Explorer.exe doesn't start

[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

 

[Rock]

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

Try running system restore from safe mode to a point right before you
installed NAV.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

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.

 

[SC]

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.

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

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

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

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.