Windows Explorer won't load; can't "Run As Admin"

[ultralame]

OK. Weird stuff.

Windows 8.1 x64.

When I directly click on the Taskbar Explorer icon, it flashes for a bit, then nothing. If I right click and select a pinned folder, it opens instantly.

I also have a CMD prompt pinned to the task bar. If I right click, then right click on the CMD again and then select Run as Admin, it doesn't load. It will load non-admin instantly. (I also tried running as admin from the Start Screen with a long press- that doesn't work).

However, I can go into the advanced properties of the CMD shortcut and check to run it as an admin. That works.

I have tried a utility to purge missing mount points in the the Registry, and an SFC scan, which showed no problems.

Any ideas?

 

[informativeq]

This sounds the same as my recent reason for coming to this forum. "THIS PC" folder taking forever to display.

The fix turned out to be a hosed Explorer.Exe. I went to task manager (by right clicking the bottom tasks bar) and selected the Windows Explorer under apps (Explorer.Exe) and right clicking it and doing a restart. Cleared it up instantly for me.