Crash after windows update

I have Windows 2000 professional installed on an older Compaq Presario laptop I use at work for running utilities to service the equipment I work on. This computer does not connect to the Internet and no updates had ever been done since Windows install. So I plugged in a wireless card and went online to update. After running 76 different updates, Windows won't boot properly. Explorer.exe is not running and I have no task bar, no desktop icons, and the Windows start button on the keyboard does nothing. I can ctrl-alt-del and run any program on there from task manager. When I manually run explorer.exe within Windows, all I get is Windows Explorer and still no desktop or taskbar. Does anyone know of a way to fix this without re-installing Windows and starting over? I have alot of programs installed that would take days to recover. Thanks

 

It's a possible malware issue (amazing how quickly an unpatched system gets infected).

My suggestion is to visit the Malware and Virus Removal forum after you read this.

Quote or link to your post above, don't be too concerned and I may be wrong but probably better to start there.

 

If I reinstall over the current install, will I loose any of my registered programs?

 

There's a small risk and backups would be helpful but most of the time you'll be OK. The decision is yours is that small risk unacceptable to you?

Could you do a mirror backup of the drive (using a second drive) and work with that? At least then you'll know you haven't lost any Data/Software that isn't already lost.

 

I found a problem in the Windows registry. Hkey_Local_machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\Winlogon
Shell had nothing in the data column, so I put Explorer.exe back in there where it should be. Now it's booting up normally with a taskbar and full desktop of icons. But thanks everyone for their input.

 

Good result.

The question you now have to ask is, why wasn't it there?

 

my assumption...
download all the update first. then offline and turn off anti virus (most important) before install the updates.

My experience is in Windows XP when upgrading to SP3. even microsoft says need to off anti virus.

 

another idea is to always turn on your automatic update. Its true that big and long update may give errors...

Thanks for posting anyway, Its a good reference.

 

my windows updates don't work either...

Hi Arie,
I've noticed a definative link between my own Windows 2000 updates and trojan horse infections on my system....so is it better to do them offline/ I mean, will they work?
Also I'd like to know how best to search old links on this system, such as how to install my Epson printer CX5500 as another model ( without checking I think it was a CX 3800), as I've just had a drive repair which has stalled my printer AGAIN! I've tried search and quick links, with no results.........I can only find my message of thanks to whoever quoted the advice, not the original advice.
Thanx very much in advance........Cheers Jewels is a gem