UNABLE to run EXPLORER.EXE

[Guest]

Hello . . .

I'm using XP SR2 Home

EXPLORER.EXE failed to start when I logged back on to my system. It was
working when I logged off.

- I can only run programs from TASK MANAGER
- When I try running EXPLORER.EXE, it flashes the taskbar and then stops
again
- I Have NO taskbar, desktop or Start Menu
- Starting in SAFE mode makes no change
- I have NO error showing in the event log . . . EVEN when I try to
start EXPLORER in Task Manager
- I keep regular BU's of my registry with ERUNT. I tried rolling back
days and then weeks . . . With No Change!
- I use Keypass firewall & AVG Anti Virus
- I tried turning them off
- I scanned the system for spyware etc. . . . Clean
- I tried starting in VGA mode
- I tried doing a repair SETUP of XP and got a BSOD W/O any program or
driver listed in the error
- After several days of trouble-shooting & running programs from Task
Manager, The ONLY error I have had other then the BSOD when doing the Setup .
.. . I was trying to rename a folder and got a VERCLSID.EXE error message. I
only got it once and downloaded the Update that I found when searching for
that error.

I'm out of ideas. What is the sequence of events that must be OK before
EXPLORER runs? Something deep seems to be canceling it's starting.

I could REALLY use some thoughts on this problem. THANK YOU!!

 

[Kelly]

Hi,

Try doing a rollback for your display drivers via the Device Manager.

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

[Guest]

basically whenever
explorer.exe is ran from the
task manager, the registry
file is reloaded into memory.

so it sounds like issues with
the registry. however, having
zero virtual memory could
also cause a similar symptom.

try running sysdm.cpl from
the task manager and navigate
to the virtual memory section
and double check your vm size.

another fix might be
if you have a windows setup
cd, simply use it to initiate
a repair installation. this
method will keep everything
you had in windows intact.



--

<)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

..

 

[Guest]

----- THANKS for the thoughts & Ideas . . . >

basically whenever
explorer.exe is ran from the
task manager, the registry
file is reloaded into memory.
so it sounds like issues with
the registry.

---- That was one reason I figured I could roll-back to an older version of
my registry with ERUNT. Normally when all else fails, as long as i don't have
damaged system, application program, or other scrambled files, ERUNT will get
me back in style & function with little effort. I do an auto BU of my
registry every day with ERUNT. I tried both a short . . . (a day or two) and
also a restore from a month ago. Neither changed the problem!

however, having
zero virtual memory could
also cause a similar symptom.

try running sysdm.cpl from
the task manager and navigate
to the virtual memory section
and double check your vm size.

------ I didn't know no VM could result in such a problem. I checked it and
I have it set for SYSTEM MANAGED SIZE, So I guess that can be ruled out.

another fix might be
if you have a windows setup
cd, simply use it to initiate
a repair installation. this
method will keep everything
you had in windows intact.

------ I tried a REPAIR SETUP already and got a BSOD that didn't list any
specific file or other problem file causing it to fail, Just the BSOD. Am I
mistaken in my understanding that there is little i can do with the memory
location listed on the BSOD screen? It was not some radical informed address,
it only had one location that was NOT 0000 etc. I've misplaced the message,
but if I remember the only difference was a "6" in the string of 0000's
I had saved the repair setup until last and was a little surprised to see
a BSOD error with it! Normally, 99% of the time, ERUNT will get me back and
running . . . and for those really screwed up ones, a repair setup seems to
do what is needed . . . But NOT this time!

THANKS FOR YOUR IDEAS!! I'm going to try the video driver removal and
reinstall to see what, if any change that makes.

 

[Guest]

Kelly . . .

---- THANKS for your answer to my post! I have found your scripts valuable
now and then for strange problems. No luck this time though.

----- Your idea on the video drivers was the same place my thinking is
heading. I thought starting in SAFE or VGA mode would rule out video driver
problems?? I didn't want to do VIDEO DRIVER until I ruled out all my "simple"
.. . . (Simple?? - <Grin>) options. My experiance with video drivers . . .
unless I use the tool to do a complete removal of all traces of the drivers,
reboot and reinstall, I still have the same or worse problems.
I have a NVIDIA GFORCE card in now. I found no matter if it is a
NVIDIA or ATI card, unless I use great care to remove all traces of
old/existing drivers before adding a new one, and also use great care in
finding the right version that makes my system happy . . . I just create new
problems or don't solve my existing one.
I guess I'll try the rollback first, and have a new driver file ready if i
cause worse problems.

THANKS!! I'll post my results.

thinking . . . .
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi,

Try doing a rollback for your display drivers via the Device Manager.

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

------ I tried the TASKBAR repair tool on your site, with the thinking it
might give me a cluie if not fix the problem. No change though.

 

[Guest]

Kelly . . .

I tried rolling back my video driver with noo luck. I then did a
complete uninstall of the NVIDIA driver and installed the latest video
driver. NO LUCK STILL!

What am I missing?
-It boots OK and lets me enter my PW as usual
-But all I get is a blank desktop and no taskbar or start menu
-explorer.exe is not running and can't be started from the TASK MANAGER
- The windows key also fails to bring the start menu

What has to happen . . . (or what does happen) . . . between the time I
log on and the desktop should appear?

-I DO get the DESKTOP background color being the correct color set for my
desktop, just nothing on it.

-How can I trouble-shoot this problem further?

THANKS AGAIN!

 

[Guest]

basically, as eluded in my
initial response, this seems
to be an issue of low resources.

notwithstanding, you might simply want
to do a windows installation
repair. if you choose this method
i would uninstall your video card.
you can install it after your o.s. is
functional again.

however, you can run a
system file checker beforehand
and see if this simply resolve your
issue.

to do this, insert your windows
cd, press the winkey+r to open run,
then type sfc /scannow

then wait and see and let us know....

--

<)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

..