2 replies to this topic

[so1i]

Hi guys, was wondering if anyone might have an idea on a problem I have been having with a computer I am trying to fix for someone.

Basically, explorer.exe will not load automatically. I'm not sure of the exact circumstances surrounding when exactly this happened (as it's not my PC), but the only way I can get into windows is by ctr-alt-del'ing and running explorer.exe manually. Otherwise it just sits with his wallpaper, and no icons/taskbar (explorer) loading. It does the same in safe mode.

My initial thoughts was that it was most probably a registry problem. I jumped into windows, did a registry clean (using some free software called "Eusing Free Registry Cleaner, which seems ok to me). This found some problems, and said it had fixed them all.

I have looked through for the most common registry problems, eg. an explorer.exe file in "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options" and explorer.exe being missing in "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell.reg".

I wasn't sure what else to try, so I left it with a Virus scan running in safe mode in the help it might pick something up (but kind of doubt it, as it will not run in safe mode either, without manually asking it to load explorer).

If anyone has any ideas on this, I'd really appreciate it so I can get his PC back up and running. Oh, and fyi it's Windows XP he's running (forgot to mention!)

Cheers,
so1i

[cdg10620]

If Explorer doesn't start automatically the registry key that takes care of that might have the wrong value:

The key is:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

And the value is shell="explorer.exe"

You could also check out and verify the following registry key:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoDesktop

It should not be present or if present the value should be 0

[so1i]

Tried the first one of those. Will have to check on the second one, but I have no idea how that could have gotten changed. Also, shouldn't a reg cleaner fix that? Although I guess it is a legitimately set variable, rather than an erroneous one. Thanks for the help.

Any other suggestions as to what it could be?