explorer.exe application error when requesting a shutdown in XP

Question

Dear All,   I have also posted this thread in software windows XP   NEW Inspiron 6400 receivered in August 2007   I have read a number of threads relating to explorer issues from 1999- 2001 but nothing more recent relating to an issue like this.   Windows that appear on screen when asking for a shutdown or restart:   'explorer.exe application error' 'the instruction at 0x000e8658 referenced memory at 0x000e8658. The memory could not be written.'   beneath this window is a close program window for explorer.   The memory location changes with each occurrence.   Any comments or suggestions would be very welcome.

markey164 · Answer

I have exactly the same symptoms on a 2 month old Dell Latitude 131L. I have performed ALL windows updates, and i have updated the audio and video drivers, as i was having issues getting to these to work correctly. I think it might be one of the processes running in Windows that is upsetting it, and am just going through ending them in Windows and seeing if it clears the shutdown error but no joy yet. Did you manage to identify the cause of the problem. It could be a coincidence, but it seems odd that the only other reference i've found to this, is another new Dell machine. Thanks Mark

Haroon Sheikh · Answer

Dear Mark,   I narrowed this particular 'explorer.exe' issue to installing my licensed Office 2003 Prof as a full installation. I reinstalled the DELL ghost image of my inspiron 6400 a number of times before I proved that a  'typical' rather than a 'full' installation of Ofiice resolved the problem.   I hope this information helps,   regards,   Haroon.

markey164 · Answer

Hi Haroon,

Admittedly, i didn't play around with this too long, as i needed to get it back to the customer. In the end i formatted the disk and just did a complete rebuild using our own Corporate XP Pro CD rather than the recovery disc. I then pulled whatever drivers were missing from the Dell site, and reinstalled all the applications, and after that it was cured.

Interestingly you mentioned the type of office install as a clue. In fact after rebuilding my machine, i performed a *complete* install of Office 2003 (which i always do as a matter of course, so you aren't asked to insert the disk later) and it was fine. Of course the laptop is now a Vanilla Windows XP with only the drivers installed that were missing from device manager. I didn't add any of the other many Dell utilities that were installed previously, and didn't experience any further problems.

So for anyone reading this, thats a couple of solutions for you.

Thanks

Mark

Message Edited by markey164 on 10-21-2007 06:31 PM

Message Edited by markey164 on 10-21-2007 06:32 PM

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explorer.exe application error when requesting a shutdown in XP

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