Windows not loading properly

[Solauren]

Version: XP
Problem; Boots up normally up until you see the desktop background.
AT that point, no icons, no taskbar, no right click.

I can't find an explaination on the internet that isn't badly formatted or a little above my head (I am not a Windows Registry expert).

Anyone know where to go to get help? Microsoft help has proven, unhelpful, and I don't want to email them unless I can't get help otherwise.

[Dominus Atheos]

Version: XP
Problem; Boots up normally up until you see the desktop background.
AT that point, no icons, no taskbar, no right click.

I can't find an explaination on the internet that isn't badly formatted or a little above my head (I am not a Windows Registry expert).

Anyone know where to go to get help? Microsoft help has proven, unhelpful, and I don't want to email them unless I can't get help otherwise.

Press the Windows key + R, then enter "explorer" into the run dialog box that pops up. See if your icons come up then.

[Solauren]

"Cannot find C:\windows\explorer.exe"

It's there. I've also tried safe mode, RegClean, Registry Mechanic.

Nothing.

[Dominus Atheos]

"Cannot find C:\windows\explorer.exe"

It's there. I've also tried safe mode, RegClean, Registry Mechanic.

Nothing.

...


It says it can't find Explorer?!?

Wow, that's bad. Alright, when the computer starts up, hit f8 like you want to start in safe mode, except select "Safe mode with a Command prompt", then when that starts, type "C:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe" and hit enter. Then follow the on screen instructions to roll back your computer to an earlier point in time. That should restore Explorer. (hopefully)

[Hawkwings]

...and if that doesn't work, nuke and pave. You can extract your important files off the hard drive to another computer first, but watch out for whatever nasty killed that computer in the first place.

[Uraniun235]

I've seen this before. I'm not sure if it's the exact same issue, but I saw similar symptoms at work once.

Alright, I dug through my work email, and I think I found the one related to this...

First you'll need to boot into Safe Mode, then delete the following registry key:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options – Explorer.exe (** Delete the explorer.exe subkey)

Then delete the following folder: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Common

Then reboot.

[Solauren]

I completely cheated

I copyed explorer.exe to bob.exe
I changed the shell reference in the Registry to bob.exe

Guess what, it worked

However, I will make a note of the other suggested fixs in case this problem persits.

After this, I'm considering the 'nuke and repave' option. Fortunately, I have a second hard drive installed in this thing that might hold it all.

(Failing that, I have thumb drives!)

[Spyder]

I'd nuke it. If it can't find explorer.exe because it's called 'explorer.exe' then I'd say there's going to be a few issues there.

...You don't have some weird third party firewall that's decided to block access to it per chance?

[Solauren]

I'd nuke it. If it can't find explorer.exe because it's called 'explorer.exe' then I'd say there's going to be a few issues there.

...You don't have some weird third party firewall that's decided to block access to it per chance?

No.
I'm pretty sure it had something to do with the virus infection I got the day before.

Seems to be running fine right now. I'm considering trying the Windows XP CD for a repair attempt before I try a nuke.