Windows 11 explorer.exe Keeps Crashing and Restarting

Stigg · Nov 16, 2021

I have two entries for Gaming Services and four Xbox Services.

ThrashZone · Nov 16, 2021

Hi,
Yep you could start just disabling the services.

Stigg · Nov 16, 2021

Is uninstalling Xbox Game Bar going to cause problems?
It is so heavily integrated into Windows 11.

ThrashZone · Nov 16, 2021

Hi,
No I game it does nothing unless you use xbox app and I do not.

ThrashZone · Nov 16, 2021

Hi,
Nope no 7000 or any crashes
Do have 7040 but it's just a service change from demand to auto start.

Couple warnings 10016
Just launch permission nonsense 11 dictator features.

Stigg · Nov 16, 2021

Are you suggesting that I run this next? I have already made an image backup.
Does it remove all the Services?

Code:

Remove-AppxPackage -Package "Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay_2.34.28001.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe"
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -PackageTypeFilter Bundle -Name "*Microsoft.Xbox.TCUI*" | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -PackageTypeFilter Bundle -Name "*Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider*" | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -PackageTypeFilter Bundle -Name "*Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay*" | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -PackageTypeFilter Bundle -Name "*Microsoft.XboxApp*" | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -PackageTypeFilter Bundle -Name "*Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay*" | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -PackageTypeFilter Bundle -Name "*Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay*" | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers

ThrashZone · Nov 16, 2021

Hi,
You posted most of the services so seems disabling them is easier to undo although backup helps undo pretty well

But I'd disable the settings pages you already posted and the services see how it goes.
Then nuke it if same errors keep happening.

Stigg · Nov 16, 2021

Stigg said:
I have two entries for Gaming Services and four Xbox Services.

View attachment 13839
View attachment 13840

There is only one Service running out of them all, and it's the Gaming Services.
I was going to disable it, but the Startup Type is grayed out. I am starting to think that one is a problem.
Even though only one Gaming Services is running, both their Startup Types are grayed out.

Stigg · Nov 16, 2021

I was able to disable it in the Registry.
Change Start DWORD from 2 to 4.

Stigg · Nov 16, 2021

It still doesn't make sense why I am getting this for Gaming Services:
The system cannot find the path specified. The paths are all OK.
The only slight discrepancy I can see is that the Service name and Display name differ for GamingServicesNet. But that shouldn't matter.
It could easily be changed in the Registry, but I doubt that it would make a difference.
Does everyone have both Services display name as Gaming Services?

.

Stigg · Nov 17, 2021

Disabling Gaming Services (GamingServicesNet) using the Registry and rebooting has fixed all the Event Viewer errors I posted in this thread.
At this point in time, I'll leave it disabled and won't uninstall it.

But to uninstall it, you can launch PowerShell as an administrator and copy and paste the following command:

Code:

get-appxpackage Microsoft.GamingServices | remove-AppxPackage -allusers

I am not sure if Gaming Services (GamingServicesNet) will first need to be disabled and system rebooted for it to work properly.

Whether that was the cause of explorer.exe randomly crashing and restarting, I am not sure yet.
I'll report back in time.

Thanks to everyone who has provided help so far. :clap:

ThrashZone · Nov 17, 2021

Hi,
Only gaming service I show and all are on manual are
GamingDVR and broadcast

xBox
Accessory management
Live auth manager
Live game save
Live networking

Stigg · Nov 17, 2021

ThrashZone said:
Hi,
Only gaming service I show and all are on manual are
GamingDVR and broadcast

xBox
Accessory management
Live auth manager
Live game save
Live networking

I don't even have GamingDVR or Broadcast.

I have the four Xbox services. They are all set to Manual by default and the only one currently running is Xbox Live Auth Manager. Not sure why it's running.

I have left the Xbox services alone for now as they don't appear to be causing me any problems.

It seems that the two Gaming Services (Gaming Services Net) were the problems.

Stigg · Nov 17, 2021

A bit of info about Gaming Services and ways to remove it.

Gaming services wont install/update error Code: 0x80073D26 - Microsoft Q&A

I have happily been able to play games for a while and then there appears to have been a recent update to Gaming Services, which was failing to install with the error code Code: 0x80073D26. So I tried uninstalling and reinstalling, but the same error…

docs.microsoft.com

ThrashZone · Nov 17, 2021

Hi,
I'll add this to my power shell list

Code:

get-appxpackage Microsoft.GamingServices | remove-AppxPackage –allusers

Stigg · Nov 17, 2021

ThrashZone said:
Hi,
I'll add this to my power shell list

Code:

get-appxpackage Microsoft.GamingServices | remove-AppxPackage –allusers

You must already have it removed. You didn't mention it in the list in your previous post.

ThrashZone · Nov 17, 2021

Stigg said:
You must already have it removed. You didn't mention it in the list above.

Hi,
Could be removed from another string of stuff I haven't posted yet didn't want to scare you lol :zany:

Stigg · Nov 17, 2021

Here is another interesting service that isn't displayed in the Services list, but was giving me Event 7000 errors before I disabled Gaming Services.

I haven't removed this one yet as the errors have stopped since disabling Gaming Services, but I'm thinking about it. I am also thinking about completely uninstalling Gaming Services.

ThrashZone · Nov 17, 2021

Hi,
Crazy I'll check on that one later.

Stigg · Nov 18, 2021

It must be getting close to 24 hours since I disabled both Gaming Services, and all the Event ID errors that I posted about are gone.
But more importantly, I haven't had a single instance of explorer.exe crashing and restarting.

I have since completely uninstalled Gaming Services after reading numerous troublesome articles about it.
It can easily be reinstalled via PowerShell or the Windows Store if needed later. But I'll never need it.

I will mark this thread solved after monitoring the situation for a bit longer. I just want to be sure.