error loading Explorer.exe

I'm hoping someone can help solve my current problem. Two days ago my computer began behaving mysteriously. Explorer shutdown on me and Outlook (not express) wouldn't send messages even after clicking the send button. I have Norton scan all incoming and outgoing e-mails. The outgoing scan screens showed no activity (the e-mails weren't being scanned) and I couldn't close the screens. I double-checked to make sure I was actually on-line, and I was. In addition, the Microsoft Word files I was attempting to print wouldn't print. I ran two Norton checks which all turned out OK with no problems and no viruses. So, I decided to restart the computer. At the log-in screen I got the following message:
Error loading Explorer.exe
You must reinstall Windows
I still get this message every time I start the computer. I've been utilizing the GoBack program to revert to a more stable time in the life of this computer. BTW, I'm using Microsoft ME.

 

Hello Rebecca,

I've done a Google search on this problem, and here are the references - others with the same problem.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=Error+loading+Explorer.exe

These references point to this MS Knowledge Base article on this error: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306599

The bottom line is to reinstall ME over itself to fix a corrupt component. As one of the posters points out, this should work w/o any data loss. However, good practice to backup your data to removable media or if more than one partiton, to the non-windows partition.

You will lose the current settings + any updates/patches made to the OS. Have to re-do.

Regards - Charles