OSDev.org

So I get a call from my grandma, her computer's busted. I came over today (and I'm still here) to fix it.

Windows won't start explorer.exe on startup, nor will running explorer from the Windows Task Manager work. Even when going File>New Task>Browse to C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.exe and running from there doesn't work. It complains about it not being found or something along those lines...

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Troy

Is the error more along the lines of: "Explorer.EXE - Entry Point Not Found"? If so, there's a fix from Microsoft.

Even worse:

Windows wrote:Windows cannot find 'C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.

But browsing for it or DIR C:\WINDOWS shows it's there.

Did a system restore to last week, nothing. Currently scanning using Windows File Protection.

two options I can think of off the top of my head.

A: copy and rename explorer.exe (in C:/WINDOWS) to explorer2.exe. Then run the copy (explorer2.exe) and see if it can find it and run it. If so, you have an association problem and needs to be corrected through the register (IIRC some winlogin keys).

B: get a shell version of AVG and run that in a prompt in administration mode to get rid of the (probable) virus that has altered your configurations. Then, do A.

Went through the Task Manager and did an AVG scan. No virii found.

Will try your renaming thing and registry hacking next time I see that computer.

If you have a Windows disc, the easiest thing to do is put the disc in, boot from it, then do what is called a Windows Repair.

Basically, when the first screen comes up, it says 'press R now to go to recovery shell to repair you computer.' Don't do that. Go to the next step of installing Windows. After a little more thinking, the computer will search the hard drives for existing windows installations. It will then present a list of installations (with presumably one in C:\WINDOWS). At this stage, press 'R' to repair the installation. This will copy over all the Windows core files, leaving all your settings, applications, and data intact. It will then proceed like a normal windows install.

I'm a bit tired at the moment... so there might be something I've missed. Nevertheless, if you do do a windows repair, you won't lose any data. Worst case, you'll still have a damaged windows install. If you have any questions, my IM details are here.

Thanks, JackScott!

When I'm near that computer next I'll try your instructions. I wasn't sure if the CD would blow everything out or not.

Actually that reminds me (the cd thing).

Before you do the repair install, go into the command prompt and enter "sfc /scannow" (without the quotation marks) and make sure that cd is in the computer when you run it. It will do a System File Check to make sure that all your system files are all there and are valid files, if not, it will drag them off your cd and replace the corrupt/missing ones.

Thanks 01000101, I just learned something new!

*goes off to do a bit of research*

01000101, already did that. Turned up no results.

Going to do the repair today, I'll probably wander up there later with my laptop.