No explorer in safemode

[lindsey.chris]

I have had errant popup messages when using IE lately, so I booted to
Safe Mode to scan for viruses. After I login and everything finishes
loading, explorer.exe does not start. I can see the black screen with
the "Safe Mode" and "Windows XP ......." on the screen, but no desktop,
icons, or startbar. I tried starting explorer and explorer.exe
manually in the Windows Task Manager, but once I saw them on the
processes they shortly disappeared without starting up the desktop or
anything else. Is this a situation where I need to format and
reinstall, or can this be fixed? Thanks everyone.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

It sounds like you are starting in Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

To start the computer in safe mode
1. (Re)start your computer.
2. When the machine first starts again it will generally list some
equipment that is installed in your machine, amount of memory, hard
drives installed etc. At this point you should gently tap the F8 key
repeatedly until you are presented with a Windows XP Advanced Options
menu.
3. Select the option for Safe Mode using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
(NUM LOCK must be off before the arrow keys on the numeric keypad will
function.)
4. Then press enter on your keyboard to boot into Safe Mode.
5. Do whatever tasks you require and when you are done reboot to boot back
into normal mode.

If Windows launches before you can choose a safe mode, restart your computer
and try again.

To start the computer in safe mode
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[lindsey.chris]

Nope, I'm starting in regular old Safe Mode. I just checked again and
its not the command prompt version.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

The only thing that I can think of to look at is this.

Open the System Configuration Utility (msconfig.exe)...
Start | Run | Type: msconfig | Click OK |
Boot.ini tab | When you select /SAFEBOOT, does
MINIMAL (ALTERNATESHELL) also get selected?
Or just MINIMAL?

Click the Cancel button so that you do not reboot in Safe Mode.

/safeboot: = This switch causes Windows to start in Safe Mode.

minimal(alternateshell) = This switch is the Command Prompt (cmd.exe)

Both switches = Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[lindsey.chris]

The /SAFEBOOT only has Minimal selected. Is this the correct setting?

What I am worried about is possibly having a virus, and this keeping
explorer from opening in safe mode. Is this something I should be
worried about?

 

[Wesley Vogel]

The /SAFEBOOT only has Minimal selected. Is this the correct setting?

Yes.

I do not have a clue.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In