Windows Explorer Freeze problem

Ever entered a directory filled with lots videos/images/audio files using Windows Explorer only to find it getting stuck for a long time while it reads metadata? This can happen due to an unsupported codec, or because of a corrupted media file. Can be an avi, an mp3, etc. Go to Start | Run and try these commands:

-- Remove Media Preview
regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll

-- Remove's image preview
regsvr32 /u shimgvw.dll

To re-register them, just run the same commands without the /u trigger.

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10 Comments

creekauFebruary 13th, 2006 at 4:14 pm

easy and helpfull 10x!

ericMay 29th, 2006 at 3:36 pm

I have spent countless hours trying to resolve the windows explorer hangups that were bugging my system a frustrating long time.
Two simples commands and the problem is gone….
THX !

Rick CooperOctober 12th, 2006 at 3:22 am

Wow, this solved my problem too!! Many thanks. :)

personFebruary 9th, 2007 at 10:50 pm

This worked instantly for speeding up deleting 30,000 + .eml files that were getting hung up when trying to delete them on a Win2k3 server machine.

Ivan AcostaApril 15th, 2007 at 11:25 pm

This has really worked on my computer too … EXCELENT! Thanks a lot man.

Suresh GrandhiNovember 26th, 2007 at 12:42 am

Thank you. Looks like your solution has worked on my PC.

AnonymousSeptember 15th, 2008 at 10:52 pm

Is this just intended for XP because shmedia.dll does not exist on Vista.

aroonieSeptember 28th, 2008 at 11:48 am

THANK YOU!!!! for solving my windows explorer freeze problem. And it speeded up explorer opening.

IanSeptember 30th, 2008 at 3:34 pm

Yes, solved my problem too – I’d just uploaded a video file from my digital camera – filetype .asf – and windows explorer froze. This fix seems to have sorted it. Many thanks.

NitspiderNovember 5th, 2008 at 10:53 am

Great!! Solved my freeze problem ..every time I tried to copy some avi file in Win Explorer hanged …after the comand …I could copy them! Thanx a lot!

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