.8.2)
      HexEditor (0.9.12)
      LocationNavigate (0.4.7.7)
      MarkdownViewerPlusPlus (0.8.2)
      mimeTools (3.1)
      NavigateTo (1.12.3)
      NppAutoIndent (1.2)
      NppCalc (1.5)
      NppConverter (4.6)
      NppExport (0.4)
      NppTextFX (0.2.6)
      NppToolBucket (1.10.6622.41336)
      SourceCookifier (0.7.3)
      WindowManager (1.2.2)
      _CustomizeToolbar (4.2)

      there is more available, ran out of the 16K char limit…
      =========END OF DEBUG INFO=============

      Terry RT NicholasN 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • Terry RT
        Terry R @Mark Colvin
        last edited by

        @Mark-Colvin

        There are a number of queries I have.

        1. Your PC is called MAC-LAPTOP, so is it an Apple Mac with virtualized Windows running?
        2. You have a very long list of plugins. Have you checked that all of them are up to date with versioning?
        3. Again to do with plugins, there is a FAQ post that refers to plugins possibly being the cause of abnormal issues. Have a read of Notepad++ Crashes/Freezes/Unresponsive after Update. See if you can apply some of the steps there.
        4. Although you say you weren’t running Notepad++, had it been running at any time during the current Windows session prior to the crash occuring? Possibly some remnant was left in memory causing the crash at a later stage.

        Terry

        Mark ColvinM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
        • NicholasN
          Nicholas
          last edited by

          NppShell.dll is used to put the “Edit with Notepad++” into the file explorer context menu.

          Since you are using 64bit Windows I would recommend using the 64bit version of Notepad++. Try the portable version first to check all your extensions work. You will need to use the plugin admin to download the 64bit versions or manually get the correct version.

          If you don’t want to change versions, then you could try using the installer to disable the “Context Menu Entry”.

          Mark ColvinM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • 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

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                                      • 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.

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                                        • 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

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                                          • 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.

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