Windows XP Windows Explorer Crash

M

m-a-leach

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I've got a problem with windows explorer with XP home edition SP2. When my laptop starts up and reaches the desktop an error message pops up saying that Windows Explorer needs to close (standard Debug, Send Error Report, Don't Send). After closing it attempts to restart and crashes again, over and over.

I've searched the forum and found similar unresolved issues. Following a suggestion from Soulistic in one thread I started the laptop in safe mode and the error still appeared. I then started Event Viewer, but when I attempt to view a log I get an error saying: 'Unable to complete operation on "Application". The interface is unknown.'

It happened after I let my friend use it, who says he didn't do anything, but I think he was messing with the wireless connection.

Things I've tried:

1) Using MSConfig to disable all applications that were running on startup.
2) Using MSConfig to disable any services that looked like they were linked to networking.
3) Trying to repair internet explorer in the Add/Remove programs section (it doesn't appear in the list).
4) Trying to install internet explorer 6 (it says a newer version is on the laptop: 6.0.2900.2180.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
5) Using system restore (it won't let me move to a previous month, and I don't have any restore points in this one. I click on the < button and it changes to show it's been pressed but stays on July)
6) Running Ad-aware (nothing detected).

I'm pretty much out of ideas, except for the drastic factory settings disks. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Matthew
 
Going by what you say you have already done, it appears you have little choice but to reinstall the OS.

The problem being you cannot accomplish restore etc:

Don’t lend your PC to others now you have to do the hard work.

:(
 
Let me point out that Windows Explorer is NOT Internet Explorer ...

What's the difference between Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer? Actually, nothing. It's a program with a split-personality.

The Internet Explorer side of the program is for surfing the web. The Windows Explorer side is used for exploring the files, folders, drives, and directories on your computer ... blame MS for the confusion.

However, I'm afraid you're sunk ... reinstall Windows.

Windows Explorer used to be called File Manager. ;)
 
Doesn't look good

Thanks for your replies.

Today I also swallowed my pride and installed Norton anti-virus, which found nothing, and copied the Internet Explorer folder and explorer.exe files from another computer (stop frowning, I've seen it work with other problems).

While I go through the painful process of backing up my system, does anyone know what causes this problem?

Matthew
 
If we did we wouldn't need to reinstall the OS....let us know how you got on copying the files over and whether you got away with it or not....;)
 
Unfortuantely copying didn't fix it either, and I even managed to replace the actual explorer exe between crashes (since that's the only time it isn't running and so you don't get the 'it's in use' error).

It seems to get part way through adding icons on the task bar: clock, Windows Security, battery status, volume control, and then crashes, everytime. It's about the point where the wireless connection used to come up, but maybe I'm just fixating.

The error report lists the modules as explorer.exe and then some 70 dlls. Could a corruption in one of these be the cause?

Also are the logs from Event Viewer stored as txt files? Because if they are maybe I could just open them off the drive and see where it's crashing.

Thanks

Matthew
 
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