Every time I go to the start menu and search, it crashes explorer.

Any ideas?

Does it also happen when you change the vs to the standard win2000 look?

Edit: woot.. I mean are you using any vs? if yes, change it and try search again....

did you alter any system files? installed any 3rd party software lately?

No, I do not have themeing or anything running. I just did a reboot and it seems to work fine now, strange.

Funny, I never even need to use it, but when you find something broken there is a strange obsession to fix it.

maybe a system file got screwed up.
run sfc /scannow to let windows replace corrupted system files.