Explorer.exe Unknown Hard Error on Safe Mode

Discussion in 'Windows 11' started by toyo, Feb 28, 2023.

  1. toyo

    toyo MDL Senior Member

    Aug 14, 2009
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    313
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    Hello guys,

    I might need a bit of help fixing this issue I have when I reboot on Safe Mode, which I usually do to remove Nvidia drivers with DDU.
    For the last months, I am getting a popup during the last part of the boot, with the test from the title, and it won't continue the boot until I press Enter. The consequence is that I cannot use the Start and some other parts of the taskbar. File Explorer works, but I'd appreciate the Start menu with my app shortcuts. Right clicking the Start does work though, and there's the usual popup.
    This behavior occurs only on Safe Mode. If I perform the reboot with msconfig, or with the Win 11 settings Advanced Startup, same thing.
    Tried searching on the web and basically no answers, only weird sites trying to push their stupid apps and generic "run sfc /scannow and DISM" advice from Microsoft Answers, as one would expect.
    I assume the error is kind of specific enough to troubleshoot?

    Thanks!
     
  2. MS_User

    MS_User MDL Guru

    Nov 30, 2014
    4,657
    1,361
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    why would you need to go into safe mode just to remove a video driver? have you tried safe mode with out network or the other way around see if you have better luck.
     
  3. acer-5100

    acer-5100 MDL Guru

    Dec 8, 2018
    4,003
    2,923
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    Use msconfig and disable any non MS service, use the taskmanager and disable any autostarting app.

    See if it solves the problem.

    If the problem is solved reenable the things you have disabled until you spot the culprit.


    If it doesn't help try creating a new user and if the problem is shared with it

    If the problem still persist, you have likely a bigger problem, do an in place upgrade and hopefully it will be fixed.