explorer.exe doesn't load

[Ileana]

Hi,
I'm having a problem: basically after I log on, the deskop
is completely blank and the only way I can get the icons
and the task bar to appear is to click Ctrl+Alt+Delete, go
to Processes, kill Explorer.exe and run a new
task 'explorer', this way the desktop loads up.
I tried to fix it using the solution posted on the
Microsoft web site
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=256194
that says to go to %SystemRoot% and rename the file
shdocvw.dll to shdocvw.old
But %SystemRoot% points to C:/Windows (where Explorer.exe
is stored), but shdocvw.dll is stored in
C:/Windows/System32 !!
So i renamed it but it didn't work, i copied it to
C:/Windows but it still didn't work, renamed it or not.
I don't really want to remaster the machine, I'm afraid of
losing all my programs and my files, does anyone know how
to fix this?
Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Ileana

 

[Ileana]

Just another note. I tried the solution posted 2 messages
before mine, where it's been suggested to run the script
on the right column of line 195 of this address:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Which I tried and it didn't fix the problem.

Any idea?
Please..