exactly what it says. Im running Windows XP pro.

for a couple weeks now I haven't been able to get explorer.exe to start. so Ive had to run everything off of the Sysinternals process manager and the ExplorerXP file browser + liteshell.

its getting annoying. Ive done repeated virus scans and spyware scans but nothing turns up.
Well, I do know that windoze likes to break for no apparent reason... but this is unprecedented. I'd try using some other virus and spyware programs to check again, because many viruses know how to hide themselves from most of the common antivirus software.
Do you happen to have the winxp installation disk? I have had similar experiences with Win98, and reinstalling seemed to fix it for me before. You should also get Windows Defender from the M$ site, and possibly check your computer for updates.
Ive got all the current updates, and I can't reinstall cause I dont have a disk. Im hopimg rivereye will have some idea about this since he's an MCP.

also, I have a couple HJT logs if anyone needs to see them
hmm, this one has me a tad bit lost also. (sorry about this). If you have another XP machine, try the explorer.exe off of it.
I compared the MD5's of it with the MD5 of the one in the SP2 cab file....they are identical.

also, Internet Explorer wont start either.
registry setting then. Do you happen to have a system restore point?
rivereye wrote:
registry setting then. Do you happen to have a system restore point?


probably not...

and last known good settings won't work cause Ive already logged in.

and I did find one set of registry keys on Google that supposedly causes this but I dont have them in my registry...
yeah, I knew LKGC was out. Check out system restore, it may have made a back-up and you don't know it, see what you have.
didn't help Neutral

anywho,

hjt startup log wrote:
StartupList report, 8/28/2006, 1:13:42 PM
StartupList version: 1.52.2
Started from : C:\Documents and Settings\thomas\Desktop\hjt\HijackThis.EXE
Detected: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
Detected: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)
* Using default options
==================================================

Running processes:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe
C:\Program Files\yz_dck0083\YzDock.exe
C:\Program Files\Opera\Opera.exe
C:\Program Files\7-Zip\7zFM.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\thomas\Desktop\sysinternals\procexp.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\thomas\Desktop\hjt\HijackThis.exe

--------------------------------------------------

Listing of startup folders:

Shell folders Startup:
[C:\Documents and Settings\thomas\Start Menu\Programs\Startup]
Run Google Web Accelerator.lnk = C:\Program Files\Google\Web Accelerator\GoogleWebAccWarden.exe

Shell folders Common Startup:
[C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup]
U.S. Robotics 802.11g Wireless Network Utility.lnk = ?
Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
Google Updater.lnk = C:\Program Files\Google\Google Updater\1.1.433.23491\GoogleUpdater.exe

--------------------------------------------------

Checking Windows NT UserInit:

[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
UserInit = C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

--------------------------------------------------

Autorun entries from Registry:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

COMPANY_NAME PRODUCT_NAME = C:\Program Files\D-Link\Air USB Utility\AirCFG.exe
Google Desktop Search = "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe" /startup
Picasa Media Detector = C:\Program Files\Picasa2\PicasaMediaDetector.exe
SunJavaUpdateSched = C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe
{0228e555-4f9c-4e35-a3ec-b109a192b4c2} = C:\Program Files\Google\Gmail Notifier\gnotify.exe
iTunesHelper = "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
QuickTime Task = "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
1A:Stardock TrayMonitor = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Stardock\TrayServer.exe
IgfxTray = C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
HotKeysCmds = C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
avast! = C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
System Files Updater = C:\WINDOWS\FlyakiteOSX\Tools\System Files Updater.exe /S

--------------------------------------------------

Autorun entries from Registry:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

*Restore = C:\WINDOWS\system32\restore\rstrui.exe -c

--------------------------------------------------

Autorun entries from Registry:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

STYLEXP = C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXP.exe -Hide
Alt+Q Hotkey Tool = C:\WINDOWS\Alt+Q Hotkey.exe

--------------------------------------------------

Load/Run keys from C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI:

load=*INI section not found*
run=*INI section not found*

Load/Run keys from Registry:

HKLM\..\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon: load=*Registry value not found*
HKLM\..\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon: run=*Registry value not found*
HKLM\..\Windows\CurrentVersion\WinLogon: load=*Registry key not found*
HKLM\..\Windows\CurrentVersion\WinLogon: run=*Registry key not found*
HKCU\..\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon: load=*Registry value not found*
HKCU\..\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon: run=*Registry value not found*
HKCU\..\Windows\CurrentVersion\WinLogon: load=*Registry key not found*
HKCU\..\Windows\CurrentVersion\WinLogon: run=*Registry key not found*
HKCU\..\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows: load=
HKCU\..\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows: run=*Registry value not found*
HKLM\..\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows: load=*Registry value not found*
HKLM\..\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows: run=*Registry value not found*
HKLM\..\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows: AppInit_DLLs=C:\PROGRA~1\Google\GOOGLE~2\GOEC62~1.DLL

--------------------------------------------------

Shell & screensaver key from C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI:

Shell=*INI section not found*
SCRNSAVE.EXE=*INI section not found*
drivers=*INI section not found*

Shell & screensaver key from Registry:

Shell=Explorer.exe
SCRNSAVE.EXE=C:\WINDOWS\SAVER.SCR
drivers=*Registry value not found*

Policies Shell key:

HKCU\..\Policies: Shell=*Registry key not found*
HKLM\..\Policies: Shell=*Registry value not found*

--------------------------------------------------


Enumerating Browser Helper Objects:

(no name) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll -

{02478D38-C3F9-4EFB-9B51-7695ECA05670}
(no name) - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll -

{06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3}
(no name) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yiesrvc.dll - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897}
Google Web Accelerator Helper - C:\Program Files\Google\Web Accelerator\GoogleWebAccToolbar.dll -

{69A87B7D-DE56-4136-9655-716BA50C19C7}
(no name) - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43}
(no name) - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7}
TGTSoft Explorer Toolbar Changer - C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\TGT_BHO.dll -

{C333CF63-767F-4831-94AC-E683D962C63C}

--------------------------------------------------

Enumerating Download Program Files:

[SysProWmi Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dell\SystemProfiler\SysPro.ocx
CODEBASE = http://support.dell.com/systemprofiler/SysPro.CAB

[Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\system32\legitcheckcontrol.dll
CODEBASE = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204

[YInstStarter Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yinsthelper.dll
CODEBASE = C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yinsthelper.dll

[WUWebControl Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\System32\wuweb.dll
CODEBASE =

http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1138405325107

[MUWebControl Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\System32\muweb.dll
CODEBASE =

http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1138405971607

--------------------------------------------------

Enumerating ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad items:

PostBootReminder: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll
CDBurn: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll
WebCheck: C:\WINDOWS\System32\webcheck.dll
SysTray: C:\WINDOWS\System32\stobject.dll
UPnPMonitor: C:\WINDOWS\system32\upnpui.dll

--------------------------------------------------
End of report, 7,369 bytes
Report generated in 0.180 seconds

Command line options:
/verbose - to add additional info on each section
/complete - to include empty sections and unsuspicious data
/full - to include several rarely-important sections
/force9x - to include Win9x-only startups even if running on WinNT
/forcent - to include WinNT-only startups even if running on Win9x
/forceall - to include all Win9x and WinNT startups, regardless of platform
/history - to list version history only
results of hjt scan wrote:
Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 1:34:41 PM, on 8/28/2006
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\csrss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXPService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\wdfmgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe
C:\Program Files\yz_dck0083\YzDock.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\alg.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Opera\Opera.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\notepad.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\thomas\Desktop\sysinternals\procexp.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\thomas\Desktop\hjt\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! Toolbar Helper - {02478D38-C3F9-4EFB-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! IE Services Button - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yiesrvc.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Web Accelerator Helper - {69A87B7D-DE56-4136-9655-716BA50C19C7} - C:\Program Files\Google\Web Accelerator\GoogleWebAccToolbar.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O2 - BHO: TGTSoft Explorer Toolbar Changer - {C333CF63-767F-4831-94AC-E683D962C63C} - C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\TGT_BHO.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Google Web Accelerator - {DB87BFA2-A2E3-451E-8E5A-C89982D87CBF} - C:\Program Files\Google\Web Accelerator\GoogleWebAccToolbar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [COMPANY_NAME PRODUCT_NAME] C:\Program Files\D-Link\Air USB Utility\AirCFG.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Google Desktop Search] "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe" /startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Picasa Media Detector] C:\Program Files\Picasa2\PicasaMediaDetector.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [{0228e555-4f9c-4e35-a3ec-b109a192b4c2}] C:\Program Files\Google\Gmail Notifier\gnotify.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [1A:Stardock TrayMonitor] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Stardock\TrayServer.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast!] C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [System Files Updater] C:\WINDOWS\FlyakiteOSX\Tools\System Files Updater.exe /S
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Name of App] C:\Program Files\SAMSUNG\FW LiveUpdate\Liveupdate.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KernelFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -k
O4 - HKLM\..\RunOnce: [*Restore] C:\WINDOWS\system32\restore\rstrui.exe -c
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [googletalk] "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Talk\googletalk.exe" /autostart
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Yahoo! Pager] C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\ypager.exe -quiet
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [STYLEXP] C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXP.exe -Hide
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Alt+Q Hotkey Tool] C:\WINDOWS\Alt+Q Hotkey.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [updateMgr] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\AdobeUpdateManager.exe" AcRdB7_0_7
O4 - Global Startup: U.S. Robotics 802.11g Wireless Network Utility.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Google Updater.lnk = C:\Program Files\Google\Google Updater\1.1.433.23491\GoogleUpdater.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Translate English Word - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmwordtrans.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Yahoo! Search - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycsrch.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate Page into English - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &Dictionary - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycdict.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &Maps - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycmap.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &SMS - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycsms.htm
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Yahoo! Services - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yiesrvc.dll
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {01A88BB1-1174-41EC-ACCB-963509EAE56B} (SysProWmi Class) - http://support.dell.com/systemprofiler/SysPro.CAB
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99f7-4bb4-88d8-fa1d4f56a2ab} (YInstStarter Class) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yinsthelper.dll
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1138405325107
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1138405971607
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{0E0A8799-418E-4908-9148-C5AEFC1958D2}: NameServer = 192.168.2.1
O18 - Protocol: ms-help - {314111C7-A502-11D2-BBCA-00C04F8EC294} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Help\hxds.dll
O18 - Protocol: msnim - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - "C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\msgrapp.dll" (file missing)
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: C:\PROGRA~1\Google\GOOGLE~2\GOEC62~1.DLL
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O23 - Service: avast! iAVS4 Control Service (aswUpdSv) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Mail Scanner - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe" /service (file missing)
O23 - Service: avast! Web Scanner - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe" /service (file missing)
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPodService - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: StyleXPService - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXPService.exe
O23 - Service: Windows Smrss Service - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\smrss.exe (file missing)

it wouldn't be explorer.exe thats the problem, but rather whatever dlls it is trying to load. If you can, install the windows debug tools (they are at microsoft.com somewhere) and attach explorer.exe to a debug process - then see where it is crashing.
elfprince13 wrote:
I compared the MD5's of it with the MD5 of the one in the SP2 cab file....they are identical.

also, Internet Explorer wont start either.
Doesn't surprise me. IE relies on a lot of explorer.exe to function correctly.
Kllrnohj wrote:
it wouldn't be explorer.exe thats the problem, but rather whatever dlls it is trying to load. If you can, install the windows debug tools (they are at microsoft.com somewhere) and attach explorer.exe to a debug process - then see where it is crashing.


and what do I do after I find where it is crashing?
probably replace it with a DLL from another machine, or make the registry change.
Google for the dll and replace it.
k.

it crashed a couple of places, the first time I forced it to continue, and the second time I couldn't.

of course, probing around C:\windows and C:\windows\system32, I know where all the back up files for SP2 are kept. Wink
  
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