Windows Explorer works in Safe Mode not in Normal Startup

[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

 

[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

Why don't you start with some free scans?

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/

They can be uninstalled later if desired.