Cannot access Windows Explorer. Please Help!

I have a nagging problem and I'm asking for HELP.

Several days ago while I was on the internet, my anti-virus program
identified that I had picked up a virus. It quarantined the bug, and I
thought all was well. I shut down my system, and sometime later after
turning it back on, I got an unwelcome surprise. I could no longer
access Windows Explorer, My Computer, My Documents or the Recycle Bin.
When I clicked on any of these programs, my system would just lock up.
Then I would have to do a complete system restart. All my other
programs work fine.

I re-ran my anti virus program several times, but it did not pick up
any viruses. I also ran Ad-aware with no results.

After doing some trouble shooting, I have determined that the only way
to get these programs to function is by starting my system in Safe
Mode. I tried to isolate the anomaly in MSCONFIG with no results.

This is what I have determined. By hitting the F8 key I enter the
Windows 98 Startup Menu. I choose # 4, Step-by Step Configuration.
Then I select Y (yes) for each selection until I reach, Load All
Windows Drivers. If I choose N (no), the problem is eliminated. If I
choose Y (yes), my problem persists.

I have no idea how to identify what Windows driver or drivers have
been corrupted.

Is it possible to rectify the problem by removing the Win.com file in
the Windows directory and reinstalling Windows 98 SE to get clean
Windows drivers back. I read somewhere in one of the newsgroups or web
sites that this will allow me to reinstall Windows on top of itself
and keep my existing settings.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I'm hopeful that I will not
have to reformat my hard drive and then reinstall Windows.

Thank you.

Fred

Running the Repair options in the free Microsoft utility
called TweakUI for Windows 98 might restore the missing
functionality.

http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstati...ads/PowerToys/
Networking/NTTweakUI.asp

Renaming the win.com file is only of any use if you want
to upgrade to say Windows 98 SE from Windows 95 or the
first version of Windows 98 and you only have the full
version on CD, not the upgrade version.

You should make a master image of your system and record
it to CD-R or CD-RW disks. I use Norton Ghost. Or you
should at least clone the system to a second hard drive on
the system or removable by using, say, the free XXCopy
from http://www.xxcopy.com/.

Eric,
http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/
http://www.sharedbirthday.co.uk/


-----Original Message-----
I have a nagging problem and I'm asking for HELP.

Several days ago while I was on the internet, my anti-
virus program
identified that I had picked up a virus. It quarantined
the bug, and I
thought all was well. I shut down my system, and sometime
later after
turning it back on, I got an unwelcome surprise. I could
no longer
access Windows Explorer, My Computer, My Documents or the
Recycle Bin.
When I clicked on any of these programs, my system would
just lock up.
Then I would have to do a complete system restart. All my
other
programs work fine.

I re-ran my anti virus program several times, but it did
not pick up
any viruses. I also ran Ad-aware with no results.

After doing some trouble shooting, I have determined that
the only way
to get these programs to function is by starting my
system in Safe
Mode. I tried to isolate the anomaly in MSCONFIG with no
results.

This is what I have determined. By hitting the F8 key I
enter the
Windows 98 Startup Menu. I choose # 4, Step-by Step
Configuration.
Then I select Y (yes) for each selection until I reach,
Load All
Windows Drivers. If I choose N (no), the problem is
eliminated. If I
choose Y (yes), my problem persists.

I have no idea how to identify what Windows driver or
drivers have
been corrupted.

Is it possible to rectify the problem by removing the
Win.com file in
the Windows directory and reinstalling Windows 98 SE to
get clean
Windows drivers back. I read somewhere in one of the
newsgroups or web
sites that this will allow me to reinstall Windows on top
of itself
and keep my existing settings.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I'm hopeful
that I will not
have to reformat my hard drive and then reinstall Windows.

Thank you.

Fred
.

That all seems Explorer related. Therefore...

(1) "START, Run, MSInfo32, Tools menu, IE Repair Tool"
It produces a rather large "Fix IE Log.txt" in C:\Windows. IE & E
are basically one & the same. If this crashes, an over-install of IE is
indicated.

(2) Over-install IE. Try first without, but I believe it will request an
internet connection. Perhaps it is best to let it connect, actually. If
you don't care to get this fancy, just skip to step (c).

(a) Turn off interfering programs. Use http://www.pcmag.com/ 's
"StartupCop" or "EndItAll2". Or "START, Run, MSConfig, Startup tab".
Note what is unchecked, if anything. Then, go to the General tab &
disable the entire Startup Group, by clicking "Selective.." & unchecking
"Load Startup...". Reboot.

(b) Perhaps, if you haven't got EndItAll2, then "Ctrl-Alt-Del" & end
task all but Explorer & Systray. If this goes badly, start again from
top, & skip it next time.

(c) "START, Find, F/F, IE6Setup.exe". Click it in the Find window.
NOTE: If you are IE5, then it's "IE5Setup.exe". If there are more
than one (I have two each), click the one in "C:\WINDOWS\Windows
Update Setup Files" or "C:\Windows Update Setup Files", as applicable.

(d) Re-enable the Startup Group. That will automatically check all
items. Go to the Startup tab & uncheck any noted in step (a). Reboot.

(e) Perhaps go to Windows Update, to see whether it now offers
criticals.


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

"Fred" wrote in message
om...
| I have a nagging problem and I'm asking for HELP.
|
| Several days ago while I was on the internet, my anti-virus program
| identified that I had picked up a virus. It quarantined the bug, and I
| thought all was well. I shut down my system, and sometime later after
| turning it back on, I got an unwelcome surprise. I could no longer
| access Windows Explorer, My Computer, My Documents or the Recycle Bin.
| When I clicked on any of these programs, my system would just lock up.
| Then I would have to do a complete system restart. All my other
| programs work fine.
|
| I re-ran my anti virus program several times, but it did not pick up
| any viruses. I also ran Ad-aware with no results.
|
| After doing some trouble shooting, I have determined that the only way
| to get these programs to function is by starting my system in Safe
| Mode. I tried to isolate the anomaly in MSCONFIG with no results.
|
| This is what I have determined. By hitting the F8 key I enter the
| Windows 98 Startup Menu. I choose # 4, Step-by Step Configuration.
| Then I select Y (yes) for each selection until I reach, Load All
| Windows Drivers. If I choose N (no), the problem is eliminated. If I
| choose Y (yes), my problem persists.
|
| I have no idea how to identify what Windows driver or drivers have
| been corrupted.
|
| Is it possible to rectify the problem by removing the Win.com file in
| the Windows directory and reinstalling Windows 98 SE to get clean
| Windows drivers back. I read somewhere in one of the newsgroups or web
| sites that this will allow me to reinstall Windows on top of itself
| and keep my existing settings.
|
| Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I'm hopeful that I will not
| have to reformat my hard drive and then reinstall Windows.
|
| Thank you.
|
| Fred

Have a look in the Quarantine folder for info on the name of the virus, =
then go to your AV app manufacturer support site and look it up for =
proper removal if it was in fact installed on your machine.

Take a look in Device Manager to see if you find the culprit =
device/driver gone astray.

Boot up in Safe Mode, press ctrl+alt+del and end process on all except =
Explorer and Systray. Run a full system virus scan with fully up to date =
definitions. Then while still in Safe Mode, run the below.
Ad-Aware is only the tip of utilities needed these days for spywa
**It is pertinent to run the update for each program before running to =
be sure you have the latest definitions.** Run the programs in Safe Mode =
after assuring you have shut down all running tasks except explorer or =
systray.
Download/run Cool Web Shredder from:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

For Info on Cool Web Search Variants:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Then download/install/run Ad-Aware to detect/rid of any other =
parasites/spyware that may be installed. It can be obtained free from:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
After installing Ad-Aware, open it and click on the ref update to get =
the latest up-to-date ref file, then run Ad-Aware and delete everything =
it finds.=20

And/or download/install/run:
Spybot - Search & Destroy:
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?l...=3Ddownload=20
Run it at it's default settings until you learn an know more about it. =
Spybot S&D is more of an advanced users tool and changing from the =
default settings can be dangerous to the novice user. Items found in the =
default settings that are RED can usually be safely removed. If you are =
unsure of a found item, do not remove it and ask for help.=20

If you still have problems, download/run HijackThis from:
http://www.merijn.org/

Do not remove anything with it until you get advice on what to remove, =
HJThis will list many apps that are needed along with the bad ones. =
Removing items listed hap-hazardly without knowing what they are =
can/will create a royal mess. Read the quick start here on how to create =
a log file that can be copied/pasted into a forum that can provide =
assistance on removal of unwanted pests.
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/#quick

Then post the logs to an appropriate NG here where they specialize in =
spyware/hijacker removal:
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/

After running the above and assuring you have a clean machine:
It's also a good idea to have a HOSTS file to block bad sites, scroll to =
HOSTS File Manager he
http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Software.htm

Another good app is SpywareBlaster which stops the badboys before they =
even get a chance to install:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

--=20
Brian A.

Jack of all trades, Master of none.
One can never truly be a master as there is always more to learn.

On 12 Jul 2004 07:10:17 -0700, (Fred) wrote:

I have a nagging problem and I'm asking for HELP.

Several days ago while I was on the internet, my anti-virus program
identified that I had picked up a virus. It quarantined the bug, and I
thought all was well. I shut down my system, and sometime later after
turning it back on, I got an unwelcome surprise. I could no longer
access Windows Explorer, My Computer, My Documents or the Recycle Bin.
When I clicked on any of these programs, my system would just lock up.
Then I would have to do a complete system restart. All my other
programs work fine.

I re-ran my anti virus program several times, but it did not pick up
any viruses. I also ran Ad-aware with no results.

After doing some trouble shooting, I have determined that the only way
to get these programs to function is by starting my system in Safe
Mode. I tried to isolate the anomaly in MSCONFIG with no results.

This is what I have determined. By hitting the F8 key I enter the
Windows 98 Startup Menu. I choose # 4, Step-by Step Configuration.
Then I select Y (yes) for each selection until I reach, Load All
Windows Drivers. If I choose N (no), the problem is eliminated. If I
choose Y (yes), my problem persists.

I have no idea how to identify what Windows driver or drivers have
been corrupted.

Is it possible to rectify the problem by removing the Win.com file in
the Windows directory and reinstalling Windows 98 SE to get clean
Windows drivers back. I read somewhere in one of the newsgroups or web
sites that this will allow me to reinstall Windows on top of itself
and keep my existing settings.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I'm hopeful that I will not
have to reformat my hard drive and then reinstall Windows.

Thank you.

Fred

One thing that works very good for me -

C:/ScanReg /Restore

Use from a Dos Prompt & Notice the Doublespace after the word ScanReg
Then Pick a Registry Date earlier than what is in the system now.
Works every time in getting rid of Virus's & Spyware!

(Notice the doublespace after the word ScanReg