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Resolved Explorer.exe Won't Start

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by malady, 2011/12/15.

  1. 2011/12/15
    malady

    malady Inactive Thread Starter

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    Messed up registry in XP home and can only use task manager as desktop is blank and windows explorer won't start. It is just a taskbar blip when I type in explorer in start box. Any ideas how to rehab the registry or what keys exploer.exe depends on that perhaps can be fixed. Any ideas? Thx.
     
    malady,
    #1
  2. 2011/12/16
    MrBill

    MrBill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    What did you do in the registry? Use a cleaner or do something yourself? Most cleaners have a restore feature if you used one of them. Fooling with anything in the registry could result in making a brick out of your PC and nothing but a clean install will fix it.
     
    MrBill,
    #2


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  4. 2011/12/16
    malady

    malady Inactive Thread Starter

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    I tried to merge an older registry file to correct a Quicken program problem. Dumb idea, I know. Crashed machine and was in a loop so I restored the reg hive thru recovery console but explorer doesn't start. Don't have xp disk on this OEM machine. Can I do a fresh install off the OEM files they usually store?Thx.
     
    malady,
    #3
  5. 2011/12/16
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Try using System Restore.
    Also, explorer.exe is not needed to run most software, thus you can launch almost any application via Task Manager Run dialog.
     
    TonyT,
    #4
  6. 2011/12/16
    malady

    malady Inactive Thread Starter

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    All my restore points were gone with the meltdown. Have been troubleshooting this for awhile.I have task manager. It is like explorer.exe tries to load as the taskbar flashes. Any registry edits you would advise? Thx.
     
    malady,
    #5
  7. 2011/12/16
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Hi malady. Have you tried booting up the computer in Safe Mode and seeing if Windows Explorer works there?

    AFAIK there doesn't seem to be any registry fixes available for Windows Explorer and IMO you could have other Windows functions that could be broken that you don't know about yet. You could try following the instructions in this link. Its worth a shot, How to Fix Explorer.exe Problem In Windows XP When Taskbar Disappears.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #6
  8. 2011/12/16
    malady

    malady Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks as I have tried every conceivable fix including safe mode, other user accounts (no explorer), creating another user account, various reg edits, scripts etc. and it seems that there should be some time of reg fix for this out there in geekland? Could I replace a hive or some keys from my laptop that runs XP home SP3. It is Toshiba not Sony though. I tried to replace the explorer.exe file with the one from my laptop but the file is in use or locked at it won't take it seems. There may be other functions not working but I don't see them. Seems like there would be a registry guide with dependencies for explorer.exe. This is an old Sony OEM desktop with no recovery disk or XP disk to restore from...Can I access the OEM "stored" restore files that these companies stick on the harddrive? Perhaps I could copy those over and make a dislk or something to do a fresh install?Thanks for the link!
     
    malady,
    #7
  9. 2011/12/16
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    When you open task manager, if explorer.exe is listed as a running process, even though it doesn't bring up the desktop, end process on that explorer.exe and use run to launch it again by typing just "explorer ".

    Another thing to try is to download ComboFix on another computer and save to a thumb drive. Then use Task manager to run it from the thumb drive. It will download and install the Recovery Console and may even find malware on your system. You can then boot to Recovery Console and do some repairs, such as chkdsk /r.
     
    TonyT,
    #8
  10. 2011/12/16
    malady

    malady Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hello,
    Explorer.exe is not running in task manager processes. Have run combofix a few times. Had the recovery console installed which is how I restored system files when it wouldn't boot. Also, ran chkdsk (various) and scandisk (various).Thx.
     
    malady,
    #9
  11. 2011/12/16
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Since you already tried various fixes including running chkdsk from the recovery console without success then maybe you can get your hands on a Windows XP CD that you can use and perform a repair install of Windows.

    You could also try running the System File Checker and see if that solves your problem. To run SFC open Task Manager and click File< Run and type sfc /scannow and hit enter. Let SFC run and when it finishes reboot the computer and see if there is any change in Windows Explorer.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #10
  12. 2011/12/18
    malady

    malady Inactive Thread Starter

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    Tried SFC but thanks!
     
    malady,
    #11
  13. 2011/12/18
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Like Evan stated, the next step would be to attempt a repair install of Windows.
     
    SpywareDr,
    #12
  14. 2011/12/21
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Yea, without a disk you are FUBAR at this point. So you'll either have to get a disk from your OEM or a retail copy of XP.
     
    Arie,
    #13
  15. 2012/01/03
    markp62

    markp62 Geek Member Alumni

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    Toshiba could mail you the recovery CD(s) for that specific computer if not older than 2006, you just need the serial number off of the bottom. They only charge for shipping and handling fee ($20 U.S), if you can wait a week.
    https://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/support/jsp/serviceUnitVerification.jsp
    The above link has instructions available to get the recovery going without a CD. However if you do this, don't use the [default] option to delete both partitions (you'll delete the recovery data), just let it wipe out the primary.
     
    markp62,
    #14
  16. 2012/02/20
    malady

    malady Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks! Had to reload windows to get it running again so thread concluded. Thanks to all for your help!
     
    malady,
    #15
  17. 2012/02/20
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Please mark your thread as 'Resolved'.

    Near the top of your thread you'll see Thread Tools. Click the down arrow to expand the drop down menu, at the bottom of it you'll see Mark this thread as solved. Click on it to mark your thread as solved.

    If later you find that the problem has returned, and you had previously marked your thread as solved, follow the steps above. Instead 'Mark this thread as solved' you will see that in this case Mark this thread as unsolved is listed.

    Please read the User Guide for more information.
     
    TonyT,
    #16
  18. 2012/02/20
    Admin.

    Admin. Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Please mark your thread as 'Resolved'.

     
    Admin.,
    #17
  19. 2012/02/21
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Thanks for the update. :)
     
    Evan Omo,
    #18

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