Explorer.exe doesn't start

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S

SC

I recently installed Norton Antivirus 2005, updated and
restarted the PC. Upon restarting it threw up constant warnings
about things it had found, I couldn't get it to stop. So I
restarted in Safe Mode and ran a full scan. It found multiple
items and when I clicked the 'Fix' button it said it had fixed
them all.

Upon rebooting the PC the wallpaper loads and I can see the
mouse pointer, but the desktop icons do not appear or the other
items such as taskbar etc. Looking at the processes,
explorer.exe is not there, so I try to start it with New Task-
Run, and I can see it, but when I click OK it says "cannot find
c:\windows\explorer.exe" etc etc.

Any ideas? I'm not sure exactly what NAV deleted or fixed but
this has only happened since these actions. Unfortunately I do
not have the product disk to hand (although it is a fully
licensed product). It is XP Pro with SP2.

Thanks
 
SC said:
I recently installed Norton Antivirus 2005, updated and
restarted the PC. Upon restarting it threw up constant warnings
about things it had found, I couldn't get it to stop. So I
restarted in Safe Mode and ran a full scan. It found multiple
items and when I clicked the 'Fix' button it said it had fixed
them all.

Upon rebooting the PC the wallpaper loads and I can see the
mouse pointer, but the desktop icons do not appear or the other
items such as taskbar etc. Looking at the processes,
explorer.exe is not there, so I try to start it with New Task-
Run, and I can see it, but when I click OK it says "cannot find
c:\windows\explorer.exe" etc etc.

Any ideas? I'm not sure exactly what NAV deleted or fixed but
this has only happened since these actions. Unfortunately I do
not have the product disk to hand (although it is a fully
licensed product). It is XP Pro with SP2.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Try running system restore from safe mode to a point right before you
installed NAV.
 
Since you can get into Task Manager to run programs, use the New Task and run SFC /SCANNOW. Have your XP install disc handy.

Optionally, from New Task enter CMD At the Command Prompt enter:

COPY C:\Windows\System32\dllcache\explorer.exe C:\windows\explorer.exe

This will at least get Explorer back up, but NAV may have done other damage as well.
 
Since you can get into Task Manager to run programs, use the New Task and
run SFC /SCANNOW. Have your XP install disc handy.

Optionally, from New Task enter CMD At the Command Prompt enter:

COPY C:\Windows\System32\dllcache\explorer.exe C:\windows\explorer.exe

This will at least get Explorer back up, but NAV may have done other damage
as well.

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart
Display\Security
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

SC said:
I recently installed Norton Antivirus 2005, updated and
restarted the PC. Upon restarting it threw up constant warnings
about things it had found, I couldn't get it to stop. So I
restarted in Safe Mode and ran a full scan. It found multiple
items and when I clicked the 'Fix' button it said it had fixed
them all.

Upon rebooting the PC the wallpaper loads and I can see the
mouse pointer, but the desktop icons do not appear or the other
items such as taskbar etc. Looking at the processes,
explorer.exe is not there, so I try to start it with New Task-
Run, and I can see it, but when I click OK it says "cannot find
c:\windows\explorer.exe" etc etc.

Any ideas? I'm not sure exactly what NAV deleted or fixed but
this has only happened since these actions. Unfortunately I do
not have the product disk to hand (although it is a fully
licensed product). It is XP Pro with SP2.

Thanks
Click to expand...


Thanks to both of you for your help. I tried the second suggestion to start
with but it didn't make any difference. The System Restore worked a treat!
It even got rid of some Spybot garbage that had made it way into startup, it
also must have been that which changed the wallpaper to a fake BSOD type
message (a new one on me).

Out of interest I suppose the \system32\dllcache folder is a 'backup' for
the purposes of the file protection in XP?

Thanks again
 
You're correct. The dllcache is a backup for critical system files. If you've installed a Service Pack, some of the files may be stored in a folder that's created during the SP install.
 
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