Windows XP SP2 desktop won't load on startup

[billerr]

I've been experiencing this problem for the past week:

Randomly, when the pc starts up, after the logon screen, the wallpaper will
load, but with no desktop icons or taskbar. I tried the following:

1. If I restart the computer, the same happens three sequential times before
finally on the 4th startup the desktop loads normally. Instead, if I turn
off the computer, and then start it up manually by the power button, the
desktop will load normally right the next time and not the 4th. During
either workaround, just before the computer shuts down, the little window
'Ending program....explorer.exe' shows up and each time the program won't
end on it's own, but I have to 'end it now' manually. So, it must be the
explorer hanging.

2. The previous suggest some explorer.exe problem. So, I checked Task
Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Delete) and there was the explorer.exe process, sitting
quietly there, no CPU usage or extreme RAM, while the desktop was still
missing. Ending the process and running 'explorer.exe' through File>Run
would eventually bring the taskbar and icons back, but most icons would be
absent from the tray, although the corresponding programs (McAffe, DSL
monitor) are working in the background.

3. I checked Event Viewer, and in the system log, at the times when the
problem occurs, I find entries of some 'Service Control Manager' problem
with an Event ID: 7001. I don't know what that is and if it is indeed
connected to the problem.

I also noticed something else. The explorer executable in Windows folder
says it was created in 2001 and is version 6.0.2900.2180. I find the same
executable in the system32/dllcache folder. However, in the
Windows/ServicePackFiles/i386 folder (where the SP2 files are stored) I find
an explorer executable of the same version (6.0.2900.2180) but created in
2005, not 2001. I tried copying the 2005 executeble over the 2001 in Windows
folder but it's in use so I can't do that.

Long post, I know, but does anyone have any sugggestions as to what might
fix the problem of the missing desktop so I don't have to restart over and
over each time? I found no results in threads with the same problem
mentioned.

 

[Malke]

I've been experiencing this problem for the past week:

Randomly, when the pc starts up, after the logon screen, the wallpaper
will load, but with no desktop icons or taskbar. I tried the
following:

1. If I restart the computer, the same happens three sequential times
before finally on the 4th startup the desktop loads normally. Instead,
if I turn off the computer, and then start it up manually by the power
button, the desktop will load normally right the next time and not the
4th. During either workaround, just before the computer shuts down,
the little window 'Ending program....explorer.exe' shows up and each
time the program won't end on it's own, but I have to 'end it now'
manually. So, it must be the explorer hanging.

(snippage)

This is probably a hardware issue. Here are some general hardware
troubleshooting steps. I'd start by swapping out the power supply for a
known-good one.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Troubleshooting

Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out suspected parts
with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine to a professional
computer repair shop (not your local equivalent of BigStoreUSA).

Malke

 

[billerr]

Thanks a lot. I now see I've posted in the wrong newsgroup but anyway, thank
you for the prompt reply.I'll se what I can do, cause spotting hardware
problems isnt exactly my area of expertise...