Certain folders locking up Explorer after uninstalling Veritas Backup Exec

[Tim Nichols]

I have a server running Windows 2000 Server SP4 and Exchange Server 2003.
This server was also running Veritas Backup Exec 8.5, until yesterday when I
uninstalled this software and all agents. Instead of rebooting after each
agent was uninstalled, I waited and uninstalled all agents, then did one
reboot after business hours. After the server came back up, I have been
experiencing some strange behavior.

I can no longer open Control Panel. Doing so locks up the window without
displaying anything, and clicking close causes Windows to report that the
program is not responding, and explorer.exe is restarted. However, if I use
Windows Explorer to get to Control Panel by expanding the tree, and then
instead of displaying the contents of Control Panel open a subfolder, like
"Administrative Tools", then I can see the items and access them.

The same behavior is happening when browsing the C drive. I cannot view
Program Files, but I can view any subfolder either by expanding the tree, or
typing it into the Address bar.

Also, Windows Installer is not allowing me to do any kind of install, and
when I cannot stop and start services. Internet Explorer doesn't pull up
any web sites either, it just tries to locate the data. I cannot empty
recycle bin because it locks up when I open it.

Other than that, all the services are working fine, but obviously I need
these functionalities to properly administer my server. Does anyone know
what might be going on with it? I have never seen any behavior like this
before...I am wondering if a component in Windows was corrupted during the
uninstall...but I don't know where to begin. Any suggestions will be
greatly appreciated!

Tim Nichols
MCP

 

[George Hester]

A shell hook was removed that Windows cannot live without anymore. The missing shell hook is why you get the hang, "Where are you shell hook? shell hook where are you? shell hook?" The only fix is to reisntall the op sys.

 

[Tim Nichols]

George-

Thanks for your fast response. Can I do a reinstall without having to
reformat? Would a repair fix the problem?

-Tim

A shell hook was removed that Windows cannot live without anymore. The
missing shell hook is why you get the hang, "Where are you shell hook?
shell hook where are you? shell hook?" The only fix is to reisntall the op
sys.

 

[George Hester]

No. The shell hook is now a part of your Shell ie. Windows Explorer. You might try removing IE back to the original version then go back to what you have now. This will change Windows Explorer but as I said the hook is in the registry and Windows wants it. The change in IE will probably not fix that.

A repair won't work because as far as Windows is concerned that hook is necessary and right. A repair would only make sure the hook is installed correctly. It is it's just that the hook itself has been removed when you unistalled the software. The Veritas Backup site should have something on it as I am sure you are not the first this has happpened to. Another explanation of this is bad uninstaller by Veritas. But realize it may be the best they could do.

 

[Tim Nichols]

George-

Do you think that if I did a System State restore from a good backup would
fix the problem? What about an in-place upgrade?

-Tim

No. The shell hook is now a part of your Shell ie. Windows Explorer. You
might try removing IE back to the original version then go back to what you
have now. This will change Windows Explorer but as I said the hook is in
the registry and Windows wants it. The change in IE will probably not fix
that.

A repair won't work because as far as Windows is concerned that hook is
necessary and right. A repair would only make sure the hook is installed
correctly. It is it's just that the hook itself has been removed when you
unistalled the software. The Veritas Backup site should have something on
it as I am sure you are not the first this has happpened to. Another
explanation of this is bad uninstaller by Veritas. But realize it may be
the best they could do.

 

[George Hester]

Well there is no system restore in Windows 2000 and the other I doubt it.
Why not just re-install the software you removed before the issues started?
You can't? The trouble is that everything is installed correctly and
remnoved correctly. It's just that Windows Explorer is expecting something
that's not there anymore. An Inplace Upgrade will not override that but you
could try. I just don't think it will help. Can you do the ininstall of IE
back to a previous version? That's actually your best bet. The backup you
have may help but the trouble is registry restore only adds and changes
what's alrready there. It will not remove entries just change them. So if
you have an entry that is not in the backup the backup will not remove it.
At least I do not think so.