I have a question about How 
do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes:


I have been checking this site and it is quite helpful, but for this particular question 
I can't find a solution, as my current operating system is Windows Me and I can't 
find a solution for that one.

Anyway, everytime I start the computer nothing shows up save for the desktop and 
mouse pointer which moves. The task manager displays no icons except if I were to 
wait a few minutes it mentions 'Startmngr' (or something like it, sorry I'm not at 
home to remember the exact spelling) caused an error. I know the problem is that 
Explorer crashed but I'm not sure how I can go about fixing this problem.

The computer will not let me restore a back up copy of the registry when I try to 
do so (leaving me with 'operation failed' or an error). I am sorry if I am posting 
this in the wrong fashion; it is urgent, as I do need this particular computer for 
a class project. I would like to try and find a solution (if possible) before I resort 
to reinstalling everything or bringing in the computer for service. Any help would 
be gladly appreciated! Thanks.

Tip: Run a free scan for common Windows errors ad

re: Question about 'How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes' Monday, February 3, 2003 at 3:02 pm Posted by Jamie (1 messages posted) I'm having the exact same problem! Let me know if you find a solution. I've tried everything! On Monday, February 3, 2003 at 4:38 am, Stefanie D. wrote: >I have a question about How >do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes: > >I have been checking this site and it is quite helpful, but for this particular question >I can't find a solution, as my current operating system is Windows Me and I can't >find a solution for that one. > >Anyway, everytime I start the computer nothing shows up save for the desktop and >mouse pointer which moves. The task manager displays no icons except if I were to >wait a few minutes it mentions 'Startmngr' (or something like it, sorry I'm not at >home to remember the exact spelling) caused an error. I know the problem is that >Explorer crashed but I'm not sure how I can go about fixing this problem. > >The computer will not let me restore a back up copy of the registry when I try to >do so (leaving me with 'operation failed' or an error). I am sorry if I am posting >this in the wrong fashion; it is urgent, as I do need this particular computer for >a class project. I would like to try and find a solution (if possible) before I resort >to reinstalling everything or bringing in the computer for service. Any help would >be gladly appreciated! Thanks. > [Reply or follow-up to this message] Re:'How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes' Tuesday, February 4, 2003 at 2:43 am Posted by Ms. Eagle (32675 messages posted) Stefanie, If you are familiar with extracting and replacing files from your ME install CD (if you have one), you might only need to replace Explorer.exe. I just finished helping someone on the 98 forum with this problem. She had completely crashed and after successfully replacing Explorer, she's got her computer back in operating condition. It's late here, but I just wanted to tell you that much. I'm not real familiar with ME, if you could go about it the same way or not. I'll check into it later. You do need a ME startup disk, to get to the command prompt. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Re:'How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes' Tuesday, February 4, 2003 at 11:59 am Posted by Stefanie D. (5 messages posted) Thanks for the help, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to do that solution. Windows Me came installed with the computer, so there's not exactly an OS CD. I'm not exactly good with the technical knowledge, so is it possible that I can reinstall it some other way? Sorry about the added questioning! Thanks. On Tuesday, February 4, 2003 at 2:43 am, Carol wrote: > >Stefanie, > >If you are familiar with extracting and replacing files from your ME install CD (if >you have one), you might only need to replace Explorer.exe. I just finished helping >someone on the 98 forum with this problem. She had completely crashed and after successfully >replacing Explorer, she's got her computer back in operating condition. > >It's late here, but I just wanted to tell you that much. I'm not real familiar with >ME, if you could go about it the same way or not. I'll check into it later. You do >need a ME startup disk, to get to the command prompt. > > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Re:'How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes' Tuesday, February 4, 2003 at 1:12 pm Posted by Ms. Eagle (32675 messages posted) No, it can't be installed any other way. Explorer.exe IS your desktop. If ME came preinstalled, you probably have the ME CAB install files on your hard drive. Those can be used to reinstall Windows and are usually there, if you're OS came preinstalled and you have no install CD. I need to locate info. on the directory they'd be in. I'm more familiar with 9x. Plus, there are a few questions I have to get an answer to. In ME you can use msconfig (system configuration utility) to extract files. I've asked someone, if Winfile.exe comes in ME. You'd need to replace Explorer.exe with Winfile.exe temporarily so you can get access to applications like msconfig. The instructions are difficult, but I understand! It's still easier than having to format and reinstall Windows! I probably won't be able to get back to you for awhile. If you know someone that can help, but you may be able to do it...whether you think so or not. :) [Reply or follow-up to this message] Correction: Instructions ''aren't'' difficult :) Tuesday, February 4, 2003 at 1:22 pm Posted by Ms. Eagle (32675 messages posted) There's a big difference! [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Re:'How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes' Thursday, February 6, 2003 at 11:59 am Posted by Stefanie D. (5 messages posted) So far I've created a start up/boot disk (using instructions on a Microsoft site) on a floppy disk, and I'll try using it to log in tonight. It's hard to check back and forth as I have to wait until the next day for access to a computer! But hopefully I won't have to reinstall everything. If anything further comes up, I'll ask. ;) [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Re:'How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes' Thursday, February 6, 2003 at 6:36 pm Posted by Jack Gulley (5917 messages posted) The best way to replace Explorer.exe in this case would be to boot from the Windows ME boot diskette and manually extract the file from the CAB files. First you have to locate the CAB files on your system. They are in either the C:\Windows\Options\Install\ or the C:\Windows\Options\CABS\ folder. Locate this folder with the following DOS prompt command: A:\}DIR WIN_8.CAB Then extract the file with the following DOS command (using the correct location of the CAB files {install\cabs})from the A:\ prompt. EXTRACT /A /L C:\WINDOWS\ C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\cabs\WIN_8.CAB explorer.exe It will locate the cab copy of explorer.exe file and replace the existing one. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Re:'How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes' Friday, February 7, 2003 at 1:07 am Posted by Ms. Eagle (32675 messages posted) Stefanie, Just wanted to wish you success! Following Jack's excellent instructions should be easy. One thing about DOS is, if the command isn't typed correctly, you'll just get a message "bad command or filename." Not to worry, then you just try again. Be sure to note the spaces, but the case of the letters isn't important. Good luck! I'm sure you'll do good. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Re:'How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes' Friday, February 7, 2003 at 4:42 am Posted by Stefanie D. (5 messages posted) I tried it last night and within seven minutes, it was all working again! Thank you so much for your help! Now I won't begin to go crazy over papers that need to be done. :) Once again, THANK YOU! :) [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Re:'How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes' Friday, February 7, 2003 at 9:45 am Posted by Ms. Eagle (32675 messages posted) Stefanie, that's awesome! The thanks goes to Jack for taking the time to post those instructions. I'm not even familiar with doing it that way and didn't know the commands. He's a lot more experienced than I am. I do know a different way to go about it. Glad you got it taken care of. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Question about 'How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes' Thursday, May 8, 2003 at 11:06 pm Posted by Brian G (4 messages posted) http://www.angelfire.com/empire/bnbmabrian/ go to this website and find the file named reset windows defaults.... this will solve your problem....... email me for any more help you may need in the future.... On Monday, February 3, 2003 at 4:38 am, Stefanie D. wrote: >I have a question about How >do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes: > >I have been checking this site and it is quite helpful, but for this particular question >I can't find a solution, as my current operating system is Windows Me and I can't >find a solution for that one. > >Anyway, everytime I start the computer nothing shows up save for the desktop and >mouse pointer which moves. The task manager displays no icons except if I were to >wait a few minutes it mentions 'Startmngr' (or something like it, sorry I'm not at >home to remember the exact spelling) caused an error. I know the problem is that >Explorer crashed but I'm not sure how I can go about fixing this problem. > >The computer will not let me restore a back up copy of the registry when I try to >do so (leaving me with 'operation failed' or an error). I am sorry if I am posting >this in the wrong fashion; it is urgent, as I do need this particular computer for >a class project. I would like to try and find a solution (if possible) before I resort >to reinstalling everything or bringing in the computer for service. Any help would >be gladly appreciated! Thanks. > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Re:'How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes' HELP! Monday, October 6, 2003 at 7:07 pm Posted by Caroline (1 messages posted) HELP!! I tried this and it seemed to work fine, then I got an error message : ERROR: Out of memory while processing cabinet file WIN_16.CAB Then I tried to start up the computer and I can't get the explorer screen up at all now. HELP! I don't want to lose all of my files. Thanks -- please respond via this forum as my inbox tends to get virus messages after I post on help forums. On Thursday, February 6, 2003 at 6:36 pm, Jack Gulley wrote: > The best way to replace Explorer.exe in this case would be to boot from the Windows >ME boot diskette and manually extract the file from the CAB files. > First you have to locate the CAB files on your system. They are in either the >C:\Windows\Options\Install\ or the C:\Windows\Options\CABS\ folder. >Locate this folder with the following DOS prompt command: > >A:\}DIR WIN_8.CAB > >Then extract the file with the following DOS command (using the correct location >of the CAB files {install\cabs})from the A:\ prompt. > >EXTRACT /A /L C:\WINDOWS\ C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\cabs\WIN_8.CAB explorer.exe > >It will locate the cab copy of explorer.exe file and replace the existing one. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Question about 'How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes' Thursday, April 1, 2004 at 10:01 pm Posted by castor (5 messages posted) get a dos boot disk, type cd\windows\ , then type edit system.ini if the second line says shell=explore.exe add shell=C:\[path location]\ei6setup.exe Above it, it worked for me, On Monday, February 3, 2003 at 4:38 am, Stefanie D. wrote: > >I have a question about How >do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes: > >I have been checking this site and it is quite helpful, but for this particular question >I can't find a solution, as my current operating system is Windows Me and I can't >find a solution for that one. > >Anyway, everytime I start the computer nothing shows up save for the desktop and >mouse pointer which moves. The task manager displays no icons except if I were to >wait a few minutes it mentions 'Startmngr' (or something like it, sorry I'm not at >home to remember the exact spelling) caused an error. I know the problem is that >Explorer crashed but I'm not sure how I can go about fixing this problem. > >The computer will not let me restore a back up copy of the registry when I try to >do so (leaving me with 'operation failed' or an error). I am sorry if I am posting >this in the wrong fashion; it is urgent, as I do need this particular computer for >a class project. I would like to try and find a solution (if possible) before I resort >to reinstalling everything or bringing in the computer for service. Any help would >be gladly appreciated! Thanks. 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