help

[KB3LAZ]

Ok so I am not sure why it is like this but windows explorer is gone. I cant bring up the desktop at all. I have to run everything from the task manager. I already run my pc like that but this is my grandfathers pc and he will never be able to live with it being like this. As I said I am not sure how this happened but I can only assume that one of my little cousins were into something that they should not have been.

So my question is this, what can I do to fix it? Can I resurrect windows explorer? Well, other than reformating. I tried starting a new task assuming that that would restore the explorer but it was a no go.

On a side note, the computer works perfectly fine aside from this.

Oh and Please and thank you in advance. :mrgreen:

[M0GLO]

Bring up task manager and run explorer.exe fist thing.
See if it comes back for you.

This isn't a fix, but it will tell you if you still have a functioning explorer.exe.file.

[KB3LAZ]

Bring up task manager and run explorer.exe fist thing.
See if it comes back for you.

This isn't a fix, but it will tell you if you still have a functioning explorer.exe.file.

I had already tried that and it did not work. After a few hours of arguing with the system I just gave in and used the restore disk.

Thank you for the advice Todd.

[M0GLO]

That would be the fix then! :lol:

Yeah, if you don't have a functioning explorer.exe you are pretty toast at that point.
You could have tried to extract it from the cab (you'd have had to search the net for which one) to see if an overwrite worked, if it didn't then your registry is having issues and you would need to do what you just did.

Be sure to scan for a virus, as well or it may just happen again.

[ad4mg]

There were so many possible causes, Travis, that I didn't elaborate here. I "fix" lots of machines for friends, and I had never run into that particular problem. The most obvious:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> Software -> Microsoft -> Windows NT -> Current Version -> Winlogon

is to confirm that the value for the "Shell" key is set to "Explorer.exe".

That probably wouldn't have worked in your case, since you already tried to execute "Exlporer.exe". I read where some folks had copied "Explorer.exe" to a different filename, like "Exp.exe", and when they ran it, everything worked well. That would indicate that a virus or trojan was intercepting the call to "Explorer.exe", and not allowing it to execute.

Your solution (a re-install of the OS), was probably the easiest solution. Tracking down the specific "baddie" responsible may have been a nightmare.

[W2IBC]

this is why i use linux :P

[KB3LAZ]

this is why i use linux :P

Not my pc, its my grandfathers. I cant get him to check his email as it is so I dont want to discourage him anymore.

[KB3LAZ]

That would be the fix then! :lol:

Yeah, if you don't have a functioning explorer.exe you are pretty toast at that point.
You could have tried to extract it from the cab (you'd have had to search the net for which one) to see if an overwrite worked, if it didn't then your registry is having issues and you would need to do what you just did.

Be sure to scan for a virus, as well or it may just happen again.

I figured the same thing and sure enough that was the case.

[M0GLO]

Usually is when something weird happens out of the blue like that.
Or a failing hard drive.
Or maybe a dad who likes to randomly delete files in the Win folder just for kicks (yes, my dad is just that guy).

[KB3LAZ]

Usually is when something weird happens out of the blue like that.
Or a failing hard drive.
Or maybe a dad who likes to randomly delete files in the Win folder just for kicks (yes, my dad is just that guy).

My dad could not find the Win folder. :lol:

[W7XF]

Time to get a Mac, Travis!!! :angel

[KB3LAZ]

Time to get a Mac, Travis!!! :angel

Nope, will not accommodate my needs.