Windows 2000 problem. 1

[billawright]

Hey all, Recently I encountered a windows 2000 problem that I tried everything to fix. I'll try my best to describe it with as much detail as possible, Anyways heres the problem:

When I first start up windows 2000 and get to the desktop everything seems ok, However if I try to go to "My Documents" or "My Computer" and I open either one of them up I can't see anything. Like the folder is open but it looks like as if there isn't anything in them but yet I can see the little world spinning around trying to find it and if I look at the bottom left hand corner it tells me # of items in that folder.

Other problem is that if I try to move things into folders my desktop freezes up, In other words the mouse cursor icon turns into the spinning hour glass and I can't click on anything in the desktop. However I can click on my Firefox browser icon in the quickstart taskbar at the bottom of screen and in other icons down there. The only way for me to restart the computer is to CTRL, ALT, DEL and do it that way which comes up with a error on "Explorer.exe" and it gives me the little progress bar that says it will shut down after its done unless I choose to do so now.


I hope I describe the problem the best way possible as I tried to. I don't know what to do, I tried everything from repairing windows with the Emergency Repair Desk to trying to search and remove Trojans and other Spyware. I hope someone here can help me with this. Thanks for listening guys

 

[bcastner]

Start, Run, SFC /Scannow

If you have not updated to Service Pack 4 you should:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=814510

I am concerned you do not have an active Anti-virus software installed. Do a Google search on freeware AV software.

 

[electronicsfreak]

Also if you havent ran scandisc and defrag in a long time they can cause this. Be sure to run scandisc first then defrag. I will explain how to do both. By the way before you start defrag make sure hibernation and screensavers are off or they can interupt this process. To stop hibernation go to control panel , then power options. Any of those who have turn off so and so device after so many minutes change it to never and hit apply and ok. Now go start the steps below and hopefully after this computer will be running smoother. Also as bcastner said if you dont have an antivirus get one. There are many free ones available such as avg ,avast and others.

TO RUN SCANDISC:
Go to my computer, right click on c: then left click on properties. Now click the tools tab. Under tools you will see error checking with a button that says check now. Click that button and check both boxes on that. Then click ok and it will say something about it cant start till next time you restart your computer, click ok and then restart your computer. Scandisc will then start running after your computer boots up some. It may take a while for this to run so have patience. Might want to find something to do while it does this lol.

Now to run defrag.
Go to start, programs, accessories, system tools, then disk defragmenter. When it opens click defragment and just let it run. This to can take a while to run.

 

[billawright]

Well I figured out with the problem is. Its has to do with "Explorer.exe" So is there anyway I can replace it or fix it? thanks

 

[wolluf]

billawright - what has it to do with explorer.exe?
Bill Castner's suggestions should have sorted it if that's all the problem is (sfc should replace any corrupt system files). Have you got AV software? And just as important - anti-spyware software (spybot, adawaee, MS antispyware are good free ones - you should run several as nothing gets all of it).

I'd definitely do a complete scan with AV and several AS softwares (might be best in Safe Mode if problems with normal).

 

[tuco7]

Run task manager when this happens and see what applications, Processes are running and then goto performance and see the status of your CPU and memory.
A progam called HijackThis and MSCONFIG can be very helpfull in finding the problem.

 

[danbpc]

Hi

I have a question about the Run SFC /scannow suggested in this post.

I am having a problem getting one of my 5 w2k machines to boot. I am sure it is a problem with something in the boot up sequence. a driver not working correctly or in the wrong place. My computer either hangs on boot or will freeze after about 15 minutes of use.

I just ran SFC /scannow which asked for my original windows disk. It seems to have copied something from the original CD.

Is this tool smart or dumb? Meaning does it recognize that I have install alot of W2K updates and patches. Or does it undo all the patches and updates so I should go back and reinstall sp4, sp3 ect.

Much appreciate in advance an explaination of what this tool is doing.

 

[electronicsfreak]

nah it pays attention to what you have, if your disc service pack is lower than the computer it will ask you insert a disc with that service pack on it or it will not work. So your patches are all fine.