Windows Explorer works in Safe Mode, but not in Normal Mode

[Danno]

I'm trying to help with a friends Dell laptop running XP. Everything was
working fine when suddenly Windows Explorer and all programs that utilize it
(Control Panel, My Computer, My Documents, etc).

However, if you boot into Safe Mode, Windows Explorer works fine. I have
read about a repair, reinstall that looks like it might help. I have an XP
disk, but not the one that came with the laptop (used). Can I use my disk
to do the repair, reinstall?

I am trying to avoid doing a System Restore as his last restore point is
kind of old, and all we need to do is repair Windows Explorer. Would SFC
help? Could it be a driver conflict, maybe caused by an Auto Update of
Windows?

I'm pretty knowledgeable about computers, but I'm not real familiar with XP,
and I've never seen this problem before.

Any help appreciated,
Danno

 

[John Wunderlich]

I'm trying to help with a friends Dell laptop running XP.
Everything was working fine when suddenly Windows Explorer and all
programs that utilize it (Control Panel, My Computer, My
Documents, etc).

However, if you boot into Safe Mode, Windows Explorer works fine.
I have read about a repair, reinstall that looks like it might
help. I have an XP disk, but not the one that came with the
laptop (used). Can I use my disk to do the repair, reinstall?

I am trying to avoid doing a System Restore as his last restore
point is kind of old, and all we need to do is repair Windows
Explorer. Would SFC help? Could it be a driver conflict, maybe
caused by an Auto Update of Windows?

I'm pretty knowledgeable about computers, but I'm not real
familiar with XP, and I've never seen this problem before.

Any help appreciated,
Danno

Often when things work in Safe mode but not Normal mode it is because
of a program or service that normally loads, but is prevented from
loading in Safe Mode. The trick is to find this application. Msconfig
is a program that will help narrow down the problem. See if the
following article helps:

"How to troubleshoot configuration errors by using the System
Configuration utility in Windows XP"
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560>

HTH,
John

 

[PaulM]

You can give this script a try Download Fix Shell, here:

http://www.paulsxp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=21

 

[Danno]

Thanks John, I will check this out.

Danno

Often when things work in Safe mode but not Normal mode it is because
of a program or service that normally loads, but is prevented from
loading in Safe Mode. The trick is to find this application. Msconfig
is a program that will help narrow down the problem. See if the
following article helps:

"How to troubleshoot configuration errors by using the System
Configuration utility in Windows XP"
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560>

HTH,
John

 

[Jose]

I'm trying to help with a friends Dell laptop running XP.  Everything was
working fine when suddenly Windows Explorer and all programs that utilizeit
(Control Panel, My Computer, My Documents, etc).

However, if you boot into Safe Mode, Windows Explorer works fine.  I have
read about a repair, reinstall that looks like it might help.  I have an XP
disk, but not the one that came with the laptop (used).  Can I use my disk
to do the repair, reinstall?

I am trying to avoid doing a System Restore as his last restore point is
kind of old, and all we need to do is repair Windows Explorer.  Would SFC
help?  Could it be a driver conflict, maybe caused by an Auto Update of
Windows?

I'm pretty knowledgeable about computers, but I'm not real familiar with XP,
and I've never seen this problem before.

Any help appreciated,
Danno

Eliminate obvious things first - like malicious software.

You can lose considerable productivity trying to fix an infected
system.

If you can boot in Safe Mode with networking and can get on the
Internet:

Download, install, update and do a full scan with these free malware
detection programs:

Malwarebytes (MBAM): http://malwarebytes.org/
SUPERAntiSpyware: (SAS): http://www.superantispyware.com/

These can be uninstalled later if desired.

 

[Danno]

Thank you Jose. I use MalwareBytes, Spybot S&D, Spyware Blaster, and
Ad-Aware. Am I paranoid? You betcha!

Never tried SuperAntiSpyware, but I've heard a lot of good things about it.

Danno

I'm trying to help with a friends Dell laptop running XP. Everything was
working fine when suddenly Windows Explorer and all programs that utilize
it
(Control Panel, My Computer, My Documents, etc).

However, if you boot into Safe Mode, Windows Explorer works fine. I have
read about a repair, reinstall that looks like it might help. I have an XP
disk, but not the one that came with the laptop (used). Can I use my disk
to do the repair, reinstall?

I am trying to avoid doing a System Restore as his last restore point is
kind of old, and all we need to do is repair Windows Explorer. Would SFC
help? Could it be a driver conflict, maybe caused by an Auto Update of
Windows?

I'm pretty knowledgeable about computers, but I'm not real familiar with
XP,
and I've never seen this problem before.

Any help appreciated,
Danno

Eliminate obvious things first - like malicious software.

You can lose considerable productivity trying to fix an infected
system.

If you can boot in Safe Mode with networking and can get on the
Internet:

Download, install, update and do a full scan with these free malware
detection programs:

Malwarebytes (MBAM): http://malwarebytes.org/
SUPERAntiSpyware: (SAS): http://www.superantispyware.com/

These can be uninstalled later if desired.

 

[Danno]

Thought I should give the end results of this thread in case it helps
someone else. And I wanted to thank John Wunderlich, PaulM, and Jose for
their suggestions.

After making certain that everything else was clean and working properly (no
viruses, chkdsk, defrag, etc.) I started concentrating on the error
message. I finally notice a little "Details" button. Clicking that button
on the error message gave some very useful information, including a .dll
file that was apparently not acting properly.

After Googling, and using the command prompt, I was finally able to figure
out that it was a .dll for a printer add-on that I could not find had been
used if ever. Google had told me the program that was causing the problem
and as the .dll was apparently missing (couldn't re-register it), I used the
..cpl file in System32, in Normal mode to remove the offending program.

Viola! Windows Explorer now works perfectly.

Danno

 

[PaulM]

Good to hear you found and fixed the problem.