EXPLORER.EXE stops loading on startup - any ideas?

[lloydgm]

Hello all, I've got a simple problem, but I still can't find a
solution. Here'goes:

PROBLEM

Windows 2000 running on Dell Latitude notebook boots and
automatically logs in as user. During login EXPLORER.EXE starts but
finally idles a 0 percent CPU usage. Killing EXPLORER.EXE from task
manager and restarting starts desktop successully.

DATA

Booting into Safe Mode works perfectly every time.

Using XPs MSCONFIG.EXE removed all STARTUP items.

It does not matter what user profile you use. Administrator
profile causes same problem.

If you do not kill EXPLORER.EXE, but in the task manager force a
restart, on the second bootup EXPLORER.EXE does not "crash" and
successfully leads to a GUI desktop. Reboot again and your back to
EXPLORER.EXE crashing.

With latest antivirus (Norton) definitions ran scan and found a
removed two Spybot viruses.

Remove 140+ spyware/adware components using Ad-Aware and SpyBot
S&D.

Upgraded PC from Windows 2000 SP2, to SP4 and latest hotfixes.

Extracted EXPLORER.EXE from CD (even though it's older than SP4)
and replaced in C:\WINNT.

I've not doubt that backing up all data and doing a complete
reinstall will fix this problem. It's got to be an errant
configuration/regisstry entry.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[lloydgm]

I thought I'd post an update for anyone with this problem in the
future - I never found a fix. I simply had to wipe the drive clean
and completely reinstall Windows. Oh well, I'm sure there is a fix,
however I don't have the patience or the time.