Forum Discussion
Windows 11 File Explorer all messed up
Well, I will try leaving this solution here, although my previous post never got released, and I think most people with this issue have already given up and abandoned this thread...
I did find the cause of this issue, in my case... I use a Windows theming program called WindowBlinds, which enables loading of real themes, rather than the crippled theming system that Windows 11 offers. It turns out that some (currently unidentified) Windows update at end of 2024, broke the WindowBlinds interface - though the only symptom of this was that Window File Explorer was disabled (as documented here). Unfortunately, that update also broke WindowBlinds' update-checking mechanism, so I didn't know there was a new version available.
Once I installed the current version of WindowBlinds (11.06, vs 11.02 that I was previously using), then rebooted, this problem is completely resolved !! File Explorer now works fine.
I realize that most people posting here, are likely not using WindowBlinds, but this suggests the possibility that other programs may also have been broken by that Windows 11 update... so you might review what other programs you have installed, that are not standard Windows apps....
Well, I will try leaving this solution here, although my previous post never got released, and I think most people with this issue have already given up and abandoned this thread...
I did find the cause of this issue, in my case... I use a Windows theming program called WindowBlinds, which enables loading of real themes, rather than the crippled theming system that Windows 11 offers. It turns out that some (currently unidentified) Windows update at end of 2024, broke the WindowBlinds interface - though the only symptom of this was that Window File Explorer was disabled (as documented here). Unfortunately, that update also broke WindowBlinds' update-checking mechanism, so I didn't know there was a new version available.
Once I installed the current version of WindowBlinds (11.06, vs 11.02 that I was previously using), then rebooted, this problem is completely resolved !! File Explorer now works fine.
I realize that most people posting here, are likely not using WindowBlinds, but this suggests the possibility that other programs may also have been broken by that Windows 11 update... so you might review what other programs you have installed, that are not standard Windows apps....
Thank you Gorlash. After 4 days of my (competent) local computer store trying to fix this plus loss of sound of my top of the line Dell XPS i9, and then myself trying again, I returned to Windows 10. Im happy to say File Explorer and the speakers and microphone are working again.
Since it will be supported for at least another year I am going to avoid Windows 11 just like I avoided Windows 8. I'll try your solution above which I've copied should this happen in the future.
And we were told that Windows 10 would be the last version of Windows...
Best,
Mike
