Solved Windows 11 64 busted file explorer.

So I have A issue if i right click on My Documents drive a separate 2tb ssd with everything moved to this drive. Pictures music etc. The pc will freeze the file explorer. It wont crash or report a problem the circle just spins. Pc continues to work but file explorer refuses to do anything until I 3 finger and restart it. All Other drives and folders work fine.

I tried and made a new account logged in tried the right clicking the hard drive and it works.

So im certain its a file link issue (Im not shore that the correct term im winging it) Some where when I moved my documents to the new drive I screwed it up.

I have tested the drive crystal disk says it fine.

I can access it ok move files use files etc no issues but right click kills it.

I have tried from various google sites.

Restart Explorer: Open Task Manager, right-click Windows Explorer, and choose Restart.

Clear Cache: Go to File Explorer Options, click Clear under Clear File Explorer history.

Run SFC: Open Command Prompt (Admin) and run sfc /scannow.

Disable Quick Access: Set Open File Explorer to: This PC in File Explorer Options.

Check Updates: Ensure Windows is up to date in Settings > Windows Update

I have changed the sata cable and sata port. That didnt help

Safe mode does the same so its not something i added i guess.

At a loss any ideas





Ty in advance for any help.

Old N Confused said:

if i right click on My Documents drive a separate 2tb ssd with everything moved to this drive. Pictures music etc. The pc will freeze the file explorer.

Click to expand...

Welcome to Eleven Forum.

'My Documents' is not a real folder, it is a Junction (a sort of shortcut) that points to the Documents folder. Explorer is probably getting confused because you've moved yours from C: to another drive.



There's nothing to be gained on right-clicking it, and a double-click gets 'access denied'. It's the Documents folder you should be looking at, 'My Documents' is just a link to Documents. It's there to provide backward compatibility for XP-era software that would be looking for it under its old name.

Old N Confused said:

Some where when I moved my documents to the new drive I screwed it up.

Click to expand...

Try taking ownership.....

Ty Bree many thanks for reply

To clarify F: drive is what I call my documents drive and My Documents folder is located here so
My Docs Drive (F:) > Documents >

ill give it a go.

Command lines............ Linux all over again :) A dyslexic Luddite typing in a foreign langue what could go wrong?

So i gave it a go and entered terminal as admin

takeown /F "F:"

F: being the drive i use for documents. 10 mins latter a load of writing and apparently it did what it was going to do.

Tried to right click and same problem.

Did you move the folders correctly?

This is one tutorial for Documents, moving any user folder is the same process.
(Option One)


If you right click on Documents (image below) then select > Properties > Location, where does it say it is? What is the folder path?





Make sure the location path is the path you moved the Folder to.

Ty antspants I did as you said the result is below.​

F:\My Documents

Which is what its supposed to say.

Welcome here, by the way.

So F: is an external or internal drive?

antspants said:

Welcome here, by the way.

So F: is an external or internal drive?

Click to expand...

Internal I have

C: NVME os drive

3 sata drives
D: Games Backup (downloading from steam every time this dam os breaks no...Not gonna happen)
E: Movies (Amazon Netflix etc)
F: Doc Drive

Old N Confused said:

I tried and made a new account logged in tried the right clicking the hard drive and it works.

Click to expand...

It could just very well be that that User profile is broken.
I have never created a new profile and moved the main profile to the new one before, there are a few here that know how.

Create a new profile (as you did) make it an administrator, then move the current User/AppData etc to the new profile.
As I said, I have never done it but there are people here that I have seen instruct others on how. I won’t nominate anyone.

Regardless, it’s just a thought. Some might agree or disagree.

I hope you fix it, sorry that I have nothing else.

antspants said:

It could just very well be that that User profile is broken.
I have never created a new profile and moved the main profile to the new one before, there are a few here that know how.

Create a new profile (as you did) make it an administrator, then move the current User/AppData etc to the new profile.
As I said, I have never done it but there are people here that I have seen instruct others on how. I won’t nominate anyone.

Regardless, it’s just a thought. Some might agree or disagree.

I hope you fix it, sorry that I have nothing else.

Click to expand...

Ty Mate. Thanks for the help. I have to much on this account that will be lost if i swap. But i look into it. Least I can verified the second account works before i remove this one. (I hope)

This is the gist of it (Post by @garlin ):


This may also help:

Old N Confused said:

So I have A issue if i right click on My Documents drive a separate 2tb ssd with everything moved to this drive. Pictures music etc. The pc will freeze the file explorer. It wont crash or report a problem the circle just spins.

Click to expand...

Do you get the same issue using the old Windows 10 style Explorer?

You can use the old Explorer by simply opening the Control Panel, click the up arrow icon a couple of times, and then navigate to your folder.

You can also use my OldExplorer tool to launch the old Explorer.

LesFerch said:

Do you get the same issue using the old Windows 10 style Explorer?

You can use the old Explorer by simply opening the Control Panel, click the up arrow icon a couple of times, and then navigate to your folder.

You can also use my OldExplorer tool to launch the old Explorer.

Click to expand...

Look it up and im not certain on what i ment to do..... Ill keep looking and once again thanks im lost for now lol.

Ok So i found SwitchExplorer and downloaded that extracted it and copied it to my c: drive. Run it and switched to windows 10 both sections. It did that i tried the right click on Docs drive and same thing. But it was a new learning experience and a god tool to keep.

Fixed it. YEY DUMB LUCK. I unplugged the Hard drive to check it on a separate pc with a sata. Disk passed all good.

I booted my pc and a few windows bitching sessions later as none of the links existed anymore and some cleaning when i plugged the drive back in after a restart moved all the links to document drive it all works. No errors and and Acronis disk image made to save it.

Thanks everyone for you help wish i thought of this but ill take the win there few and far between.

Cant work out how to mark this a solved so if anyone can point me to the right button. :)

Good to hear.

Top right of page, above the first post. Click on “Mark as Solved”