Empty desktop/explor.exe not loading: HELP!

[nomicool]

Asalamoalaikum

Well...I just uninstalled some google desktop indexing software from my pc (which got installed automatically with a shockwave game) and restarted my pc, and then this problem started occuring.

Only my desktop wallpaper loads, and nothing else...no desktop icons...no taskbar...no nothing. Though I can still navigate through my computer using the task manager. But explorer.exe does not load....even if I try to force it to load through the task manager, it wont load.

Have tried repairing boot.ini also, but no luck.

Please, need urgent HELP.

Dont want to FORMAT.

[j@iDi]

Create another account and check if this problem persists or not... Well i'm afraid there's no easy way of overcoming this problem, for i too am a victim of this horrendous problem ..

[nomicool]

Originally Posted by j@iDi

Create another account and check if this problem persists or not... Well i'm afraid there's no easy way of overcoming this problem, for i too am a victim of this horrendous problem ..

And how exactly am I supposed to create a new account when I've got no GUI left in my windows?

Is there a way of accessing the control panel through the task manager? I mean any command that I can type in 'run' to open the control panel?

And how did you overcome this problem?

[GuRu]

Originally Posted by nomicool

And how exactly am I supposed to create a new account when I've got no GUI left in my windows?

Is there a way of accessing the control panel through the task manager? I mean any command that I can type in 'run' to open the control panel?

And how did you overcome this problem?

control.exe

[nomicool]

Originally Posted by GuRu

control.exe

Thank you very much.

I'll try making another account.

[nomicool]

Nope....cant open the control panel.

Because control panel needs explorer.exe to be running. And that wont load!

[Furqan]

Yaar try reading these things.

h--p://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
h--p://forums.devshed.com/antivirus-protection-117/explorer-exe-doesn-t-load-could-it-be-a-virus-155420.html
h--p://www.trap17.com/forums/page-1-t30634-s0.html

maybe it can help.

[Frugal]

Explorer.exe is most probably corrupted. You have three eggs in your basket.

A. Run "sfc /scannow" - system file checker
B. Perform WinXP Repair
C. Clean Install

Egg A - sfc
Open TaskManager --> Run --> "sfc /scannow"
You will need WinXP installation CD or the 'i386' folder on your harddrive.

Egg B - Repair using XP Installation CD
Follow the instructions [link].

Egg C - Painful Reinstallation
If the above fail its on to egg C.
Note: after the drivers have been installed, image the fresh installation and keep it in some place safe. It will make life easier the 'next time'.

[Furqan]

Yep thats about all he's got, and it's all in the links i gave too.

[nomicool]

Heheh...well, Furqan, my friend, I've already searched out and gone through half of the articles related to this problem on the internet...these 3 links you gave included.

None of them helped. Tried that VB registry fix from kellys-korner as well, but dint make any difference.

And it cant be a virus, I just scanned my system yesterday and there was no virus.

I'm starting to lose task manager's gui as well...all the tabs on the top have vanished. Its horrifying...just look at it:



And frugal, I will try out your advice tomorrow.

[Furqan]

Repair your windows. p.s if you have gone through these articles, why are the frugal's advices new to you? :S

[j@iDi]

Well i booted off into safe mode and for some weird reason, it appeared just fine, if you haven't tried safe mode yet, do it now..

If Windows does not start, try to restore operation of Windows XP by using the Last Known Good configuration. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Start the computer, and then press the F8 key when Windows begins to start. The Windows Advanced Options menu appears.

2. Use the ARROW keys to select Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked), and then click OK.

3. If a start menu appears, use the ARROW keys to select Microsoft Windows XP, and then click OK

Windows XP starts your computer by using the registry information that was saved at the last shutdown.

Perform an in-place upgrade to repair your installation of Windows XP
Try to repair your installation of Windows XP by doing an in-place upgrade. Running the Setup program from the Windows CD-ROM frequently repairs a damaged Windows installation.

This might help, but if it doesn't, a reformat will fix your problem..

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=3...23120121120120

[Fookie]

a simple reinstall of winodws over the existing copy migth solve this MeSs

[nomicool]

Originally Posted by j@iDi

Well i booted off into safe mode and for some weird reason, it appeared just fine, if you haven't tried safe mode yet, do it now..

If Windows does not start, try to restore operation of Windows XP by using the Last Known Good configuration. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Start the computer, and then press the F8 key when Windows begins to start. The Windows Advanced Options menu appears.

2. Use the ARROW keys to select Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked), and then click OK.

3. If a start menu appears, use the ARROW keys to select Microsoft Windows XP, and then click OK

Windows XP starts your computer by using the registry information that was saved at the last shutdown.

Perform an in-place upgrade to repair your installation of Windows XP
Try to repair your installation of Windows XP by doing an in-place upgrade. Running the Setup program from the Windows CD-ROM frequently repairs a damaged Windows installation.

This might help, but if it doesn't, a reformat will fix your problem..

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=3...23120121120120

Well yaar...I tried out all of this stuff before I made this thread. Tried booting in safe mode...but explorer doesnt load in safe mode either. Tried the 'last known good configuration' but no change. Even installed sp2 again. Now the only thing left to do is do an 'upgrade' installation. That'll hopefully solve the problem and I wont lose my documents and settings too.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally Posted by Furqan

Repair your windows. p.s if you have gone through these articles, why are the frugal's advices new to you? :S

Yea...I dint really read frugal's post. Now that I have noticed, I realize that I've tried out egg A (partly) and egg B. I tried to run the system file checker in safe mode earlier...but it wouldnt load. Dint try it in normal mode, which I'm trying out right now...and it is working. The windows file protection is running right now and the progress bar is slowly creeping forwards...lets see what happens.

P.S. I also tried replacing the explorer.exe on that pc with the explorer.exe from my laptop...but no change.

[navid_ahmed]

hey nomi,
double click on top of task bar and the tabs will be back