Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer stopped functioning - HELP!

Question

I'm not sure exactly what happened, but at some point last week, both my Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer won't function. Whether from a shortcut on the desktop, or run from the START menu, what happens when I try to run either application is a window flashes like it is about to load, my desktop is wiped out for about 3 seconds, the desktop restores itself, and I'm back to where I started. There are no error messages. Curiously, any application I've loaded myself (using Netscape here, obviously not explorer :), and most other built-in application (notepad, paint, etc) work just fine. I've reloaded XP, and that has not made any difference. What I was doing at the time (which I think must be related to this) was I was putting a password on my user account, and during that process, I was prompted with some security question that I have since not been able to find again (it must come up only when you first put a password on a user account the first time). I've removed the password from my account, created a new account (with and without a password), and whatever I do I cannot get back the functionality of both Explorers. Windows Explorer is the big thing for me, as I use that extensively. I've compared the C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE to other XP machines, and it's the same. My theory is that something in a security process is preventing this from loading, but I'm lost. Any ideas out there? If I could at least identify a log file, or an error message file, perhaps that would be better than my 'end user' explanations above.

Denny Denham · Answer

mikeminneapolis,

Go to Start|Control Panel|Administrative Tools|Event Viewer and look under Application or System for anything marked with a red error indicator. You may be able to find specific information on what is causing the problem there.

Message Edited by Denny Denham on 09-08-2004 07:08 PM

mikeminneapolis · Answer

There was no red error mark next to the entry in the application log of the event viewer, but there's a repeated information entry each time I try to run Windows Explorer: Source: Winlogon Category: None EventID: 1002. Description: The shell stopped unexpectedly and Explorer.exe was restarted. The explanation for this in the Windows Help and Support Center says 'The shell was stopped and then restarted. By default, the shell is explorer.exe; however you might have a customized shell.' User action says 'No action required.' It also says 'Currently there are no Microsoft Knowledge Base articles available for this specific error or event message.' Any more ideas?

Denny Denham · Answer

mikeminneapolis, Perhaps something here will help.

Sirchaz · Answer

Hey Mike sounds like you have some malware loaded there.

Go get CWShredder, hijackthis. You can download them from here http://www.soft32.com/download-publisher-19014-3.html

Also try ad-aware and/or Spybot S&D.

Run a full virus scan with updated signatures.

Good luck,

kenp2002 · Answer

Mike, see possible solutions to this problem below. I have been having the same problem since installing XP SP2, and finally fixed it! I resisted the first solution below for a while because my problem was only with Windows Explorer and the desktop icons, not Internet Explorer...however, the IE repair actually fixed the problem! You will need to have your Windows installation CD handy (I386 directory), and also if you have installed XP SP2 you will need to point the repair tool to the windows\servicepackfiles\I386 folder as well for the necessary files. Let me know if this helps.

Ken

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Repair IE

Start > Run rundll32 setupwbv.dll,IE6Maintenance "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Setup\SETUP.EXE" /g

or

Start > Run rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 C:\windows\inf\ie.inf

Reinstall IE
Description of the Internet Explorer Repair Tool
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=http://support.microsoft.com:80/support/kb/articles/Q194/1/77.asp&NoWebContent=1

How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318378

Repair Internet Explorer 6
http://www.theeldergeek.com/repair_ie6.htm
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=293907

Also check for spyware

Spyware/Adware removal tools
What is spyware: http://www.spychecker.com/spyware.html

SpyBot-S&D: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/spybot.html

Ad-aware: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/adaware.html

Trojan Remover: http://www.simplysup.com/

KL-Detector: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/kldetector.html

X-Cleaner Free: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/xcleaner.html

SpywareBlaster: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/spywareblaster.html

Spycop: http://www.spycop.com/

Goodbye Spy: http://www.topshareware.com/GoodBye-Spy-download-2012.htm

Other spyware removal instructions: http://www.pchell.com/support/click2findnow.shtml

mikeminneapolis · Answer

I've attempted everything suggested (no virus found), and looked at the links given as well. Still no luck. What I've done now is to hook up my hard drive as the D: (slave) drive of another PC in an attempt to copy what I want to save over to another drive, so I can just start over with the 'infected' drive. (Note that without windows explorer, and any other tool I've attempted, I could not write/copy files to the cd drive). Anyway, I've had success here copying over all files and folders that I want to retain from my D: drive to the C: drive except anything that resides under the 'My Documents' folder on the D: drive (my old hard drive). With these files/folders, I get a 'Cannot copy (filename): Access denied' (whether I'm trying to copy to a folder on my C: drive, or write out to a CD or floppy). I've created a user on this other PC identical to the user I created on my other PC, but still no luck. I've attempted to share this folder, but it doesn't appear to make a difference. Does anyone know how the security that has been enabled on this folder can be removed so that I can copy it's contents somewhere?

Windows General

Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer stopped functioning - HELP!

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