Explorer.exe issue


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I can't seem to get Explorer to launch with the hotkey (Win+E) or by launching it from the taskbar where it is pinned.

 

I get the following error:

 

post-160102-0-88362900-1377750636.png

 

I can access it by launching from Metro or my Startmenu I have installed (StartMenu8).   I have ensured that it is set as the default program as well.

 

The issue started about 2 weeks ago, and no new software has been installed or removed.   Virus scan is clean (AVG Internet Security), tried doing a sfc /scannow and am getting:

 

 

Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service.

 

I am using Win 8 Pro.  Any ideas as to what may be a good fix for this? 

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I'd say, check your "path" variable? Just trying to help if I can, if it's irrelevant, I apologize. I only have a few seconds.  :)

 

Quick google: http://www.eightforums.com/general-support/20850-deleted-path-variable-system-environment-any-help.html

 

Just got home. Have you tried a sfc /scannow yet? Just curious.

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sfc doesn't work.  (see 1st post). 

 

path reads as:

 

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.2.9200]
© 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>set path
Path=C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem;C:\Windows\System32
\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\Program Files (x86)\WinSCP\;
PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH;.MSC

C:\Windows\system32> (dropped into that directory for some reason), I am running 64-bit Win 8 Pro though. 

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Tried both the .exe and the .lnk neither worked.

 

As i have stated though, I can open any file just fine and any shortcut fine, but Explorer.exe is the one that won't load except through my start menu i installed. 

 

I did do some checking though and I can't launch it directly from C:\Windows directory for some reason.  (all other .exe files I can though in there)

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This is really, really stupid, but it wouldn't surprise me, it is relatively new and still has a few bugs... just going off the screenshot, is that .exe or .EXE in the path of the shortcut you're trying to use? I don't suppose the caps would matter, but who knows?

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In the *nix world, I can see where caps vs lower case would make a difference, but not in Windows.  In the Windows directory, it is "explorer.exe"  

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okay try this first and reply back:

 

go to : C:\Windows and look for explorer.exe launch it from there....as double clicking/ or as admin if needed... reply back what you get

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out of pure curiosity what happens if you create a new user and open an explorer window from there

there's always a small possibility your problem is due to corrupt user files

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okay try this first and reply back:

 

go to : C:\Windows and look for explorer.exe launch it from there....as double clicking/ or as admin if needed... reply back what you get

 

It won't launch, gives the same error as in the first post. 

 

out of pure curiosity what happens if you create a new user and open an explorer window from there

there's always a small possibility your problem is due to corrupt user files

 

I did create a test user with Admin privs and got the same issue. :(

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I went into the repair console and ran the sfc /scannow and got the same error:

 

Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service.

 

I would think that at this point loading from the CD, this would fix any issues with any sfc issues, but maybe not?

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I did manage to get SFC to run using:

 

sfc /SCANNOW /OFFBOOTDIR=C:\ /OFFWINDIR=C:\windows

 

Got an error which said it found some corrupt files but could not fix them, and a log was attached. 

 

Here is the Pastebin of the error since it would be too much to read here. :)

 

Short of doing a 'fresh install' or whatever they call the refresh without killing my files, I am not sure which route to take at this point.  (I did do a refresh one time the one time to not kill my files and it did on a different Win 8 computer, so am very leary of this option anymore.)

 

Anyone have any ideas on what this issue might be based on the SFC report?

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I decided to go ahead and jump to 8.1 Preview Build 9431 and did the online upgrade last night.  Everything is running the way it should now.  I know it was a corrupt file that was causing the explorer.exe, but SFC didn't even catch it.  I did manage to get it to run using "Tweaking.com - Windows All in One Repair" but that didn't seem to find anything or fix anything. 

 

In any event, since RTM is around the corner next month, figured I will just stay in this one until then.

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