Cannot Expand Explore.Exe - Access is denied.

[allanc]

My C:\windows\explore.exe no longer exists.
I can successfully boot off my XP PRO sp2 CD ('D' drive)
I enter the administrator password with no problem.
If I try to copy c:\i386\explore.exe to c:\windows
or
expand c:\i386\explore.ex_ c:\windows\explore.exe
I get an error 'access is denied'.
Thank you in advance.

 

[Jose]

My C:\windows\explore.exe no longer exists.
I can successfully boot off my XP PRO sp2 CD ('D' drive)
I enter the administrator password with no problem.
If I try to copy c:\i386\explore.exe to c:\windows
or
expand c:\i386\explore.ex_ c:\windows\explore.exe
I get an error 'access is denied'.
Thank you in advance.

Do you mean explorer.exe?

If yes,

How did you determine that explorer.exe no longer exists?

Does it show up in Task Manager as a running process?

If you get access denied and cannot expand or copy to it, then the
first thought would be it is running, so it must exist.

Even if it ever were to be deleted (even manually) Windows File
Protection will quickly replace it, if WFP is working properly.

Reduce the chances of malicious software by running some scans.

Download, install, update and do a full scan with these free malware
detection programs:

Malwarebytes (MBAM): http://malwarebytes.org/
SUPERAntiSpyware: (SAS): http://www.superantispyware.com/

These can be uninstalled later if desired.

 

[Richard Urban]

My C:\windows\explore.exe no longer exists.
I can successfully boot off my XP PRO sp2 CD ('D' drive)
I enter the administrator password with no problem.
If I try to copy c:\i386\explore.exe to c:\windows
or
expand c:\i386\explore.ex_ c:\windows\explore.exe
I get an error 'access is denied'.
Thank you in advance.

The file in question is not a valid Windows file. The valid file is
explorer.exe.

You likely had/have malware on your computer that was partially removed by
your antivirus/anti malware program. This remnant is still trying to load up
the bad guy.

See here:
http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/explore/ and
then search for other information on (explore.exe)

 

[allanc]

Do you mean explorer.exe?

If yes,

How did you determine that explorer.exe no longer exists?

Does it show up in Task Manager as a running process?

If you get access denied and cannot expand or copy to it, then the
first thought would be it is running, so it must exist.

Even if it ever were to be deleted (even manually) Windows File
Protection will quickly replace it, if WFP is working properly.

Reduce the chances of malicious software by running some scans.

Download, install, update and do a full scan with these free malware
detection programs:

Malwarebytes (MBAM):  http://malwarebytes.org/
SUPERAntiSpyware: (SAS):  http://www.superantispyware.com/

These can be uninstalled later if desired.

I will go back a couple of steps.
Basically, when I boot the computer in Windows, a blue screen appears
with no icons or text.
If I boot in safe mode, a black screen with 'safe mode' is displayed
in both bottom corners is displayed.
In both cases the mouse moves and CTRL/ALT/DEL do not bring up the
task manager.

The research that I have tried to do so far has indicated that
explorer.exe should be restored.
You are right in my typo (it is explorer.exe not explore.exe)
Actually what happens is that when I boot off the XP PRO xp2 CD and
try:
c:\
expand c:\i386\explorer.ex_ c:\windows\explorer.exe
I get a message 'unable to create file explorer.exe'

I have been working on this blue/black screen on and off for 5 days
now so I really appreciate any assistance that I can get.
Thank you once again.