File Explorer crash when opened from taskbar (never happened before)

So I just tried to open the File Explorer and as soon as the quick access menu was about to load the window disappeared and the taskbar was reloading. I looked and found that Explorer.EXE had crashed with exception code 0xc0000005 and the faulting module was ntdll.dll. Just so you know this never happened before and seems to have just been a one-time fluke. What just happened?

Method 1.

You should be able to fix this problem by disabling DEP (Data Execution Prevention)

• Step 1.Log in computer with Administrator account to make sure you have fully administrative rights.
• Step 2. If your computer is running Windows XP, click "Start" button and select "Run". Windows 7 user can press Windows and R keys. Type sysdm.cpl in Run box and click OK.
• Step 3. You can see System Prosperities window from which you need to click Advanced tab and then Settings.
• Step 4. The "Performance Options" window will pop up and please click "Data Execution Protection" tab. Select the option "Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select" and click "Add" button.
• Step 5. Browse files from the Open applet and find the exe files of the software which causes the error code. Select it and click "Open" button.
• Step 6. Click "Apply" and "OK" to make changes take effect.

Method 2. Update Internet Explorer

As I said, this only happened once, and I am now able to open the File Explorer normally again.