On boot - wallpaper only, no taskbar no icons

[Gus Zernial]

I did a fresh install of WinXP SP2 on a new computer. Subsequently
installed hardware drivers, AVG free and SpyBot S&D. At that point
everything worked fine.

Then I downloaded and installed all updates (81 of them) from
Microsoft Update, and rebooted. Now on boot I get "Windows Explorer
has encountered a problem and needs to close", and I get desktop
wallpaper, no taskbar, no icons. When I try to start windows
explorer I get the same message "Windows Explorer has encountered
a problem and needs to close". I tried booting "last known good
configuration - same result.

Web search suggests this may be due to a bad patch - is that
possible and if so which one? I'm afraid if I do a repair install,
and then apply all the updates, I'll wind up in the same place.
Web search suggests this may be due to a bad patch - is that
possible and if so which one?

Recommendations appreciated ....

 

[ToddAndMargo]

I did a fresh install of WinXP SP2 on a new computer. Subsequently
installed hardware drivers, AVG free and SpyBot S&D. At that point
everything worked fine.

Then I downloaded and installed all updates (81 of them) from
Microsoft Update, and rebooted. Now on boot I get "Windows Explorer
has encountered a problem and needs to close", and I get desktop
wallpaper, no taskbar, no icons. When I try to start windows
explorer I get the same message "Windows Explorer has encountered
a problem and needs to close". I tried booting "last known good
configuration - same result.

Web search suggests this may be due to a bad patch - is that
possible and if so which one? I'm afraid if I do a repair install,
and then apply all the updates, I'll wind up in the same place.
Web search suggests this may be due to a bad patch - is that
possible and if so which one?

Recommendations appreciated ....

1) see if you can do a boot into safe mode. Then see if
Add/Remove programs will allow you to remove any of the
patches. (They are obvious.)

or

2) do another reinstall. Wait a couple of weeks before
doing another windows update: the problem may get fixed
at Microsoft's end.

Sorry, no magic bullet that I know of. Maybe someone
else will know of one.

-T