You can try click start, run, type sfc /scannow, click OK [note space between c and /].
It may ask for your XP CD. If you don't have that just cancel.
If you don't have the CD, you could try in My computer or Windows Explorer, right click on your C:\ drive, click properties, tools tab, click check now, check 'automatically fix system file errors', click start. You'll get a message that the disk check will run on restart, click yes, restart your PC. You will see chckdsk running before Windows loads. That will (should) repair any damaged system files.
If that does not fix the problem, then, as far as control panel is concerned, it may be that one or other applet in it (maybe some third party app) is corrupted, though you should get some message in that case.
How new? If you have a restore point which you know is good -- one before you were unable to open explorer and control panel, then follow the instructions here:
If this does not work, then I think you will have to completely reinstall Windows. It's not a virus - it happened to me. Something's gone bad in the registry. If you use a registry checker and made the changes, that can do it.
Hi all - Having the identical problem on my 17 month old Inspiron 5160, but more. Control panel, Windows Explorer, My Computer, Internet Explorer all don't load. Probably others that I don't yet know about. Other programs are very unstable and lock up regularly. Just tried the "sfc /scannow" with no success. Since I don't have access to Explorer or My Computer, I haven't figured how to get to the hard drive properties window. I Tried a system restore point, but maybe I'll try an earlier one.
Update - I discovered several virus/adware issues with help from McAfee (eventually - even though their DOS scan did not show anything!). After all that was cleaned up...still had the problem - not able to open Explorer, Control Panel, My Computer etc. File fix attempts did not work (couldn't get to them...then the XP CD I had seemed not to help). Eventually, I just had to restore the computer back to the point when I got it from Dell several weeks ago (no other restore points available). At this point, I don't think I completely trust McAfee since all this stuff seemed to infect it so quickly, and I really had trouble getting McAfee to deal with the problem. I'm going to keep a close eye on it. I'm sort of mildly suspicious whether the combination of Norton Ghost and McAfee Virus Scan on the same computer might be an issue......
Backup your data and consider restoring your PC to "as-shipped" condition using the Dell PC Restore by Symantec Utility.
It appears that your PC is still infected with malicious software that McAfee failed to detect. Use
Ewido and other free online scanner like
Panda and
Trend Micro
JRosenfeld
2 Intern
•
4.4K Posts
0
May 29th, 2006 20:00
Barbara
40 Posts
0
May 30th, 2006 17:00
How new? If you have a restore point which you know is good -- one before you were unable to open explorer and control panel, then follow the instructions here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/
If this does not work, then I think you will have to completely reinstall Windows. It's not a virus - it happened to me. Something's gone bad in the registry. If you use a registry checker and made the changes, that can do it.
marsurv
1 Message
0
May 30th, 2006 18:00
Hi all - Having the identical problem on my 17 month old Inspiron 5160, but more. Control panel, Windows Explorer, My Computer, Internet Explorer all don't load. Probably others that I don't yet know about. Other programs are very unstable and lock up regularly. Just tried the "sfc /scannow" with no success. Since I don't have access to Explorer or My Computer, I haven't figured how to get to the hard drive properties window. I Tried a system restore point, but maybe I'll try an earlier one.
Let's keep the dialogue going.
sparkenh
570 Posts
0
May 30th, 2006 18:00
kpk12804
2 Posts
0
May 31st, 2006 00:00
sparkenh
570 Posts
0
May 31st, 2006 13:00
It appears that your PC is still infected with malicious software that McAfee failed to detect. Use Ewido and other free online scanner like Panda and Trend Micro
Barbara
40 Posts
0
May 31st, 2006 22:00
Message Edited by Carpenter49 on 05-31-200606:52 PM
Message Edited by Carpenter49 on 05-31-200606:53 PM