Problem with Explorer.exe (Re-installing XP)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chris
  • Start date Start date
C

Chris

I am having a serious problem with my XP. I installed an
updated Shockwave the other day, and after restarting the
computer I have been unable to open any aspect of
Explorer. Any program that uses explorer will not open - I
get a message that states there was an error and the
option to send to microsoft, blah, blah.

Programes that do not use explorer (i.e. Outlook), open
albeit slow. I think I want to just go ahead and re-
install XP. The problem is that I can not access the
Add/Remove control panel. Unfortunately, that program uses
explorer as well - I have tried "updating" or doing a
repair install w/out luck.

How do I uninstall (and reinstall) XP w/out going through
the Add/Remove control panel - or is there a way to access
the panel other than through the Control Panel file in the
Start menu?

Thanks.
 
OK, let's sort things out. We'll begin by thanking the folks at Microsoft
for naming the parts of their venerable operating system in confusing ways.
Windows Explorer is the name for the basic structure of Windows. Everything
that runs in Windows -- including Outlook -- relies on Windows Explorer.
Internet Explorer, on the other hand is the name given to that part of
Windows that allows you to browse the Internet.

It is extremely unlikely that installing Shockwave would cripple your
operating system. In the first place, Shockwave is well written software. In
the second place, one of the most important improvements in the NT-based
Windows operating systems is that the failure of one application program is
much less likely to damage the entire operating system.

What's more likely is that you have a virus or spyware. Unless you updated
Shockwave directly from the Macromedia web site, it's possible that along
with Shockwave you installed a virus or spyware. Another possibility is that
you already had a virus or spyware on your computer, which kicked into
action when you restarted your computer.
 
Chris

Chris

The Error Reporting system in Windows XP is not a load of "blah,blah". It
can be difficult to interpret but it also often provides useful clues as to
what might be wrong. Look in Event Viewer and post copies of the relevant
report here!

Make an exact note of the precise text of any error message. Minor
discrepancies can
make it harder to search for information about the error message.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Administrative Tools, Event
Viewer.
When researching the meaning of the error, information regarding Event ID,
Source
and Description are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308427&Product=winxp

Part of the Description of the error will include a link, which you should
double click
for further information and you can copy using copy and paste.
http://go.microsoft.com/fw.link/events.asp
(Please note the hyperlink above is for illustration purposes only)

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double click
on the
error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a button resembling
two
pages. Double click the button and close Event Viewer. Now start your
message
(email) and do a paste into the body of the message. This will paste the
info from the
Event Viewer Error Report complete with links into the message. Make sure
this is
the first paste after exiting from Event Viewer.

In making my suggestion I think it may also be important to follow up the
line of enquiry suggested by Ted Zieglar

~~~~~~


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FCA

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please tell the newsgroup how any
suggested solution worked for you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Chris

Neither Ted or I are suggesting you reinstall Windows XP! It probably is not
necessary and doing so could create new problems which we are anxious to
avoid.


~~~~~~


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FCA

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please tell the newsgroup how any
suggested solution worked for you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Thanks for the responses. I will try and record exactly
what the error report is when I get home and post it - I
looked at the "Details" and what is shown is very long
with mulitple "modules".

Neverthess, does anyone know how to access the Add/Remove
panel w/out having to go through the Start-->Control
Panel. Because I can not access it w/out getting the error.

Or does anyone know how to uninstall XP and re-install
w/out accessing the Add/Remove panel.

Thanks.
Chris
 
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