similar problem to the ones below!

I'm having the same problem or similar problems as the
two 'helps' and the 'can't access the desktop' posts
below.

When I start up the computer, it makes it through the
Microsoft Windows 98 startup screen, then my desktop
wallpaper and my network sign in dialogue comes up...but
after I hit Ok or cancel on that, a dialogue box comes up
that says:

Explorer
This application performed an illegal operation and must
close...bla bla bla

Then nothing comes up...its just my desktop wallpaper
blank with no icons, start menu, or anything. When I hit
Ctr Alt Del, the task manager is only displaying one app:
Mvsc...or something

When I start the comp up in safe mode it does the same
thing.

How can I get it working again without losing the stuff
on my hard drive? Can I repair the Explorer part of
Windows from a startup disk or something?

As I posted to your other thread...

Explorer & IE are basically one & the same. Therefore, may as well try
this write-up, originally from a Gateway WEB site, which is a temporary
reversion to an earlier version of IE...

ONE THING: Do nothing more than stated here using Winfile, because, if
you move a file with it, you will lose that file's LFN (Long File Name)
in the destination.

Desktop Icons and Taskbar Are Missing

Affected Products: Software, System CDs
Affected Operating Systems: Windows® 98 , Windows® 98 SE,
Windows® Me

ISSUE: After starting Microsoft® Windows® 98 or Windows
Me, the taskbar is missing and there are no icons. When
starting Windows, the taskbar may flash on for a brief
second and then disappear. The only display visible is the
background wallpaper and the mouse cursor. Pressing
CTRL+ALT+DELETE brings up the Close Program dialog box,
but selecting End Task on the items on the list may not
have an effect. When the computer is started into Safe
mode, the issue still occurs. Running Scanreg /Restore
does not resolve the issue.

There have been several reports that the issue occurred
when restarting the computer after receiving a dialog box
that displays "Virus/spyware found. Do you wish to
remove?" or "Do you want to install Spyware Monitor?" The
dialog box only has Yes or No selections, and selecting
either can cause the issue. There is no X to close the
dialog box, however pressing CTRL+ALT+DELETE to bring up
the Close Program dialog box lists a "Remove found
spyware?" entry, which can be end tasked.

(1) Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, & click Shut Down.

(2) After the computer has been shut down, turn on the computer. Hold
CTRL as you boot for the Startup Menu, or begin pressing the F8 key in
one-second intervals. If you complete this step successfully, the
Microsoft Windows Startup Menu is displayed. If no menu is displayed and
Windows starts up normally, repeat this step.

(3) At the Microsoft Windows Startup Menu, use the ARROW keys to select
"Command Prompt Only", and then press the ENTER key.

(4) At the command prompt, type:
EDIT C:\Windows\System.ini
Press ENTER.

(3) In the C:\Windows\SYSTEM.INI file, locate the line of text under the
[boot] section that lists "Shell=Explorer.exe". This is typically the
third line in the file.

(4) Edit the "Shell=Explorer.exe" line by deleting the "Explorer.exe"
text and replacing it with "Winfile.exe". The line should list the
following:
Shell=Winfile.exe

(5) To save the changes, press the ALT+F keys.

(6) A menu displays in the upper left corner of the screen. Press the X
key to exit.

(7) Press ENTER to save the changes and return to the command prompt.
(TAB would move you to the next button.)

(8) At the command prompt, restart the computer by pressing the
CTRL+ALT+DELETE keys. Once Windows has restarted, it starts into the
Windows File Manager (Winfile.exe).

(9) In the File Manager window, double-click "progra~1" in the left hand
window to open the Program Files folder.

(10) Double-click "intern~1" in the left hand window to open the
Internet Explorer folder.

(11) Double-click "setup" in the left hand window to open the Setup
folder.

(12) In the File Manager window, double-click "Setup.exe" in the right
hand window to launch Internet Explorer setup.

NOTE: If the setup folder is not available, Internet Explorer has not
been updated and a previous version of Internet Explorer cannot be
restored. You cannot use this method. Close "Winfile", shut down, & post
back, or try the URL at the very bottom of this post, which is an
over-install of IE.

(13) In the Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Tools Setup window, click
OK.

(14) In the Setup Message dialog box, click Yes to restore the previous
version of Internet Explorer.

(15) Internet Explorer setup removes components.

(16) In the Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Tools - Restart Windows
dialog box, click Restart Windows.

When the computer is restarting, hold CTRL for the Startup Menu, or
begin pressing the F8 key in one-second intervals. If you complete this
step successfully, the Microsoft Windows Startup Menu is displayed. If
no menu is displayed and Windows starts up normally, repeat this step.

(17) At the Microsoft Windows Startup Menu, use the ARROW keys to select
Command prompt only, and then press ENTER.

(18) At the command prompt, type:
EDIT C:\Windows\System.ini
Press ENTER.

(19) In the C:\Windows\SYSTEM.INI file, locate the line of text under
the [boot] section that lists "Shell=Winfile.exe". This is typically the
third line in the file.

(20) Edit the "Shell=Winfile.exe" line by deleting the "Winfile.exe"
text and replacing it with "Explorer.exe". The line should list the
following:
Shell=Explorer.exe

(21) To save the changes, press the ALT+F keys.

(22) A menu displays in the upper left corner of the screen. Press the X
key to exit.

(23) Press ENTER to save the changes and return to the command prompt.
(TAB would move you to the next button.)

(24) At the command prompt, restart the computer by pressing the
CTRL+ALT+DELETE keys

(25) Windows starts to a blue screen, but will still be
accessing the hard drive for a period of time. When
finished, Windows is on the desktop with icons, but an
older version of Internet Explorer is installed. You
should update your antivirus software, and then perform
Windows Update to install a new version of Internet
Explorer again.

....snip

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];249191
Blank Desktop or Illegal Operations Error Message After You Install
Internet Explorer. This is a temporary reversion to an earlier IE, IF
that option is present.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=293174
Over-Install IE in Progman. This is an over-install of IE. I have a
detailed write-up for it, if you want.


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Andy" wrote in message
...
| I'm having the same problem or similar problems as the
| two 'helps' and the 'can't access the desktop' posts
| below.
|
| When I start up the computer, it makes it through the
| Microsoft Windows 98 startup screen, then my desktop
| wallpaper and my network sign in dialogue comes up...but
| after I hit Ok or cancel on that, a dialogue box comes up
| that says:
|
| Explorer
| This application performed an illegal operation and must
| close...bla bla bla
|
| Then nothing comes up...its just my desktop wallpaper
| blank with no icons, start menu, or anything. When I hit
| Ctr Alt Del, the task manager is only displaying one app:
| Mvsc...or something
|
| When I start the comp up in safe mode it does the same
| thing.
|
| How can I get it working again without losing the stuff
| on my hard drive? Can I repair the Explorer part of
| Windows from a startup disk or something?
|

"PCR" wrote in message
...
As I posted to your other thread...

Explorer & IE are basically one & the same.

This remark seems to need expansion. They are on the
hard drive two files, EXPLORER.EXE and IEXPLORE.EXE.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Explorer & IE are basically one & the same, as they share the same
..DLLs. Same is true of My Computer. They can be made to look like each
other & to do the same things, by playing with various settings & menu
options.

I do not recommend attempting it, though. I'm sure it is what made a
madman out of Candlin who has plonked me!


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Don Phillipson" wrote in message
...
| "PCR" wrote in message
| ...
| As I posted to your other thread...
|
| Explorer & IE are basically one & the same.
|
| This remark seems to need expansion. They are on the
| hard drive two files, EXPLORER.EXE and IEXPLORE.EXE.
|
| --
| Don Phillipson
| Carlsbad Springs
| (Ottawa, Canada)
|
|