Resolved Explorer. exe application error, no desktop, files not readable

Hi,
I run windows XP on an HP that is roughly 2 years old. Lately it has been having a few rundll errors. However, when I was using photoshop CS2 (legal version) and an Alienskin Xenofex2 (also legal) plug in it said not enough RAM to complete the process. Before that it was having quite a few program errors and running super slow. So I saved and restarted the computer figuring that would do the trick. Then on restart when my login screen came on it said "EXPLORER.exe application error" and something else I can't quite remember. I pushed ok and then there were no desktop icons or start bar when it logged on. I went to my task manager and clicked "my document" in the browse section of run and my desktop came back. I thought all was ok until I tried to copy my files to CD, it says "There was a problem accessing this file (or something like that) What would you like Microsoft to do?" I chose retry, nothing, then cancel, and nothing. My files are all there, but I can't use them. In the task manager, under process is shows lots of processes but only one says system, all the others have a blank where the user should be. I am scared to restart the computer again, and I really want to back my files up. (14 gigs of graphic designing things, tons of photos of my 2 babies, and tons of scrapbook pages created digitally) Also, my Sonic DVD burning software is no longer working. It says that the .msi (?) file can not be found! Someone mentioned taking out the hard drive and putting it in another computer to try and back the files up, but will that work? Also, I have lots of downloaded software (all legal) that is a huge hassle to reinstall so I'd rather not have reinstall to if possible. I have been scanning all kinds of boards for help all night. I am at work now, but I will be back home in a while and then I will be hoping to work on the computer. Any help would be great. And one final question, if all else fails, is the geek squad file restoration service worth the price, or are there any other better options?
Thanks

 

Hi Evan Omo,
I have done a system restore and upon logging it it gave me a rstrui.exe application error. It also said 0xc0000142. So I logged in anyway and went to control panel and deleted the newest program I had installed (Recuva) and now windows seems to be working ok. (I restarted and got no errors upon logging in) I went to the store and bought a 320 gb external hard drive and was able to transfer all of my files there. I did an application restore for Sonic MyDVD and that is working, but if I try to do the old drag and drop method onto the CD it tells me that there has been an error and what would I like Microsoft to do. Also, I still got the "Not enough RAM message" in photoshop (which I have been using for almost 2 years now with no problems) when I went back to test it tonight. If I were to install, then reinstall photoshop, will I lose all of my plugins and have to reinstall those too? Also, when I ran a windows check it says I need to reinstall parts of XP and asks for the CD. This computer did not come with a cd, but I do have a windows serial number on the cpu. How can I restore windows to it's former glory without losing all of my other programs and without a cd? So many questions! By the way, I was able to get this far towards a working system by following advice from many different posts on this forum! It only took me 10 1/2 hours of work over 2 days, but I am elated that I didn't lose any files, I was terrified of losing my childrens' pictures (which are all now safely on the external HD and on DVD!)
Jennifer

 

Hey guys,
Thanks for your help. I ended up having to do a complete system restore. I had a friend who repairs computers come over and he worked at it for hours, but it kept getting the same error no matter what we did and we finally lost explorer.exe completely. On the plus side, with the complete reinstall Photoshop is now running smoothly and my Microsoft burning software is finally working for the first time in a year! I did take some of the advice here on the boards and am now no longer using internet explorer, I had no idea it was so vulnerable! Thanks again!