Wife says she has to walk away and leave it, and it may eventually show files.
It does not list any directories at all on the left pane.
So how to fix, and if not fixable, is there an alternate file manager?
Sometimes rather than fully rebooting I use Task Manager to End Task on Windows Explorer, Processes tab and scroll clear to the bottom. Then I use the 3-finger salute to Sign Out and usually get things started again.
Something else to do in the way of a diagnostic is right-click the drive icon, click Properties, click Tools tab then Error Checking. For the C:/Boot/System drive you'll get a message to shut down [not restart] then boot up then wait for the disk check to begin. If no luck with that maybe a disk diagnostic from the firm that made the drive.
As for an alternate file management to File Explorer [formerly Windows Explorer] I use Total Commander, not free, but have seen Free Commander working fine. Both look different but not hard to get used to.
Ok, we rebooted the PC, and file manager worked, showed files immediately.
So is this a bug or a windows feature?
Honestly, there must be a bug. It has happened several times recently, but she had not rebooted recently.
Having to reboot means there must be a bug.
More than likely, as I've noticed from time to time, is Windows memory management has hit a glitch and the renewal of the loading of Windows clears that up. A lot hinges upon what the user is doing that may require a lot of data stored in RAM/Randam Access Memory. RAM is volatile, whatever is stored in it, being used, will be wiped out when the RAM modules lose power during reboot or shutdown/restart processes, gives a clean start to Windows and programs. Normally when a program is closed the Operating System or itself should remove data from memory, doesn't always happen. Which having to reboot doesn't necessarily indicate any problem but one could run a memory diagnostic such as memtest86 to check or maybe the machines boot process has a built-in memory diagnostic. memtest86 at DuckDuckGo
This was a common complaint with the earlier versions of Windows 10. The original RTM release 10240 suffered a lot, Just google Windows 10 "we're working on it" and look at the dates of the reports, mostly they're from 2015. Seems better now, can't say I've had any problems in the Anniversary or Creators update. What version do you have?
It is the creators update.
Suggest you post a screenshot of your task manager, Processes tab, organising any column of interest from high to low by clicking the column tab header, and also of file explorer when this is happening e.g. using the Snipping tool, or if response makes this impossible, a photo.
To post a screenshot/image please use the Insert Image icon above your post to the left of the video icon. Thanks.
When this happens, do you simply launch file explorer, or are you searching for something using file explorer?
Does this ever happen after a clean boot?
Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 10 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials
part 1.
It happens at launch of windows explorer.
If you close it and reopen, it wont display any folders on the left, and in the main right pane.
A green bar begins progressing across the top, and it says working on it.
You can interact with the top menus.
Hi, if you'd care to respond to para's 1 & 3, that might help, thanks.
Also try checking your disk: download and run Hard Disk Sentinel (trial) and post a screenshot of the result, just to eliminate that possibility.
Then check your file system:
From an admin command or powershell prompt
[Windows key + X, click command prompt (admin)]
chkdsk C: /F
Your PC will need to restart.
Post back the result, which you can get after a restart as follows:
Read Chkdsk Log in Event Viewer in Windows 10 Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials
or
How to read Event Viewer log for Chkdsk in Windows 10 [Tip] | Reviews, news, tips, and tricks | dotTechdotTech
or
How do I see the results of a CHKDSK that ran on boot? - Ask Leo!
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