SOLVED Kill Explorer.exe on the fly

[Elmer BeFuddled]

If you're into modifying system files etc. you'll soon get fed up of logging out/in or using Task Manager to stop and re-start Explorer.exe all the time. Even if Explorer has died and you can r-click the desktop this will save you logging out/in.

Here's the handy alternative:-

How to Kill and Revive Explorer.exe using the Context Menu.

First, make yourself a .bat file (make a New Text Document.txt, then when you save it change .txt file extension to .bat) and call it KILL EXPLORER OR WHATEVER YOU WANT.bat and enter and save this text code:-

@echo off

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
sleep [B]4[/B]
start explorer.exe

The 4 is adjustable, giving a slight sleep (4 is 3 secs, 6 is 5 secs, 2 is 1 secs etc. 1 is 0 secs but it makes your monitor look like it's popping!!(not advisable!)).
Then make yourself a .reg file (as above), call it KILL EXPLORER OR WHATEVER YOU WANT.reg and enter this text code and save it:-

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\Restart Explorer]
@="Kill Explorer or whatever you want here to show in context menu"
"Icon"="An:\\optional\\path to\\add an.ico"
"Position"="Top"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\Restart Explorer\command]
@="The:\\path\\to your\\KILL EXPLORER OR WHATEVER YOU WANT.BAT"

Click and merge the .reg file into your registry.

Then in the background empty space of any Folder or your Desktop you will be able to right click and you will have an "Explorer Kill Switch" at the top of your context menu.

Hope that's of use to somebody. It's assisted me oooh, lost count of the times!

 

[Fire cat]

Nice! Thanks M8!

By the way, how did you make the flip 3D link?

 

[Elmer BeFuddled]

By the way, how did you make the flip 3D link?

Just for you! Add Flip 3D to Context Menu

 

[Fire cat]

Thanks M8! But it gives me an error...

 

[TrainableMan]

I found this today:

To close explorer cleanly, rather than do a kill, you simply:
hit the start orb to bring up the start menu
then hold ctrl + shift & right-mouse-click in an empty spot on the menu
select Exit Explorer

To restart it though you would either need an icon on the desktop or open task manager and run new task of explorer.exe.

 

[sdmnysimon]

nice I like that. had to check it out

 

[cybercore]

How to Terminate and Restart Explorer.exe Process Cleanly in Windows 7 and Vista


To restart Explorer in order to test a registry setting without a reboot, we usually terminate explorer.exe process using Task Manager. The Task Manager method is like forcibly killing the process instead of terminating it cleanly. Jeff, a Software Design Engineer at Microsoft posted a great tip on how to cleanly start and stop explorer.exe in Windows XP. Here is how to exit explorer in Windows 7 and Windows Vista.

Windows Vista & Windows 7

Although the above method (originally written for Windows XP) would work for the Classic Start menu in Windows Vista, not everyone use the Classic Start menu. Aaron Margosis of Microsoft tells how to cleanly stop Explorer.exe on Windows Vista if you’re using the default Start menu. This is using a hidden GUI option that’s present in Windows Vista and Windows 7 Start menu.

The GUI option named Exit Explorer shows up when you follow these steps:

Click the Start button. Press and hold the CTRL and SHIFT keys, and right-click on an empty area in the Start menu. You’ll see a Popup menu containing the two options namely Exit Explorer and Properties.





Note that the above Popup menu can be launched by holding the CTRL and SHIFT keys and then right-clicking on the Start menu power button itself.




NOTE After selecting the Exit Explorer command, the shell (Start menu, Taskbar and the Desktop) will the closed and the other applications continue to run. You need to manually start a new Explorer.exe process by launching Task Manager. Use the CTRL+SHIFT+ESC key sequence to launch Task Manager. From the File menu of Task Manager, choose New Task (Run…), type Explorer.exe and press ENTER.

If you’re an avid Keyboard user:

To launch the above Popup menu using keyboard, use the following key sequence:

Press CTRL+ESC to launch the Start menu.

Press Right-arrow, so that the focus is set to the power button.

Press and hold CTRL and SHIFT keys, and then press the Application key. This key has an image of a mouse pointer on a menu. Depressing this key will display the selected item’s shortcut window. This opens the Popup menu containing the Exit Explorer command. Press the X button on the keyboard to run the command.

Key sequence – Option #1: {CTRL} {ESC} {RIGHT} ({CTRL} {SHIFT}) {APPKEY} {X}

Key sequence – Option #2: {CTRL} {ESC} {RIGHT} ({CTRL} {SHIFT}) {F10} {X}

 

[UltraX7]

Hey
I was just using your little guide here, but I made one flaw... I missed the spot where you insert your own icon. I don't know how to remove it now :/
Would you happen to know how to uninstall what I've done? Sorry to bother you, I'm not so good at writing code yet.

Thanks for reading and responding
P.S. I wasn't sure if I was meant to include the 'Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00' bit in the registry file... Yey or ney?

 

[Luka]

Very nice, thanx