Losing Desktop AND Explorer

[Guest]

After a complete hard disk crash and subsequent recovery (through Paragon 8.0
Rescue Kit), the system at first appeared to behave normally, but
increasingly XP has started to behave in a very erratic manner. Immediately
after the system starts, none of the problems desribed occurs; shortly
afterwards, however (for no discernible reason). the trouble begins:

Specifically,

- 'linked' folders on the desktop can no longer be opened

- the control panel cannot be opened: neither via the office shortcut bar
nor via START nor via 'control.exe' at the command level nor via execution of
the relevant '

- the explorer (file manager) itself(i.e. explorer.exe) cannot be opened
either via direct execution at the command level nor via the Task Bar nor via
right-clicking the START button nor via 'explorer.lnk'

- the items 'open' and 'explorer' in the right-clicked START button are not
functional.

- After a while (possibly depending on the length of operation) the
situation appears to deteriorate further: 'My Computer' and 'Network
Environment' on the desktop cannot be opened; right-clicking 'Network
Environment/Properties' makes the desktop disappear completely. Re-installing
a new 'explorer' process via the task manager re-establishes the desktop, but
the problem persists: right-clicking 'network environment/properties' again
makes the desktop disappear.

- Recovery points are not (never?) functional.


Notes:

- A virus / malware / spyware test yielded no results.

- SFC showed no problems.

- Most of the time, the task manager shows only one 'explorer' instance
running.

- Deleting and re-initiating 'explorer' in the task manager does not help.

- Any attempt to open the control panel results in 'control' briefly
appearing in the task manager and then disappearing again right away.

I'm quite aware that I may have to re-install the whole system, with
hundreds of personalised programs, applications, procedures and files, which
will take weeks. So before I have to resort to that drastic action, any
helpful suggestions would be much appreciated! A system repair might help but
I'm not quite sure what drivers and other software I would have to re-install
afterwards.

GHenry

 

[Ayush]

GHenry wrote ::

- 'linked' folders on the desktop can no longer be opened
- the control panel cannot be opened: neither via the office shortcut bar
nor via START nor via 'control.exe' at the command level nor via execution of
the relevant '
- the explorer (file manager) itself(i.e. explorer.exe) cannot be opened
either via direct execution at the command level nor via the Task Bar nor via
right-clicking the START button nor via 'explorer.lnk'
situation appears to deteriorate further: 'My Computer' and 'Network
Environment' on the desktop cannot be opened; right-clicking 'Network
Environment/Properties' makes the desktop disappear completely. Re-installing
a new 'explorer' process via the task manager re-establishes the desktop, but
the problem persists: right-clicking 'network environment/properties' again
makes the desktop disappear.

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm
Run the Folders, Directory, EXE, LNK file associtions.




Good Luck, Ayush.