HELP!! Windows Explorer Hangs on Startup!

[Steve]

Hi all,

I've had this Presario 2195US laptop for 4-5 years; running XP from SP1 to
(now) SP3... no problems. 2-3 weeks ago, I tried to connect a 160gb
USB-encased hard drive with no luck... proceeding along I pretty much hosed
my windows.

Anyway, I decided to reformat/install a copy of XP Pro w/SP3 (thought XP
Home didn't like 160gb) and, after a few MS updates, every time I boot the
system it shows the DESKTOP, the bottom left of the TaskBar and NOTHING on
bottom-right. Cursor moves, I can Ctrl-Alt-Delete and, when I move cursor
to TaskBar area... cursor turns into the old hour-glass.

I then reinstall with the original Compaq QuickRestore CDs (started with
HOME SP1 and updated thru SP3)... and somewhere along in the MS Updates...
same symptom... boot ends up with SHOWING DESKTOP, half TaskBar, moving
cursor but can't do anything else. Again, this setup worked for last 4-5
years.

I found that booting to Safe Mode and System Restore to the last CheckPoint
gave me my system back... which worked as long as I did NOT reboot.
Googling for a last week or so... I saw someone would Ctrl-Alt-Delete to
TaskManager, kill EXPLORER and then do a NEW TASK and manually start
EXPLORER... Works like a champ... but does get old after every reboot.

So... SafeMode works... tried going thru MSCONFIG list but with a huge list
and constant rebooting take hours. Killing/starting Explorer works... but I
don't understand why Explorer hangs when Windows starts up but then works
when manually started??

Has anyone seen this before... and resolved it?? Sure could use some
help... going crazy now!

Thanks in advance,
Steve

 

[Peter Taylor]

Hi all,

I've had this Presario 2195US laptop for 4-5 years; running XP from SP1 to
(now) SP3... no problems. 2-3 weeks ago, I tried to connect a 160gb
USB-encased hard drive with no luck... proceeding along I pretty much hosed
my windows.

Anyway, I decided to reformat/install a copy of XP Pro w/SP3 (thought XP
Home didn't like 160gb) and, after a few MS updates, every time I boot the
system it shows the DESKTOP, the bottom left of the TaskBar and NOTHING on
bottom-right. Cursor moves, I can Ctrl-Alt-Delete and, when I move cursor
to TaskBar area... cursor turns into the old hour-glass.

I then reinstall with the original Compaq QuickRestore CDs (started with
HOME SP1 and updated thru SP3)... and somewhere along in the MS Updates...
same symptom... boot ends up with SHOWING DESKTOP, half TaskBar, moving
cursor but can't do anything else. Again, this setup worked for last 4-5
years.

I found that booting to Safe Mode and System Restore to the last CheckPoint
gave me my system back... which worked as long as I did NOT reboot.
Googling for a last week or so... I saw someone would Ctrl-Alt-Delete to
TaskManager, kill EXPLORER and then do a NEW TASK and manually start
EXPLORER... Works like a champ... but does get old after every reboot.

So... SafeMode works... tried going thru MSCONFIG list but with a huge list
and constant rebooting take hours. Killing/starting Explorer works... but I
don't understand why Explorer hangs when Windows starts up but then works
when manually started??

Has anyone seen this before... and resolved it?? Sure could use some
help... going crazy now!

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Check to make sure that your hard drive isn't set to PIO. You can check
in System Properties where you should go to Hardware/Device Manager/IDE
ATA/ATPI controllers/Right click on Primary IDE Channel and go to
Properties/Advanced Settings tab. The setting under Transfer Mode should
be DMA and the Current Transfer Mode should be Ultra DMA Mode

 

[Steve]

Hi Peter...

I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. I checked and it's set
to "Ultra DMA Mode 5"... Steve

 

[Peter Taylor]

Hi Peter...

I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. I checked and it's set
to "Ultra DMA Mode 5"... Steve

Hmmmm, sounds bad. Try doing a chkdsk /f to make sure the hard drive
isn't screwed. Does the BIOS also say Ultra DMA?

 

[Steve]

Hi again...

Ran chkdsk/f thru with NO errors... checked BIOS and it only has 3-5 user
settings... none are "drive related". Pretty simple BIOS
Steve

 

[Mark Adams]

Hi again...

Ran chkdsk/f thru with NO errors... checked BIOS and it only has 3-5 user
settings... none are "drive related". Pretty simple BIOS
Steve

Have you checked the Compaq website for updated drivers? This sounds like it
could be driver related if the machine works in Safe Mode when drivers aren't
loaded.

 

[SteveK50]

Hey Peter...

Finally figured it out... one of the latest Windows Updates did "something"
and it caused some sort of grief with the SERVICE named "Windows
Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)". Now that I've disabled that
service... system boots up just fine... however... I've lost the Windows
Firewall capability!?!!!

I really don't understand why a common/necessary "Firewall Service" update
is now screwing up my machine... especially when I can kill EXPLORER.EXE;
restart it and system boots up just fine from there!???? And that's WITH
the "Firewall Service" running??

Steve

 

[Peter Taylor]

Hey Peter...

Finally figured it out... one of the latest Windows Updates did "something"
and it caused some sort of grief with the SERVICE named "Windows
Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)". Now that I've disabled that
service... system boots up just fine... however... I've lost the Windows
Firewall capability!?!!!

I really don't understand why a common/necessary "Firewall Service" update
is now screwing up my machine... especially when I can kill EXPLORER.EXE;
restart it and system boots up just fine from there!???? And that's WITH
the "Firewall Service" running??

Steve

Just a shot in the dark but do you have another firewall installed that
perhaps came with an anti virus suite?

 

[SteveK50]

Morning...

Nope... I was using Microsoft Security Essentials with Windows XP built-in
Firewall turned OFF. Since running into this problem last week; I have
since reformatted my hard-drives and using XP Home (on one) and XP PRO (on
second)... NO AV at all.

Both reinstalls were "virgin"... Home started with SP1; Pro with SP2...
downloaded Windows Updates until the update "after SP3"... I figure maybe
25-30 updates and then it hung. So I figure Windows Firewall was turned ON
right after SP2 and I didn't change that. Oh yeah... BOTH drives (which I
put in and take out of my laptop) have Office XP installed (for Outlook to
read mail)... using Outlook Express (to read this group)... and NO OTHER
APPS AT ALL.

I've no idea how to figure out the "last 25-30 updates"... to back out and
see which caused this... that's a new task for me to start on.

It's just frustrating when "standard Microsoft install/download" messes
up... and I've no idea where to go (at this time).

Appreciate all your comments so far... hopefully you'll keep them coming.
Another set of eyes... especially from those who know more than I do... are
VERY WELCOME.

Steve

 

[Peter Taylor]

Morning...

Nope... I was using Microsoft Security Essentials with Windows XP built-in
Firewall turned OFF. Since running into this problem last week; I have
since reformatted my hard-drives and using XP Home (on one) and XP PRO (on
second)... NO AV at all.

Both reinstalls were "virgin"... Home started with SP1; Pro with SP2...
downloaded Windows Updates until the update "after SP3"... I figure maybe
25-30 updates and then it hung. So I figure Windows Firewall was turned ON
right after SP2 and I didn't change that. Oh yeah... BOTH drives (which I
put in and take out of my laptop) have Office XP installed (for Outlook to
read mail)... using Outlook Express (to read this group)... and NO OTHER
APPS AT ALL.

I've no idea how to figure out the "last 25-30 updates"... to back out and
see which caused this... that's a new task for me to start on.

It's just frustrating when "standard Microsoft install/download" messes
up... and I've no idea where to go (at this time).

Appreciate all your comments so far... hopefully you'll keep them coming.
Another set of eyes... especially from those who know more than I do... are
VERY WELCOME.

Steve

After you installed SP3, did you reboot twice? Did you install the chip
set drivers, video drivers, USB drivers and audio drivers and were the
latest ones or the ones on a CD?

 

[SteveK50]

Hi Peter...

Not sure what you mean...

1. XP Home w/SP1... came from Compaq QuickRestore CDs... so all drivers
came directly from manufacturer's CDs
2. XP Pro w/SP2... was an actual Microsoft CD... but only Compaq drivers I
loaded were... video, WLAN, TouchPad and HP-special key drivers... hotkeys
to IE, mail, mute sound, etc.

In BOTH cases... installed OS, then (XP Pro) loaded extra drivers and THEN
"forced" updates (with Windows Update App)... SP3 came down BUT I only
rebooted ONCE (??) and all was still ok. It was the next Update Set where
things went to hell-in-a-handbasket... I'd guess about 30-40 downloads in
that "single" download.

Oh yeah... I did go back (2-3 days ago) and RE-INSTALLED the ATI video
driver... I think I was looking for the "update driver" part (of Device
Manager) and saw the Compaq version number was changed to "Windows Update"
(or Windows Download)... so I did reinstall THAT one.

Steve

 

[Peter Taylor]

Hi Peter...

Not sure what you mean...

1. XP Home w/SP1... came from Compaq QuickRestore CDs... so all drivers
came directly from manufacturer's CDs
2. XP Pro w/SP2... was an actual Microsoft CD... but only Compaq drivers I
loaded were... video, WLAN, TouchPad and HP-special key drivers... hotkeys
to IE, mail, mute sound, etc.

In BOTH cases... installed OS, then (XP Pro) loaded extra drivers and THEN
"forced" updates (with Windows Update App)... SP3 came down BUT I only
rebooted ONCE (??) and all was still ok. It was the next Update Set where
things went to hell-in-a-handbasket... I'd guess about 30-40 downloads in
that "single" download.

Oh yeah... I did go back (2-3 days ago) and RE-INSTALLED the ATI video
driver... I think I was looking for the "update driver" part (of Device
Manager) and saw the Compaq version number was changed to "Windows Update"
(or Windows Download)... so I did reinstall THAT one.

Steve

Try it again and reboot twice after installing SP3. MS says rebooting
twice is a requirement for a good install which may be the reason the
subsequent updates went to hell. I personally use the SP3 CD and it's
the first thing I install after Windows loads for the first time. Check
at the video card manufacturer's web site for video drivers. Video
drivers have surely been updated since that Compaq CD was made.

You can download the .iso file to make an SP3 CD from:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...CE-B5FB-4488-8C50-FE22559D164E&displaylang=en