Windows Explorer failure at startup

[Guest]

Several times in the past few days, when starting upo, the following error
occurs:

Windows Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close. WEe are sorry
for the inconvenience.
AppName: explorer.exe App.Vers. 6.0.2900.2180 Modname ntdll.dll
Mod.ver. 5.1.2600.2180 Offset 0002ae22

Exception Information
Code: 0xc0000005 Flags 0x00000000

Record: 0x000000-----000000
Address: 0x000000007c92ae22

The following files will be included
C:\DOCUME~\Mike\LOCALS~1\Temp\939_appcompat.txt

The front screen then freezes. The only thing I have noticed is that
neither of the icons for Norton Firewall or Antivirus programs appear in the
bottom right hand corner, whereas all other icons are there (e.g. Quicktime,
NVIDIA settings).

If I press the restart button, the system starts correctly without problem.

Sorry if the above is a bit vague, but has anyone any idea why the above
should be happening? I am fully up to date with Windows Updates, am running
XP Home
Edition SP2.

Thanks - Mike

 

[Rob ^_^]

Hi Mike,

You are in the wrong newsgroup (xpwindows may offer better assistance), but
that aside try Start>Run menu and enter msconfig in the Run Dialog. This
will start the msconfig utility, select the Start up tab and look for any
suspicious programs. Disable them as required until you find the offending
program. Then go to the Add/Remove Programs applet and un-install it (if
possible - it may be malware and may not have an uninstaller).

Once you know the file name of the offending program you can do a G search
on the name and that may provide you with uninstall instructions.

Regards.