Explorer caused an error in unknown - A fix!
 

As with many others, I have been hit by this problem over the past weekend. I think/hope I've found a fix that works for me. Despite nearly 30 years in the IT industry, I'm a bit inexperienced with the techie stuff on PC's so perhaps the following will also help others.

First, the circumstances:
When I tried to use Windows Explorer, My Computer, Control Panel, Printers, Find in Files and Folders, etc. I got an error message: "Explorer has caused an error in unknown. Explorer will now close down". (Later on it switched to a 'blue screen' error that I had to re-boot from).
I'm using Windows ME and hadn't installed anything new for some time. These features had worked the previous week.
They also still worked in Safe Mode.

I took a look around the newsgroups, and noticed that I was far from alone. The consensus seemd to be that we had acquired an unwelcome visitor. Various ideas were suggested, which included downloading & running various utilities - I tried Ad-aware and Spybot S&D. Although they found and cleaned up various suspects, the problem persisted. Probably well worth doing anyway.

A couple of other suggestions. One entry (from DJ Pete under Windows 98 General group) suggested something called Safeguard. The registry entries and dll file he'd suggested didn't exist on my PC, but the search he suggested did find another entry for Safeguard. He also pointed out that just deleting this entry wouldn't do on its own without deleting a dll file. Besides, I didn't feel confident about going at the registry with a chainsaw like this.

Another suggestion elswhere was for something called BHODemon, and it seemed to have worked for some people. I tried this and it found the same registry entry - this time indicated that it had been set up on May 28. This fit in with the time I suspect that the problem started. BHODemon allows you to disable the entries, but this didn't work - I still had the problem.

Then I remembered DJ Pete's comments about having to remove the dll. BHODemon highlighted the dll name so I searched for that file (pdf53c.dll) and found it plus a pdf.lib file in c:\Windows\System - also with a date of May 28. I renamed these files, re-booted and hey presto - Explorer now runs!

I've only just fixed this, but assuming it stays fixed. Here's a summary of what worked for me.

Do all this in Safe Mode
Make a Restore Point - just in case it gets worse.
Using Regedit, search for 'Safeguard'. Make a note of the dll name.
Run BHODemon. Look for the same dll name The 'Details' key should give you more information about when the entries were loaded. Disable the registry entry.
Search your hard drive for the dll file (should be in Windows\System). Rename it and a similar named lib file - change the extensions.
Reboot, cross your fingers and try 'My Computer'

Explorer caused an error in unknown - A fix!
 

Thanks Graham for taking the time to post those details. I'm sure it will be
of help to others. I note the one route you didn't try was HijackThis
(http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html) but since you have a
result that is hardly important and I note that DJ Pete says it didn't help
identify the problem which I found somewhat surprising..

Regards,
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP



Graham Womack Graham Womack wrote:

As with many others, I have been hit by this problem over the past
weekend. I think/hope I've found a fix that works for me. Despite nearly
30 years in the IT industry, I'm a bit inexperienced with the techie
stuff on PC's so perhaps the following will also help others.

First, the circumstances:
When I tried to use Windows Explorer, My Computer, Control Panel,
Printers, Find in Files and Folders, etc. I got an error message:
"Explorer has caused an error in unknown. Explorer will now close down".
(Later on it switched to a 'blue screen' error that I had to re-boot
from). I'm using Windows ME and hadn't installed anything new for some
time. These features had worked the previous week. They also still worked
in Safe Mode.

I took a look around the newsgroups, and noticed that I was far from
alone. The consensus seemd to be that we had acquired an unwelcome
visitor. Various ideas were suggested, which included downloading &
running various utilities - I tried Ad-aware and Spybot S&D. Although
they found and cleaned up various suspects, the problem persisted.
Probably well worth doing anyway.

A couple of other suggestions. One entry (from DJ Pete under Windows 98
General group) suggested something called Safeguard. The registry entries
and dll file he'd suggested didn't exist on my PC, but the search he
suggested did find another entry for Safeguard. He also pointed out that
just deleting this entry wouldn't do on its own without deleting a dll
file. Besides, I didn't feel confident about going at the registry with a
chainsaw like this.

Another suggestion elswhere was for something called BHODemon, and it
seemed to have worked for some people. I tried this and it found the same
registry entry - this time indicated that it had been set up on May 28.
This fit in with the time I suspect that the problem started. BHODemon
allows you to disable the entries, but this didn't work - I still had the
problem.

Then I remembered DJ Pete's comments about having to remove the dll.
BHODemon highlighted the dll name so I searched for that file
(pdf53c.dll) and found it plus a pdf.lib file in c:\Windows\System - also
with a date of May 28. I renamed these files, re-booted and hey presto -
Explorer now runs!

I've only just fixed this, but assuming it stays fixed. Here's a summary
of what worked for me.

Do all this in Safe Mode
Make a Restore Point - just in case it gets worse.
Using Regedit, search for 'Safeguard'. Make a note of the dll name.
Run BHODemon. Look for the same dll name The 'Details' key should give
you more information about when the entries were loaded. Disable the
registry entry. Search your hard drive for the dll file (should be in
Windows\System). Rename it and a similar named lib file - change the
extensions. Reboot, cross your fingers and try 'My Computer'

Explorer caused an error in unknown - A fix!
 

I'll join Mike in saying thanks for posting this - mind if I tailor it for
future use? (with attribution!)

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
or
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/f.../Mar27pmvp.asp
Graham Womack wrote in message
...
As with many others, I have been hit by this problem over the past
weekend. I think/hope I've found a fix that works for me. Despite nearly 30
years in the IT industry, I'm a bit inexperienced with the techie stuff on
PC's so perhaps the following will also help others.

First, the circumstances:
When I tried to use Windows Explorer, My Computer, Control Panel,
Printers, Find in Files and Folders, etc. I got an error message: "Explorer
has caused an error in unknown. Explorer will now close down". (Later on it
switched to a 'blue screen' error that I had to re-boot from).
I'm using Windows ME and hadn't installed anything new for some time.
These features had worked the previous week.
They also still worked in Safe Mode.

I took a look around the newsgroups, and noticed that I was far from
alone. The consensus seemd to be that we had acquired an unwelcome visitor.
Various ideas were suggested, which included downloading & running various
utilities - I tried Ad-aware and Spybot S&D. Although they found and cleaned
up various suspects, the problem persisted. Probably well worth doing
anyway.

A couple of other suggestions. One entry (from DJ Pete under Windows 98
General group) suggested something called Safeguard. The registry entries
and dll file he'd suggested didn't exist on my PC, but the search he
suggested did find another entry for Safeguard. He also pointed out that
just deleting this entry wouldn't do on its own without deleting a dll file.
Besides, I didn't feel confident about going at the registry with a chainsaw
like this.

Another suggestion elswhere was for something called BHODemon, and it
seemed to have worked for some people. I tried this and it found the same
registry entry - this time indicated that it had been set up on May 28. This
fit in with the time I suspect that the problem started. BHODemon allows you
to disable the entries, but this didn't work - I still had the problem.

Then I remembered DJ Pete's comments about having to remove the dll.
BHODemon highlighted the dll name so I searched for that file (pdf53c.dll)
and found it plus a pdf.lib file in c:\Windows\System - also with a date of
May 28. I renamed these files, re-booted and hey presto - Explorer now runs!

I've only just fixed this, but assuming it stays fixed. Here's a summary
of what worked for me.

Do all this in Safe Mode
Make a Restore Point - just in case it gets worse.
Using Regedit, search for 'Safeguard'. Make a note of the dll name.
Run BHODemon. Look for the same dll name The 'Details' key should give you
more information about when the entries were loaded. Disable the registry
entry.
Search your hard drive for the dll file (should be in Windows\System).
Rename it and a similar named lib file - change the extensions.
Reboot, cross your fingers and try 'My Computer'

Explorer caused an error in unknown - A fix!
 

Please feel free

Hope it helps


Graham

----- Noel Paton wrote: -----

I'll join Mike in saying thanks for posting this - mind if I tailor it for
future use? (with attribution!)

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
or
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/f.../Mar27pmvp.asp
Graham Womack wrote in message
...
As with many others, I have been hit by this problem over the past
weekend. I think/hope I've found a fix that works for me. Despite nearly 30
years in the IT industry, I'm a bit inexperienced with the techie stuff on
PC's so perhaps the following will also help others.
First, the circumstances:
When I tried to use Windows Explorer, My Computer, Control Panel,
Printers, Find in Files and Folders, etc. I got an error message: "Explorer
has caused an error in unknown. Explorer will now close down". (Later on it
switched to a 'blue screen' error that I had to re-boot from).
I'm using Windows ME and hadn't installed anything new for some time.
These features had worked the previous week.
They also still worked in Safe Mode.
I took a look around the newsgroups, and noticed that I was far from
alone. The consensus seemd to be that we had acquired an unwelcome visitor.
Various ideas were suggested, which included downloading & running various
utilities - I tried Ad-aware and Spybot S&D. Although they found and cleaned
up various suspects, the problem persisted. Probably well worth doing
anyway.
A couple of other suggestions. One entry (from DJ Pete under Windows 98
General group) suggested something called Safeguard. The registry entries
and dll file he'd suggested didn't exist on my PC, but the search he
suggested did find another entry for Safeguard. He also pointed out that
just deleting this entry wouldn't do on its own without deleting a dll file.
Besides, I didn't feel confident about going at the registry with a chainsaw
like this.
Another suggestion elswhere was for something called BHODemon, and it
seemed to have worked for some people. I tried this and it found the same
registry entry - this time indicated that it had been set up on May 28. This
fit in with the time I suspect that the problem started. BHODemon allows you
to disable the entries, but this didn't work - I still had the problem.
Then I remembered DJ Pete's comments about having to remove the dll.
BHODemon highlighted the dll name so I searched for that file (pdf53c.dll)
and found it plus a pdf.lib file in c:\Windows\System - also with a date of
May 28. I renamed these files, re-booted and hey presto - Explorer now runs!
I've only just fixed this, but assuming it stays fixed. Here's a summary
of what worked for me.
Do all this in Safe Mode
Make a Restore Point - just in case it gets worse.
Using Regedit, search for 'Safeguard'. Make a note of the dll name.
Run BHODemon. Look for the same dll name The 'Details' key should give you
more information about when the entries were loaded. Disable the registry
entry.
Search your hard drive for the dll file (should be in Windows\System).
Rename it and a similar named lib file - change the extensions.
Reboot, cross your fingers and try 'My Computer'

Explorer caused an error in unknown - A fix!
 

Your hope is mine!g


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
or
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/f.../Mar27pmvp.asp
"Graham Womack" wrote in message
...
Please feel free

Hope it helps


Graham

----- Noel Paton wrote: -----

I'll join Mike in saying thanks for posting this - mind if I tailor
it for
future use? (with attribution!)

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to
NG's
or
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/f.../Mar27pmvp.asp
Graham Womack wrote in message
...
As with many others, I have been hit by this problem over the past
weekend. I think/hope I've found a fix that works for me. Despite
nearly 30
years in the IT industry, I'm a bit inexperienced with the techie
stuff on
PC's so perhaps the following will also help others.
First, the circumstances:
When I tried to use Windows Explorer, My Computer, Control Panel,
Printers, Find in Files and Folders, etc. I got an error message:
"Explorer
has caused an error in unknown. Explorer will now close down". (Later
on it
switched to a 'blue screen' error that I had to re-boot from).
I'm using Windows ME and hadn't installed anything new for some
time.
These features had worked the previous week.
They also still worked in Safe Mode.
I took a look around the newsgroups, and noticed that I was far
from
alone. The consensus seemd to be that we had acquired an unwelcome
visitor.
Various ideas were suggested, which included downloading & running
various
utilities - I tried Ad-aware and Spybot S&D. Although they found and
cleaned
up various suspects, the problem persisted. Probably well worth doing
anyway.
A couple of other suggestions. One entry (from DJ Pete under
Windows 98
General group) suggested something called Safeguard. The registry
entries
and dll file he'd suggested didn't exist on my PC, but the search he
suggested did find another entry for Safeguard. He also pointed out
that
just deleting this entry wouldn't do on its own without deleting a
dll file.
Besides, I didn't feel confident about going at the registry with a
chainsaw
like this.
Another suggestion elswhere was for something called BHODemon, and
it
seemed to have worked for some people. I tried this and it found the
same
registry entry - this time indicated that it had been set up on May
28. This
fit in with the time I suspect that the problem started. BHODemon
allows you
to disable the entries, but this didn't work - I still had the
problem.
Then I remembered DJ Pete's comments about having to remove the
dll.
BHODemon highlighted the dll name so I searched for that file
(pdf53c.dll)
and found it plus a pdf.lib file in c:\Windows\System - also with a
date of
May 28. I renamed these files, re-booted and hey presto - Explorer
now runs!
I've only just fixed this, but assuming it stays fixed. Here's a
summary
of what worked for me.
Do all this in Safe Mode
Make a Restore Point - just in case it gets worse.
Using Regedit, search for 'Safeguard'. Make a note of the dll name.
Run BHODemon. Look for the same dll name The 'Details' key should
give you
more information about when the entries were loaded. Disable the
registry
entry.
Search your hard drive for the dll file (should be in
Windows\System).
Rename it and a similar named lib file - change the extensions.
Reboot, cross your fingers and try 'My Computer'

Explorer caused an error in unknown - A fix!
 

Thanks Graham, I've been trying to solve this on my
neighbour's computer for days. None of the other fixes
were working. (Thanks to Mike M, Noel P etc. etc. anyway).

A few notes.....
I used BHODemon to locate and then disable the sfg dll
file, but everytime I restarted the computer, the problem
came back.
I found it in Windows\Systems and tried to rename it, but
it wouldn't let me.
Then I restarted in Safe Mode (oops, as you suggested) and
could then rename it and it's .lib file, thereby
neutralising them.

Also, I have used a program called Safeguard Pop-Up
Blocker Pro on my own computer for quite awhile, it works
well without this problem. I am not sure if this is the
same "Safeguard". Thanks again.

Explorer caused an error in unknown - A fix!
 

From the looks of this, it may be
http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:m...d+Pop-Up&hl=en

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
or
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/f.../Mar27pmvp.asp
"Grateful" wrote in message
...

Thanks Graham, I've been trying to solve this on my
neighbour's computer for days. None of the other fixes
were working. (Thanks to Mike M, Noel P etc. etc. anyway).

A few notes.....
I used BHODemon to locate and then disable the sfg dll
file, but everytime I restarted the computer, the problem
came back.
I found it in Windows\Systems and tried to rename it, but
it wouldn't let me.
Then I restarted in Safe Mode (oops, as you suggested) and
could then rename it and it's .lib file, thereby
neutralising them.

Also, I have used a program called Safeguard Pop-Up
Blocker Pro on my own computer for quite awhile, it works
well without this problem. I am not sure if this is the
same "Safeguard". Thanks again.