How to Restart explorer.exe Remotely?

I'm having big troubles with a remote server that for some reason explorer.exe crashed and, although I didn't lose remote desktop connectivity, I can't do anything. Is there a way of restarting explorer without rebooting the server?

I appreciate ANY suggestions!!

Solution 1:

Explorer runs on a per-user basis. Can you log in under a different account that isn't already logged in?

Edit: Also, if your remote desktop session is still active, CTRL + ALT + END should have the same effect as a CTRL + ALT + DEL on the remote system. That might get you the Task Manager up, in which case you can kill/restart explorer.exe as required.

Solution 2:

CTRL+SHIFT+ESC is a keyboard shortcut for launching the Task Manager. It has "File->New Task..." which is basically a Run dialog that you'd normally get with WINKEY+R, which you can use to restart Explorer by entering "explorer" or "explorer.exe". I have used this shortcut numerous times when explorer has crashed and not restarted.

This shortcut is handy whether or not you are on remote desktop, but it definitely comes across regular remote desktop sessions (whereas CTRL+ALT+DEL does not) and is extra useful in that case.

REMEMBER: if you're in remote desktop, reconnect and check the option the "Apply Windows Key combinations" = On the remote computer for this to work.

Solution 3:

If the explorer.exe is not killed yet, kill it in the task manager.

Hit windows+R for the run dialog, then enter explorer.exe, and hit ok. The explorer.exe should be started again, and you be good to go (on). Alternatively, to start the process, you can use the taskmanagers New Task… button from the Applications tab, which opens a run dialog as well (just renamed).