Explorer.exe

You might remember that I posted earlier last week about a
problem that I had regarding msgsrv32 and explorer
("Windows 98 Startup").
On startup I would received an error message from both and
after I closed them all I would see is my standard green
wallpaper with nothing else loaded.
Well I got rid of the msgsrv32 error message but I still
can't shake the explorer error.
Now on startup a MS-DOS window opens and an error message
appears saying that the "explorer.exe program is not a
valid MS-DOS program. It may be damaged or corrupt." After
this the error message closes as does the MS-DOS window
and I'm left with my blank wallpaper with nothing else
loaded.

I've already used this support page:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;191609
But the problem wasn't rectified and all I get is a
message saying that "Duplicate file already in use".

I've tried to reinstall Windows (so that explorer.exe
could be replaced) but to no effect.

I've also used this support page:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;249191
But still no joy and it led to me removing IE V5.
The only good thing to come out of this was that I could
finally access my computer albeit in a restricted fashion
through File Manager by altering by system.ini file to
change shell=explorer.exe to shell=winfile.exe.

I got access to the necessary explorer.exe file only to
find that it was damaged. Is there any way of replacing
the explorer.exe file?
I was thinking about changing the system.ini file so that
shell=explorer.exe become ren shell=explorer.exe but I'm
not sure about what will happen and I really don't want to
mess with my PC anymore.

Once you get in using winfile, run: sfc.exe and use it to replace
the explorer.exe file with a fresh copy from your W98 CD.

Run sfc.exe and select the "extract one file..." option. Type in the
complete name of the missing file you want to restore or use the browse
button for a file replacement. Click start and in the resulting window,
browse to the location of the folder containing the W98 .cab files (either
the hard drive or CDRom drive). If the information in the "save in" box is
wrong, use the browse button to show where the file is to be restored to.
Click OK and if appropriate, on the resulting screen, show the location
where the file being replaced is to be backed up to. Click OK or skip as
appropriate. Restart your computer and the file replacement will occur
during the boot process.

If you are going to use sfc.exe for other than the extract option, I highly
recommend that you first read the article he
http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/using_sfc.html

--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"GK" wrote in message
...
You might remember that I posted earlier last week about a
problem that I had regarding msgsrv32 and explorer
("Windows 98 Startup").
On startup I would received an error message from both and
after I closed them all I would see is my standard green
wallpaper with nothing else loaded.
Well I got rid of the msgsrv32 error message but I still
can't shake the explorer error.
Now on startup a MS-DOS window opens and an error message
appears saying that the "explorer.exe program is not a
valid MS-DOS program. It may be damaged or corrupt." After
this the error message closes as does the MS-DOS window
and I'm left with my blank wallpaper with nothing else
loaded.

I've already used this support page:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;191609
But the problem wasn't rectified and all I get is a
message saying that "Duplicate file already in use".

I've tried to reinstall Windows (so that explorer.exe
could be replaced) but to no effect.

I've also used this support page:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;249191
But still no joy and it led to me removing IE V5.
The only good thing to come out of this was that I could
finally access my computer albeit in a restricted fashion
through File Manager by altering by system.ini file to
change shell=explorer.exe to shell=winfile.exe.

I got access to the necessary explorer.exe file only to
find that it was damaged. Is there any way of replacing
the explorer.exe file?
I was thinking about changing the system.ini file so that
shell=explorer.exe become ren shell=explorer.exe but I'm
not sure about what will happen and I really don't want to
mess with my PC anymore.

I have got rid of the MS-DOS window that opens on startup
and the error message that comes with it "C:\explorer.exe
is not a valid MS-DOS file. It may be damaged or corrupt."
On startup I just get the standard "explorer has performed
an illegal operation and will be shutdown."

I've tried to rename/delete explorer.exe in the C:\Windows
folder and use SFC.exe to extract a new version from my
Windows disk but still its not working.

I really don't understand why. I remove the file, extract
a new version of it only to get the same message again.
The only thing I can think of is that explorer.exe isn't
corrupt or damaged.

Can anyone help?
-----Original Message-----
Once you get in using winfile, run: sfc.exe and
use it to replace
the explorer.exe file with a fresh copy from your W98 CD.

Run sfc.exe and select the "extract one file..." option.
Type in the
complete name of the missing file you want to restore or
use the browse
button for a file replacement. Click start and in the
resulting window,
browse to the location of the folder containing the
W98 .cab files (either
the hard drive or CDRom drive). If the information in
the "save in" box is
wrong, use the browse button to show where the file is to
be restored to.
Click OK and if appropriate, on the resulting screen,
show the location
where the file being replaced is to be backed up to.
Click OK or skip as
appropriate. Restart your computer and the file
replacement will occur
during the boot process.

If you are going to use sfc.exe for other than the
extract option, I highly
recommend that you first read the article he
http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/using_sfc.html

--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"GK" wrote in
message
...
You might remember that I posted earlier last week
about a
problem that I had regarding msgsrv32 and explorer
("Windows 98 Startup").
On startup I would received an error message from both
and
after I closed them all I would see is my standard green
wallpaper with nothing else loaded.
Well I got rid of the msgsrv32 error message but I still
can't shake the explorer error.
Now on startup a MS-DOS window opens and an error
message
appears saying that the "explorer.exe program is not a
valid MS-DOS program. It may be damaged or corrupt."
After
this the error message closes as does the MS-DOS window
and I'm left with my blank wallpaper with nothing else
loaded.

I've already used this support page:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;191609
But the problem wasn't rectified and all I get is a
message saying that "Duplicate file already in use".

I've tried to reinstall Windows (so that explorer.exe
could be replaced) but to no effect.

I've also used this support page:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;249191
But still no joy and it led to me removing IE V5.
The only good thing to come out of this was that I could
finally access my computer albeit in a restricted
fashion
through File Manager by altering by system.ini file to
change shell=explorer.exe to shell=winfile.exe.

I got access to the necessary explorer.exe file only to
find that it was damaged. Is there any way of replacing
the explorer.exe file?
I was thinking about changing the system.ini file so
that
shell=explorer.exe become ren shell=explorer.exe but I'm
not sure about what will happen and I really don't want
to
mess with my PC anymore.



.

BTW when extracting the new explorer.exe file from the
Windows disk, I check up on the file's properties only to
find that the file has a created/modified date of 1998.
Surely the extraction of the new file should yield a date
of 2004?

Nope, 1998 is right. I will only troubleshoot so long before I consider it
a waste of time--you may be at that point. If you don't have your data
backed up, here is how to do a clean install (which also requires the
reinstallation of your software) with no loss of data:

How to Install Windows 98 Into a New Folder
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=193902

--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"GK" wrote in message
...
BTW when extracting the new explorer.exe file from the
Windows disk, I check up on the file's properties only to
find that the file has a created/modified date of 1998.
Surely the extraction of the new file should yield a date
of 2004?