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Re-enable desktop in task mgr? 3
- Thread starter garebo
- Start date
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1
- #2
gpalmer711
IS-IT--Management
The desktop is controlled by the explorer.exe process, if you have no desktop but a process called explorer.exe in your Task manager then it is possible that it is either corrupt or picking up the incorrect explorer.exe.
Try ending all explorer.exe processes > Click on File > Click on New Task > Type the following (without quotes) "%systemroot%\explorer.exe"
Since a bug in windows became wide spread knowledge several months ago, more and more malware applications are taking advantage of it. I won't document it here because it will just spread it further, suffice to say that using the command above it will pick out the file in the location it should be in.
Greg Palmer
Freeware Utilities for Windows Administrators.
Try ending all explorer.exe processes > Click on File > Click on New Task > Type the following (without quotes) "%systemroot%\explorer.exe"
Since a bug in windows became wide spread knowledge several months ago, more and more malware applications are taking advantage of it. I won't document it here because it will just spread it further, suffice to say that using the command above it will pick out the file in the location it should be in.
Greg Palmer
Freeware Utilities for Windows Administrators.
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks for the info!
That is exactly what is happening to me, i have, i believe, a trojan horse that i cant get rid of, and it runs a file called "explorer" to the point where my computer freezes up from usage.
I have tried every prog out there to fix this, to no avail. And i know i have to turn off system restore and goback when running these progs.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
That is exactly what is happening to me, i have, i believe, a trojan horse that i cant get rid of, and it runs a file called "explorer" to the point where my computer freezes up from usage.
I have tried every prog out there to fix this, to no avail. And i know i have to turn off system restore and goback when running these progs.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
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1
- #4
After trying the usual suspects in these threads -
Removing adware & spyware
faq608-4650
Microsoft (GIANT Antispyware) Beta available
Thread779-979113
might I suggest you take your security to the next level and look at these programs (TDS-3 and ProcessGuard) at the following site.
For the seriously minded concerned with protection software I thoroughly recommend this site -
with additional information from -
Note - the free Registry Protection program is only suitable for 9x systems.
Removing adware & spyware
faq608-4650
Microsoft (GIANT Antispyware) Beta available
Thread779-979113
might I suggest you take your security to the next level and look at these programs (TDS-3 and ProcessGuard) at the following site.
For the seriously minded concerned with protection software I thoroughly recommend this site -
with additional information from -
Note - the free Registry Protection program is only suitable for 9x systems.
- Thread starter
- #5
thanks linney, i will check these out.
As i said in my second post, which i should have pointed out in my first post, i have done all the AV, antispyware, anti-trojan til i am supposedly free of anything and sick and tired of trying.
Adware, hijack this, shredder, stinger, on and on and on, online scan with trend-micro, spybot, microsoft antispyware, few anti-trojan progs, the works and then some. My computer should be clean, and all the progs say it is, but its not.
Someone will mention disabling goback and system restore, i have done that too. This was all dealt with in another thread.
At this point, all i want to do is buy time while i am getting my new unit ready for prime time. This is why i am asking about any tricks i can do with explorer. Plus its good general knowledge as well.
thanks to linney and gpalmer
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
As i said in my second post, which i should have pointed out in my first post, i have done all the AV, antispyware, anti-trojan til i am supposedly free of anything and sick and tired of trying.
Adware, hijack this, shredder, stinger, on and on and on, online scan with trend-micro, spybot, microsoft antispyware, few anti-trojan progs, the works and then some. My computer should be clean, and all the progs say it is, but its not.
Someone will mention disabling goback and system restore, i have done that too. This was all dealt with in another thread.
At this point, all i want to do is buy time while i am getting my new unit ready for prime time. This is why i am asking about any tricks i can do with explorer. Plus its good general knowledge as well.
thanks to linney and gpalmer
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
gpalmer711
IS-IT--Management
From task manager run SFC /Scannow - this will scan your computer for missing/corrupt system files and attempt to replace them (you will need your windows CD)
You could try running a repair install of XP - This will repair all windows core files while leaving your files and settings intact.
You could try following the advice below to extract a copy of explorer.exe from your Install CD
Greg Palmer
Freeware Utilities for Windows Administrators.
You could try running a repair install of XP - This will repair all windows core files while leaving your files and settings intact.
You could try following the advice below to extract a copy of explorer.exe from your Install CD
Greg Palmer
Freeware Utilities for Windows Administrators.
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1
- #7
Place this on your hard drive and run it from Task Manager:
- Thread starter
- #8
Thanks, guys, i will do that.
The thing is that i really should, after 4 yrs, do a complete re-install and i will, after i fix this one, lol. But i get this weird kick out of saying i have been running the same install for x amount of years.
This is probably becuz im a latecomer to computers. I cut my teeth on 98se, not dos 1.0 like a lot of you guys, lol. So these little victories are still important to me.
Also, and this is really another post i guess, but anyway, for the people who insist on defragging, scandisk and the like. As i said, i started with win98se, but also goback, and thats when they were brand new and goback was full of bugs. I didnt know that since i was new, so i went with what i learned, that with goback you shouldnt run defrag and scandisk. Well since i have used goback all these years i have stayed away from defragging my hard drive. To me, this proves that defragging isnt all that important. I have rarely made any coasters with my cd or dvd burners and i have kept my system running all these years like that, and running fine. I always have about 3 or 4 systems going at any one time and have had my main system either win98se or win xp pro. Im just stating my experience with this stuff.
I did pick up, very quickly, that keeping ones registry clean is very important and i do that often, especially with uninstalls, i go into registry and manually edit out the stuff that was missed. I feel thats what keeps a system going, more than defrag will ever do. Again, just my thoughts.
Now i am at the point where i feel i can dump goback. Its a great prog in my opinion, and i was among the first people to buy goback when they were the "wild file" company. But system restore kinda takes over and i am more at ease.
I can build a computer from scratch and take care of all my problems and i owe it all to the internet and people like you!! Other than one friend who helped a lot, i got all the rest of my info and experience here at tektips or on the net somewhere. Course i know i'm also not unique in that area. Still, its kinda cool to actually realize that the people on the net have been my teacher.
Cant say thanks enough!
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
The thing is that i really should, after 4 yrs, do a complete re-install and i will, after i fix this one, lol. But i get this weird kick out of saying i have been running the same install for x amount of years.
This is probably becuz im a latecomer to computers. I cut my teeth on 98se, not dos 1.0 like a lot of you guys, lol. So these little victories are still important to me.
Also, and this is really another post i guess, but anyway, for the people who insist on defragging, scandisk and the like. As i said, i started with win98se, but also goback, and thats when they were brand new and goback was full of bugs. I didnt know that since i was new, so i went with what i learned, that with goback you shouldnt run defrag and scandisk. Well since i have used goback all these years i have stayed away from defragging my hard drive. To me, this proves that defragging isnt all that important. I have rarely made any coasters with my cd or dvd burners and i have kept my system running all these years like that, and running fine. I always have about 3 or 4 systems going at any one time and have had my main system either win98se or win xp pro. Im just stating my experience with this stuff.
I did pick up, very quickly, that keeping ones registry clean is very important and i do that often, especially with uninstalls, i go into registry and manually edit out the stuff that was missed. I feel thats what keeps a system going, more than defrag will ever do. Again, just my thoughts.
Now i am at the point where i feel i can dump goback. Its a great prog in my opinion, and i was among the first people to buy goback when they were the "wild file" company. But system restore kinda takes over and i am more at ease.
I can build a computer from scratch and take care of all my problems and i owe it all to the internet and people like you!! Other than one friend who helped a lot, i got all the rest of my info and experience here at tektips or on the net somewhere. Course i know i'm also not unique in that area. Still, its kinda cool to actually realize that the people on the net have been my teacher.
Cant say thanks enough!
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
gpalmer711
IS-IT--Management
Hi garebo,
I'm totally with you on your opinions. I started a little earlier with Windows 3.11, however I also learnt the majority of my knowledge from the internet (75% Tek-Tips) and tinkering with things I had no knowledge about, I totally hosed one system which put me offline for about 6 months until I could afford another machine.
However years later I now feel that I have something to give back to the community and enjoy doing so.
As for goback, while I think there is still a place for it in the market, I am inclined to agree with you that with the implementation of System restore there is little need for it on a standard home users machine.
Long may Tek-tips continue & people such as bcastner, linney and the countless others grace it with their presence.
Greg Palmer
Freeware Utilities for Windows Administrators.
I'm totally with you on your opinions. I started a little earlier with Windows 3.11, however I also learnt the majority of my knowledge from the internet (75% Tek-Tips) and tinkering with things I had no knowledge about, I totally hosed one system which put me offline for about 6 months until I could afford another machine.
However years later I now feel that I have something to give back to the community and enjoy doing so.
As for goback, while I think there is still a place for it in the market, I am inclined to agree with you that with the implementation of System restore there is little need for it on a standard home users machine.
Long may Tek-tips continue & people such as bcastner, linney and the countless others grace it with their presence.
Greg Palmer
Freeware Utilities for Windows Administrators.
- Thread starter
- #10
You too Greg!!!
Another thing about goback, for me. I needed it a lot more before and need it a lot less. For one thing, I dont have a heart attack whenever there is a problem. And i have learned to deal with some of the issues, plus i know where to get help.
Also, win xp pro, i think, is the hardest os to install, but one installed its got to be the most stable by far of any microsoft product for home use. I have to state "for home use" even for xp pro as there are m\soft os's i know nothing about, but they are likely as or more stable, like server 2003, NT, and 2k.
With xp pro i find its very very stable. I dont do porn but i do the "z' word and i dont do all the updates so i DO get viruses and trojans and stuff and xp pro keeps on chugging. I have never even seen a blue screen in xp, even with it set to "blue screen" instead of rebooting!
Xp is so far above 98 for stability, its like a whole different os. I hear it has parts of NT and win 2k in it, built on the NT kernel, as well as maybe parts of 98, but it doesnt have the bad parts, lol.
Anyway, to me, thats why goback just isnt needed as much.
Still, its a great prog and needed if you are running win98.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
Another thing about goback, for me. I needed it a lot more before and need it a lot less. For one thing, I dont have a heart attack whenever there is a problem. And i have learned to deal with some of the issues, plus i know where to get help.
Also, win xp pro, i think, is the hardest os to install, but one installed its got to be the most stable by far of any microsoft product for home use. I have to state "for home use" even for xp pro as there are m\soft os's i know nothing about, but they are likely as or more stable, like server 2003, NT, and 2k.
With xp pro i find its very very stable. I dont do porn but i do the "z' word and i dont do all the updates so i DO get viruses and trojans and stuff and xp pro keeps on chugging. I have never even seen a blue screen in xp, even with it set to "blue screen" instead of rebooting!
Xp is so far above 98 for stability, its like a whole different os. I hear it has parts of NT and win 2k in it, built on the NT kernel, as well as maybe parts of 98, but it doesnt have the bad parts, lol.
Anyway, to me, thats why goback just isnt needed as much.
Still, its a great prog and needed if you are running win98.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
- Thread starter
- #11
I don't share your opinions about never defragging but then again I have never used "Go Back". I only ever keep the last couple of Restore Points from System Restore. Do you ever run tools like Disk Cleanup?
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Does the value for Shell = Explorer.exe
Have you tried running your machine in Safe Mode to see if you have problems from there?
Finally it is the other side of the coin, but people like you contribute just as much to this forum by asking questions in the first place, which in turn assist others who may have similar problems.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Does the value for Shell = Explorer.exe
Have you tried running your machine in Safe Mode to see if you have problems from there?
Finally it is the other side of the coin, but people like you contribute just as much to this forum by asking questions in the first place, which in turn assist others who may have similar problems.
- Thread starter
- #13
Thanks linney
I know that i am not the most knowledgable person out there. Im pretty good in some areas and totally lacking in others. And i have noticed there are a few times where i should have left a post to others. To me its all a learning process, and i hopefully preface my remarks by pointing out my limited knowledge, lol.
But i notice i have made a few mistakes. Hopefully again its considered a learning process. One such gaffe is the m\soft gaffe, but im sure its considered someones opinion and nothing else,lol. And i've made others in other posts.
Now, with disk cleanup, good point and ill tell you why.
Again, from my experience. When i first started i used all the progs in NSW, up to about 5 yrs ago. And i used the disk cleanup in there as well as other progs only to have to reformat my drive and start all over again. I have to point out that i always have about 3 or 4 computers. So i used and still use two as guineau pigs. Whenever i used the progs in norton i ended up worse than when i started. My main win98se and my main win xp, never used defrag, never used norton cleanup or other tools, and never used windows disk cleanup, as i think thats what you are referring to. They messed up my guineau pigs too much and i like to be able to brag that i kept my main win98se and win xp going. My win98se is now about 6 yrs old, but its not fair to state as i dont use it every day. Still, it booted last week, lol.
So i just dont use them. Now i have more skills, maybe i should.
Again, its gonna be this week before i can look into the stuff that has been posted for me, but I'm glad they are there, i have already copied them to a wordpad doc and i will work from there.
With goback, its not wise to run defrag. could be its ok now but i have just gotten used to not doing so and, aside from viruses and trojans, i havent had anything that i couldnt fix over the years and my puter runs fast, never
run it thru any comparisons, but fast enuf for me.
No, i havent tried safe mode, and thats exactly what i was thinking. However, all my spyware and antivirus, and believe me i have run a ton, they all say im ok, but im not ok, lol. Im not sure why or what you mean about running in safe mode, unless you are saying that i might catch a bad guy in safe mode that i wouldnt in standard mode?
Finally, yes, we need people to ask the questions! Im not afraid as i an honest about my knowledge. Its just plain lacking, lol. But sometimes i can surprise you, lol.
I will do the "value for shell" right now and report back.
Thanks Linney!
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
I know that i am not the most knowledgable person out there. Im pretty good in some areas and totally lacking in others. And i have noticed there are a few times where i should have left a post to others. To me its all a learning process, and i hopefully preface my remarks by pointing out my limited knowledge, lol.
But i notice i have made a few mistakes. Hopefully again its considered a learning process. One such gaffe is the m\soft gaffe, but im sure its considered someones opinion and nothing else,lol. And i've made others in other posts.
Now, with disk cleanup, good point and ill tell you why.
Again, from my experience. When i first started i used all the progs in NSW, up to about 5 yrs ago. And i used the disk cleanup in there as well as other progs only to have to reformat my drive and start all over again. I have to point out that i always have about 3 or 4 computers. So i used and still use two as guineau pigs. Whenever i used the progs in norton i ended up worse than when i started. My main win98se and my main win xp, never used defrag, never used norton cleanup or other tools, and never used windows disk cleanup, as i think thats what you are referring to. They messed up my guineau pigs too much and i like to be able to brag that i kept my main win98se and win xp going. My win98se is now about 6 yrs old, but its not fair to state as i dont use it every day. Still, it booted last week, lol.
So i just dont use them. Now i have more skills, maybe i should.
Again, its gonna be this week before i can look into the stuff that has been posted for me, but I'm glad they are there, i have already copied them to a wordpad doc and i will work from there.
With goback, its not wise to run defrag. could be its ok now but i have just gotten used to not doing so and, aside from viruses and trojans, i havent had anything that i couldnt fix over the years and my puter runs fast, never
run it thru any comparisons, but fast enuf for me.
No, i havent tried safe mode, and thats exactly what i was thinking. However, all my spyware and antivirus, and believe me i have run a ton, they all say im ok, but im not ok, lol. Im not sure why or what you mean about running in safe mode, unless you are saying that i might catch a bad guy in safe mode that i wouldnt in standard mode?
Finally, yes, we need people to ask the questions! Im not afraid as i an honest about my knowledge. Its just plain lacking, lol. But sometimes i can surprise you, lol.
I will do the "value for shell" right now and report back.
Thanks Linney!
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
- Thread starter
- #14
yes
shell REG S_Z explorer.exe
I have a nagging suspicion that either explorer or another very important file is corrupted or another explorer has been substituted, if that could happen?
I know the former sure can, not sure on the latter.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
shell REG S_Z explorer.exe
I have a nagging suspicion that either explorer or another very important file is corrupted or another explorer has been substituted, if that could happen?
I know the former sure can, not sure on the latter.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
Maybe we should start a new post on the pros and cons of Go-Back. I've been using it for years (twice tonight), with no problems. I defrag about twice a week, and scandisk about every two months (I play with a lot of programs, use GO-Back to remove all vestiges of a program). Been using GO-Back through Win 98 up to now. (XP SP-2). Only complaint I have is that I have to dis-able it to do a "Ghost" image.
- Thread starter
- #17
That would be great, far as i am concerned. One can always pick up a trick or 2. goback gets you out of so many problems, even a virus. I got a virus, couldnt get rid of it so i used goback to get back to before i picked up the virus and voila, no more virus!
In the win 98 era you got in big trouble using defrag and scandisk, least i did. Guess i keep thinking about that and just stopped using defrag and scandisk. Still, in my opinion, they must be over-rated if i can NEVER do scandisk and defrag and have the same system running fine for over 4 yrs! With the exception of the virus or trojan i have at this moment, either that or a corrupted windows system file, which i have to fix soon.
Now all you have to do is disable goback, do your defrag and scandisk. Goback has come from a buggy prog to a very good one, guess i still think of it as buggy.
On the other hand, i have never been without it and alway says that goback, dollar for dollar, is the best program on the market in terms of what it can do for you. No other program can do so much for such a low price.
On other other hand, with win xp having system restore, a form of goback light, goback isnt quite as "needed". Its more robust than system restore, no doubt, but a lot of people will figure they arent willing to pay the extra to have a bit better prog when windows has one built in.
Course now it comes with NSW and i have NSW, except for the few progs inside it like goback and ghost, maybe another prog i cant think of right now.
Just last week i saw a new prog that does the same as goback. I wondered why someone would put all that time and effort into developing this program when goback is already out there and win xp has its own version of goback.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
In the win 98 era you got in big trouble using defrag and scandisk, least i did. Guess i keep thinking about that and just stopped using defrag and scandisk. Still, in my opinion, they must be over-rated if i can NEVER do scandisk and defrag and have the same system running fine for over 4 yrs! With the exception of the virus or trojan i have at this moment, either that or a corrupted windows system file, which i have to fix soon.
Now all you have to do is disable goback, do your defrag and scandisk. Goback has come from a buggy prog to a very good one, guess i still think of it as buggy.
On the other hand, i have never been without it and alway says that goback, dollar for dollar, is the best program on the market in terms of what it can do for you. No other program can do so much for such a low price.
On other other hand, with win xp having system restore, a form of goback light, goback isnt quite as "needed". Its more robust than system restore, no doubt, but a lot of people will figure they arent willing to pay the extra to have a bit better prog when windows has one built in.
Course now it comes with NSW and i have NSW, except for the few progs inside it like goback and ghost, maybe another prog i cant think of right now.
Just last week i saw a new prog that does the same as goback. I wondered why someone would put all that time and effort into developing this program when goback is already out there and win xp has its own version of goback.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
- Thread starter
- #18
- Thread starter
- #19
I havent had time to work on this issue of mine. It seemed to quiet down but its back as bad as before, so i better get on with it before i end up with no os here.
gpalmer711, said"
You could try running a repair install of XP - This will repair all windows core files while leaving your files and settings intact.
I did that and it asked for my win xp pro cd and then it ran thru on its own, took about 5 min, then it was gone when i got back, so i suppose that means SFC checked and all was well? Does SFC do repairs and not tell you?
I hope that is the case, lol.
If so, then i will wait and see what happens. I will know soon enuf.
If not, then i had better go on to the other suggestion.
thanks
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
gpalmer711, said"
You could try running a repair install of XP - This will repair all windows core files while leaving your files and settings intact.
I did that and it asked for my win xp pro cd and then it ran thru on its own, took about 5 min, then it was gone when i got back, so i suppose that means SFC checked and all was well? Does SFC do repairs and not tell you?
I hope that is the case, lol.
If so, then i will wait and see what happens. I will know soon enuf.
If not, then i had better go on to the other suggestion.
thanks
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
- Thread starter
- #20
While waiting for an answer on the above post, i am going to work on bcastner's suggestion:
bcastner (IS/IT--Manageme) 13 Mar 05 6:13
Place this on your hard drive and run it from Task Manager:
I have already reported back to Linney on his query and so that is taken care of.
thanks
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
bcastner (IS/IT--Manageme) 13 Mar 05 6:13
Place this on your hard drive and run it from Task Manager:
I have already reported back to Linney on his query and so that is taken care of.
thanks
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
- Status
