Running WinXP Professional. I get a background but no desktop icons, no taskbar, can't start the Control Panel, etc. I can only run programs from the Task Manager. When I run explorer, it attempts to start (I see it flash on the screen then it's gone). If I monitor the Task Manager processes explorer is there for a brief second, the terminates. Ditto for programs like Control.exe. I've tried sfc /scannow, updated IE to version 7, did an XP Professional repair and a couple of other things. Any suggestions?
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explorer.exe won't run
- Thread starter BFOJ
- Start date
What is it like from Safe Mode, or from Normal Mode but as a different user (Ctrl+Alt+Del twice at the Welcome Screen login should give you access to the Administrator)?
If you have any access try this.
Removing adware & spyware
faq608-4650
If you have any access try this.
Removing adware & spyware
faq608-4650
- Thread starter
- #3
Linney,
It's the same in Safe Mode and I was Administrator. This morning I am going to run an anti-virus and anti-spyware program on the computer. I also ran a program I'd used before called shellfix.bat which runs the shellfix.reg update and I've had success with this on other computers, but not this one.
It's the same in Safe Mode and I was Administrator. This morning I am going to run an anti-virus and anti-spyware program on the computer. I also ran a program I'd used before called shellfix.bat which runs the shellfix.reg update and I've had success with this on other computers, but not this one.
firewolfrl
Technical User
pull the drive out and do a thorough antivirus/spyware/adware scan of the drive as a slave in another computer
after that come back and post the results.
a couple of things can happen to cause this. One is rogueware, another is a corrupt shell.
The big one is if the Hive is corrupt and the only fix is to back up data and install fresh windows(this is the best approach). A repair re-install will not work with a corrupt hive file. fortunately there are alot of walkthroughs for this type of issue.
this is a very good one:
I know your post did not say you had Hive issues but this usually goes hand in hand with the symptoms you posted.
after that come back and post the results.
a couple of things can happen to cause this. One is rogueware, another is a corrupt shell.
The big one is if the Hive is corrupt and the only fix is to back up data and install fresh windows(this is the best approach). A repair re-install will not work with a corrupt hive file. fortunately there are alot of walkthroughs for this type of issue.
this is a very good one:
I know your post did not say you had Hive issues but this usually goes hand in hand with the symptoms you posted.
When you get into Task Manager load Regedit, check out this location in the Registry.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Check that the Value @ Shell = Explorer.exe and not some other .exe.
And that the Value @ Userinit = C:\Windows\system32\userinit.exe, (including the last comma).
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Check that the Value @ Shell = Explorer.exe and not some other .exe.
And that the Value @ Userinit = C:\Windows\system32\userinit.exe, (including the last comma).
- Thread starter
- #6
Linney,
Those winlogon values are ok in the registry. I've also completed the anti-virus/spyware scans and turned up nothing. I do appreciate yours and the others who have responded suggestions. This computer is a user's home Server and I'm trying my best not to restore it to the original condition as this has been a major project and I really don't want to start over nor fail in the task, although I'm going to have to make a decision soon as to my customer's options. Again thanks to all. Any other advice will be appreciated.
Those winlogon values are ok in the registry. I've also completed the anti-virus/spyware scans and turned up nothing. I do appreciate yours and the others who have responded suggestions. This computer is a user's home Server and I'm trying my best not to restore it to the original condition as this has been a major project and I really don't want to start over nor fail in the task, although I'm going to have to make a decision soon as to my customer's options. Again thanks to all. Any other advice will be appreciated.
Can you post a "Hijack This" log via Task Manager (in Normal Mode)? As a last hope, someone might pick up something from it.
Another last gasp might be to check for a Rootkit infection?
Another last gasp might be to check for a Rootkit infection?
- Thread starter
- #8
Let me add some information that I didn't share before, but may be very significant. The customer had two computers, a noname Server, a Dell client PC. He wants the data and programs from the Dell computer migrated to his Server, then he was going to take the client PC out of service.
The steps I took. The Server had a C: drive of 6GB (don't laugh), running Windows XP Professional, plus almost 100GB on the same hard drive pariticned as D:. He also had a second 100GB scsi hard drive E:. Both D: and E: had programs and data on them. 1) My first step was to use Norton's Partition Magic to increase the size of C: to 40GB. No problem. 2) I used Norton's Ghost 2003 to create an image of C: to a file on the E: drive. No problem. 3) I used Laplink PCMover to do the migration between these two computers via a network cable. Only problem was getting the two computers to communicate which turned out to be a firewall issue. No other problems.
At the completion of the migration I rebooted the computer, with the results of the 'explorer.exe' problem.
Options I have, 1) Undoing the PCMover action, however since I did the Windows Repair, IE7 update and other things after the PCMover. 2) I can use the Ghost image on E: to restore the Server back to the original condition which is probably my best option, but then I don't have the programs and data migrated as requested. 3) I can do the ghost restore and transfer just the data and perhaps configuration files, but I still have an issue with the programs. Some of these programs can be reinstalled with a CD, download from the Internet or another purchase of the software. However, the real problem is that the customer doesn't have some of the original CD's, although he's got the legal documention in his possession, and some programs were softwares no longer available on the market or were programs that were done by developers for his use.
Sorry for being so wordy, but hopefully this may provide some additional solutions by you guru's out there.![[thumbsup]](/data/assets/smilies/thumbsup.gif "[thumbsup] [thumbsup]")
The steps I took. The Server had a C: drive of 6GB (don't laugh), running Windows XP Professional, plus almost 100GB on the same hard drive pariticned as D:. He also had a second 100GB scsi hard drive E:. Both D: and E: had programs and data on them. 1) My first step was to use Norton's Partition Magic to increase the size of C: to 40GB. No problem. 2) I used Norton's Ghost 2003 to create an image of C: to a file on the E: drive. No problem. 3) I used Laplink PCMover to do the migration between these two computers via a network cable. Only problem was getting the two computers to communicate which turned out to be a firewall issue. No other problems.
At the completion of the migration I rebooted the computer, with the results of the 'explorer.exe' problem.
Options I have, 1) Undoing the PCMover action, however since I did the Windows Repair, IE7 update and other things after the PCMover. 2) I can use the Ghost image on E: to restore the Server back to the original condition which is probably my best option, but then I don't have the programs and data migrated as requested. 3) I can do the ghost restore and transfer just the data and perhaps configuration files, but I still have an issue with the programs. Some of these programs can be reinstalled with a CD, download from the Internet or another purchase of the software. However, the real problem is that the customer doesn't have some of the original CD's, although he's got the legal documention in his possession, and some programs were softwares no longer available on the market or were programs that were done by developers for his use.
Sorry for being so wordy, but hopefully this may provide some additional solutions by you guru's out there.
Another option, a little more hardware-oriented, would be to clone the Dell HDD onto a spare drive, check the clone by booting the Dell to it, then remove the clone and install it into the server (disconnect the other existing drives at this time, just to be safe) and do an Inplace Install (second Repair option) of XP on the Dell's HDD, supplying the SATA & SCSI drivers needed at F6, see if that works. If so, you can Ghost it over to the existing partition on the server's C: drive. If not, you have not damaged anything and can return to point A (where you are now?)
Tony
"Buy what you like, or you'll be forced to like what you buy"...me
Tony
"Buy what you like, or you'll be forced to like what you buy"...me
If you are moving the old Dell system to the Server, would it be easier to set it up as a Dual Boot?
Even in Vista, with Microsoft's Easy Transfer Companion (beta), getting installed programs to transfer and then run correctly is a bit hit and miss. IBM have something in the works called "SoulPad" which is supposed to do something similar, but they seem to have trouble getting it to work (I first heard about it over two years ago). So if these big two companies are having trouble exactly how do you expect to grab programs from one system and run them on another, other than reinstalling them?
A Discussion About the Bootcfg Command and Its Uses
Is there anything in here that you can use?
You receive a Stop 0x0000007B error after you move the Windows XP system disk to another computer
Even in Vista, with Microsoft's Easy Transfer Companion (beta), getting installed programs to transfer and then run correctly is a bit hit and miss. IBM have something in the works called "SoulPad" which is supposed to do something similar, but they seem to have trouble getting it to work (I first heard about it over two years ago). So if these big two companies are having trouble exactly how do you expect to grab programs from one system and run them on another, other than reinstalling them?
A Discussion About the Bootcfg Command and Its Uses
Is there anything in here that you can use?
You receive a Stop 0x0000007B error after you move the Windows XP system disk to another computer
- Thread starter
- #11
I'll have to think about these last two responses, linney and wahnula. I'll be discussing with the customer today what our options are. I kind of like the idea of a dual-boot, but in all my years of experience I've never actually done one. Probably would be good experience for me, just have to decide how much more time I want to invest in this job. Thanks!
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