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

I am experiencing the same problem. Upon boot, I get just the wallpaper, nothing else. I have tried running "explorer.exe" from the Task Manager, but I get a message that Windows cannot find it. If I boot in Safe Mode, I likewise get no icons or Start Menu. If I boot in Safe Mode with a Command Prompt I can find "explorer.exe" in both the C:\WINDOWS and C:\WINDOWS\System32\dllcache directories. If I try to run the program from the command prompt, the system cannot find it! I have tried sfc /scannow, but it did not help. I am running a laptop and do not have the XP CD. How can I get a new explorer.exe file? There is nothing in the C:\WINDOWS\options\cabs directory. I tried an XP re-load (Upgrade), but the problem still exists. (I used the winnt32.exe command accidently). I looked the Repair Installation discussion on michaelstevenstech.com, but again, I don't have the XP CD, as that was a laptop pre-load. I don't have any system restore checkpoints to restore a previous working configuration. I don't want to have to wipe out my XP installation, but I guess I can do this if I can find a way to get my important files off of this system. Any advice? Thanks in advance.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Just curious.. what happens if you type its full path while in the command prompt? ie

c:\windows\explorer.exe

you may just have a problem with your path

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Nothing. the explorer.exe file is not found, even though it exists in the C:\windows directory when I do a "dir"


On Friday, June 3, 2005 at 8:09 pm, Critter wrote:
>Just curious.. what happens if you type its full path while in the command prompt?
>ie

>c:\windows\explorer.exe

>you may just have a problem with your path

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Looks like you got hit by some viruses.

Try this: copy explorer.exe from C:\Windows to a temporary directory C:\temp and 
rename it to other name, for example, explrr.exe and then run c:\temp\explrr.exe
You should be able to get the desktop.

If the renamed file works then you can do the regedit and  rename the following key 
to what ever name you like except "explorer.exe":
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution 
Options\explorer.exe

Then reboot your system and you should get your desktop back.  Delete c:\temp\explrr.exe 
afterward as it's just a test.

--Wilson







On Tuesday, June 7, 2005 at 1:35 pm, Gene wrote:

>Nothing. the explorer.exe file is not found, even though it exists in the C:\windows 

>directory when I do a "dir"

>

>

> 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I can no longer see the task bar at my desk top


On Friday, June 3, 2005 at 6:39 pm, Gene wrote:
>I have a question about How
>do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes:

>
>I am experiencing the same problem. Upon boot, I get just the wallpaper, nothing
>else. I have tried running "explorer.exe" from the Task Manager, but I get a message
>that Windows cannot find it.
>
>If I boot in Safe Mode, I likewise get no icons or Start Menu. If I boot in Safe
>Mode with a Command Prompt I can find "explorer.exe" in both the C:\WINDOWS and C:\WINDOWS\System32\dllcache
>directories. If I try to run the program from the command prompt, the system cannot
>find it!
>
>I have tried sfc /scannow, but it did not help.
>
>I am running a laptop and do not have the XP CD.
>
>How can I get a new explorer.exe file? There is nothing in the C:\WINDOWS\options\cabs
>directory.
>
>I tried an XP re-load (Upgrade), but the problem still exists. (I used the winnt32.exe
>command accidently).
>
>I looked the Repair Installation discussion on michaelstevenstech.com, but again,
>I don't have the XP CD, as that was a laptop pre-load.
>
>I don't have any system restore checkpoints to restore a previous working configuration.
>
>I don't want to have to wipe out my XP installation, but I guess I can do this if
>I can find a way to get my important files off of this system.
>
>Any advice? Thanks in advance.
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Try the procedure in the link posted in this thread. Report back if it doesn't work.

Carpe Chocolate!

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Dear Wilson Chu! Your receipt is the best! Thanks! It help me..... "I'm so happy....."

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hi. I am having the same problem, but when I looked in my registry for this key, I could not find it. Do I need to create it and enter a value equal to the new copy of explorer, with the path? thanks...


On Monday, June 13, 2005 at 5:53 pm, Wilson Chu wrote:
>Looks like you got hit by some viruses.
>
>Try this: copy explorer.exe from C:\Windows to a temporary directory C:\temp and
>rename it to other name, for example, explrr.exe and then run c:\temp\explrr.exe
>You should be able to get the desktop.
>
>If the renamed file works then you can do the regedit and rename the following key
>to what ever name you like except "explorer.exe":
>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution
>Options\explorer.exe
>
>Then reboot your system and you should get your desktop back. Delete c:\temp\explrr.exe
>afterward as it's just a test.
>
>--Wilson
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hi, I have this same problem too and was wondering if anyone could explain the reg part again - I have a working explorer in my temp folder that I named explor.exe I can run it and it opens the explorer window.. However I still cannot get my desktop on startup - I went to the path as stated in the above post by wilson and did not have a explorer folder there so created one with but am stuck with what to do now as nothing has changed after a restart? Thanks for any help Chris

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thanks for this great post Wilson. I had exactly the same problem with a mate's laptop after a virus. I had jumped through so many hoops but your fix pushed me in the right direction. However to get mine to work, I simply deleted the key rather than rename the explorer and it all sprang back into life Thanks for your help, it's much appreciated


On Monday, June 13, 2005 at 5:53 pm, Wilson Chu wrote:
>Looks like you got hit by some viruses.
>
>Try this: copy explorer.exe from C:\Windows to a temporary directory C:\temp and
>rename it to other name, for example, explrr.exe and then run c:\temp\explrr.exe
>You should be able to get the desktop.
>
>If the renamed file works then you can do the regedit and rename the following key
>to what ever name you like except "explorer.exe":
>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution
>Options\explorer.exe
>
>Then reboot your system and you should get your desktop back. Delete c:\temp\explrr.exe
>afterward as it's just a test.
>
>--Wilson
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thanks..this is the best solution I have so far... But I could not locate the explorer either. But copying the explorer under temp dir and running it worked for me. Any idea for the regedit part... Thanks Timu http://hqpress.com


On Friday, May 5, 2006 at 3:09 pm, David wrote:
>Hi. I am having the same problem, but when I looked in my registry for this key,
>I could not find it. Do I need to create it and enter a value equal to the new copy
>of explorer, with the path?
>
>thanks...
>
>
>

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