Help! Explorer suffering from weird problems at startup

By starbearer
in Microsoft (Windows)

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starbearer

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When I start my system, Explorer does not start.

When I open the task manager by ctrl+shift+esc, explorer.exe is listed as a running process occupying 11K of memory.

If I kill it, and try to start Explorer again from "Start New Task", nothing happens, except explorer is listed again in the running processes occupying the same 11K of memory.

Even if I start more instances, all these are listed as running, roughly taking up 1K memory.

In Start New Task, if I try to start something like "C:\ABCDEF", to try and get an explorer window or something manually, it just tells me that explorer has failed and will need to close.

I've tried checking for solutions, and somewhere, there was a talk of checking the registry value under Winlogon (under HKEY_CurrentMachine-software-microsoft-windowsNT-CurrentVersion) and check the value of Shell. It is listed as Explorer.exe only, so not problem there..

Nothing happens if I leave it like this. If, instead, I try and do some other stuff, like kill off svchost.exe, which is responsible for aero effects etc.,(works only sporadically), then explorer comes to life.

I run Windows 7 ultimate.. The system has BitDefender IS 2012, and I regularly scan for viruses etc. It's not a problem.

Please suggest a solution to this, It's extremely irritating to not have the explorer and keep on trying various things to get it running.

Collaborator

firewire1290

Posted
Posted

When I start my system, Explorer does not start.

When I open the task manager by ctrl+shift+esc, explorer.exe is listed as a running process occupying 11K of memory.

If I kill it, and try to start Explorer again from "Start New Task", nothing happens, except explorer is listed again in the running processes occupying the same 11K of memory.

Even if I start more instances, all these are listed as running, roughly taking up 1K memory.

In Start New Task, if I try to start something like "C:\ABCDEF", to try and get an explorer window or something manually, it just tells me that explorer has failed and will need to close.

I've tried checking for solutions, and somewhere, there was a talk of checking the registry value under Winlogon (under HKEY_CurrentMachine-software-microsoft-windowsNT-CurrentVersion) and check the value of Shell. It is listed as Explorer.exe only, so not problem there..

Nothing happens if I leave it like this. If, instead, I try and do some other stuff, like kill off svchost.exe, which is responsible for aero effects etc.,(works only sporadically), then explorer comes to life.

I run Windows 7 ultimate.. The system has BitDefender IS 2012, and I regularly scan for viruses etc. It's not a problem.

Please suggest a solution to this, It's extremely irritating to not have the explorer and keep on trying various things to get it running.

Best option is windows repair .If that doesnt work do fresh install (Its best option(my opinion)).

explorer problems are troublesome.

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starbearer

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Best option is windows repair .If that doesnt work do fresh install (Its best option(my opinion)).

explorer problems are troublesome.

I don't wish to do a fresh install. And I don't have the repair DVD at hand. Is there any other way to do this...in a less...invasive, procedure?

Enthusiast

phailyoor

Posted
Posted

Windows explorer. I have done the check.

Log file has been generated. What am I looking for, specifically, in this?

Sfc should fix all integrity violations automatically when using scannow. If it detects errors, but cannot fix them, then there is a serious issue with your windows installation. I cannot think of any way to fix something like this without a windows install disk. If you get an install disk, you should be able to do a repair install, which should replace the system files but leave your personal data.

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starbearer

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Have you tried Windows key + E? What happens if you do that?

Nothing happens with any of the Windows Key combinations.

Sfc should fix all integrity violations automatically when using scannow. If it detects errors, but cannot fix them, then there is a serious issue with your windows installation. I cannot think of any way to fix something like this without a windows install disk. If you get an install disk, you should be able to do a repair install, which should replace the system files but leave your personal data.

I'm not in a position to get a recovery from anywhere. SFC/Scannow did detail some errors which it wasn't able to fix.

I'd keep it in hibernate, except that its battery is shot, and if there's a power cut, it'll go off anyway.

Enthusiast

phailyoor

Posted
Posted

Nothing happens with any of the Windows Key combinations.

I'm not in a position to get a recovery from anywhere. SFC/Scannow did detail some errors which it wasn't able to fix.

I'd keep it in hibernate, except that its battery is shot, and if there's a power cut, it'll go off anyway.

You can legally download the disk images for windows 7. Should be easy to find using google. With the image, you can burn a DVD or make a bootable USB. Since sfc cannot correct the issues you're experiencing, that means that your windows installation has been corrupted to the point that it cannot repair itself. There is no way to solve that issue without an install image.

Grand Master

Detection

Posted
Posted

System restore ?

When did it start happening

The sfc /scannow should have told you if there were corrupt / missing files and if it repaired them, and to reboot if it was able to replace them or not

I believe it logs the scan here

C:\Windows\Logs\CBS

I still give something like "malwarebytes" and "hijack this" a scan to be sure

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starbearer

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download windows 8 (you mitght not like it if you dont like metro look) .its free i guess ...

Need to avoid a fresh install.

Well, if there's really no other option,as the scannow is indeed throwing corrupt files at me, I guess I'll have to start looking for a repair disk.

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