Totally Messed Up Explorer.exe

i accessed my system settings in control panel, however i saw blank window.
then my taskbar got frozen. few seconds later the the error report came out
to solve the problem (which by the way never works---the error report has
found 255 problems on my computer with zero solutions)
anyways.......ironically the error report came up with a solution to why my
explorer got messed up and told me to follow the link for an update. I
downloaded the update but when i ran it and Error came, telling me that the
update does not apply to my system.

By the way, i am running Windows Vista home premium.
and here is the update i was told to download and install:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

And No I am positive that i do not have a spyware or Virus or anything
related.
HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED
THANKS.

Yo emad--

Where did an error report that "found 255 problems" come from? I'd be
skeptical of it. It reminds me of those so called registry cleaners that
don't tell you exactly what they find but say the have hundreds of problems.
This error checker whatever it is, sounds like a turkey.

It sounds like you could have spyware and I'd run a couple of decent spyware
scans and an antivirus program first.

You can boot to Windows so that's an advantage.

I'd try these:

***SFC as a Remedy***:

SFC or System File Checker is a bit like the spare tire in your car or a
backup battery I suppose. In Vista of course, they have changed it somewhat
and come up with a new name--Redmond stands for name it something different
twice a year and now it's part of WRP or Windows Resource Protection. It
scans protected resources including thousands of files, libraries, critical
folders, and essential registry keys, and it replaces those that are
corrupted with intact ones. It fixes a lot of problems in Windows XP, OE,
Windows Vista, Win Mail, IE6, and on Vista or if it is installed on XP, IE7.
It protects these things from changes by any source including
administrators, by keeping a spare of most of them.


How to Run SFC:

Type "cmd" into the Search box above the Start Button>and when cmd comes up
at the top of the Start menu>right click cmd and click "run as Admin" and
when the cmd prompt comes up at the cmd prompt type "sfc /scannow" no quotes
and let it run. This may fix things quite a bit. It replaces corrupt files
with intact ones, if you're not familiar with it.

***Startup Repair from the Vista DVD***

How to Use The Vista DVD to Repair Vista (Startup Repair is misnamed by the
Win RE team and it can be used to fix many Vista components even when you
***can boot to Vista):

http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

If you elect to run Startup repair from the Vista DVD (it can fix major
components in Vista--I've verified this many many times; it's good for more
than startup problems, and the Win RE team simply screwed up when they named
it not understanding its full functionality):

Startup Repair will look like this when you put in the Vista DVD:

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content...r-computer.png

You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
also sometimes effective):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

It will automatically take you to this on your screen:

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content...r-computer.png

That will allow you to go to the Vista setup that has a Repair link on
thelower left corner>click it and then you'll see a gray backgrounded list
and I want you to click Startup Repair from it and follow the directions.

The gray screen after you click the first link in the above pic will look
like this:

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winv...ir/Image17.gif

Click Startup Repair, the link at the top and after it scans>click OK and
let it try to repair Vista. It will tell you if it does, and if it
doesn't, try System Restore from the Recovery Link on the DVD. If these
don't work booting into Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key and using System
Restore from one of the safe modes besides VGA may work. That means you
have the option to try 4 different safe modes to get to system restore, (one
from the Recovery link on the DVD) and sometimes one will work when the
others won't.


You could also try a Repair Install with Vista which is done exactly the
same way as in XP:

***Repair Install Steps*** (can be used for Vista) MVP Doug Knox
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ps/doug92.mspx


***Using the F8 Environment***

***Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu)
by starting the PC and tapping F8 once per second when the firmware screen
with the pc manufacturer's name shows a few seconds after restarting***:

The F8 options in Vista are the same as XP, and the link for Safe Mode Boot
options is labled XP by MSFT but they are the same for Vista (they haven't
updated to add Vista to the title as they have with several MSKBs that apply
to both).

Again, pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a
generic way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.

You could also:

Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
Configuration


Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a
choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
Prompt.

These methods are outlined in

A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro.../faqsrwxp.mspx

System Restore can be run from the Win RE recovery environment from the same
link as Startup Repair, and sometimes it will work from one F8 safe mode
location or from the Win Recovery Environment when it won't work from other
locations.

How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304449

Good luck,

CH




"emad senejani" <> wrote in message
news:1C1D868D-B14B-422D-9199-...
>i accessed my system settings in control panel, however i saw blank window.
> then my taskbar got frozen. few seconds later the the error report came
> out
> to solve the problem (which by the way never works---the error report has
> found 255 problems on my computer with zero solutions)
> anyways.......ironically the error report came up with a solution to why
> my
> explorer got messed up and told me to follow the link for an update. I
> downloaded the update but when i ran it and Error came, telling me that
> the
> update does not apply to my system.
>
> By the way, i am running Windows Vista home premium.
> and here is the update i was told to download and install:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
>
> And No I am positive that i do not have a spyware or Virus or anything
> related.
> HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED
> THANKS.

Bad news Chad....My one and only hope has died......my task manager just froze.
oh and by the way about the Comand prompt thing...well my explorer is frozen
so i can't access the start menu. so i tried to use task manager. i tried
running
system 32 to find cmd to run as administrator. however as soon as i clicked
run task manager froze. anyways i don't want to restart cuz i am doing a
project right now.

"Chad Harris" wrote:

> Yo emad--
>
> Where did an error report that "found 255 problems" come from? I'd be
> skeptical of it. It reminds me of those so called registry cleaners that
> don't tell you exactly what they find but say the have hundreds of problems.
> This error checker whatever it is, sounds like a turkey.
>
> It sounds like you could have spyware and I'd run a couple of decent spyware
> scans and an antivirus program first.
>
> You can boot to Windows so that's an advantage.
>
> I'd try these:
>
> ***SFC as a Remedy***:
>
> SFC or System File Checker is a bit like the spare tire in your car or a
> backup battery I suppose. In Vista of course, they have changed it somewhat
> and come up with a new name--Redmond stands for name it something different
> twice a year and now it's part of WRP or Windows Resource Protection. It
> scans protected resources including thousands of files, libraries, critical
> folders, and essential registry keys, and it replaces those that are
> corrupted with intact ones. It fixes a lot of problems in Windows XP, OE,
> Windows Vista, Win Mail, IE6, and on Vista or if it is installed on XP, IE7.
> It protects these things from changes by any source including
> administrators, by keeping a spare of most of them.
>
>
> How to Run SFC:
>
> Type "cmd" into the Search box above the Start Button>and when cmd comes up
> at the top of the Start menu>right click cmd and click "run as Admin" and
> when the cmd prompt comes up at the cmd prompt type "sfc /scannow" no quotes
> and let it run. This may fix things quite a bit. It replaces corrupt files
> with intact ones, if you're not familiar with it.
>
> ***Startup Repair from the Vista DVD***
>
> How to Use The Vista DVD to Repair Vista (Startup Repair is misnamed by the
> Win RE team and it can be used to fix many Vista components even when you
> ***can boot to Vista):
>
> http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm
>
> If you elect to run Startup repair from the Vista DVD (it can fix major
> components in Vista--I've verified this many many times; it's good for more
> than startup problems, and the Win RE team simply screwed up when they named
> it not understanding its full functionality):
>
> Startup Repair will look like this when you put in the Vista DVD:
>
> http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content...r-computer.png
>
> You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
> also sometimes effective):
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us
>
> How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
> http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm
>
> It will automatically take you to this on your screen:
>
> http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content...r-computer.png
>
> That will allow you to go to the Vista setup that has a Repair link on
> thelower left corner>click it and then you'll see a gray backgrounded list
> and I want you to click Startup Repair from it and follow the directions.
>
> The gray screen after you click the first link in the above pic will look
> like this:
>
> http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winv...ir/Image17.gif
>
> Click Startup Repair, the link at the top and after it scans>click OK and
> let it try to repair Vista. It will tell you if it does, and if it
> doesn't, try System Restore from the Recovery Link on the DVD. If these
> don't work booting into Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key and using System
> Restore from one of the safe modes besides VGA may work. That means you
> have the option to try 4 different safe modes to get to system restore, (one
> from the Recovery link on the DVD) and sometimes one will work when the
> others won't.
>
>
> You could also try a Repair Install with Vista which is done exactly the
> same way as in XP:
>
> ***Repair Install Steps*** (can be used for Vista) MVP Doug Knox
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ps/doug92.mspx
>
>
> ***Using the F8 Environment***
>
> ***Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu)
> by starting the PC and tapping F8 once per second when the firmware screen
> with the pc manufacturer's name shows a few seconds after restarting***:
>
> The F8 options in Vista are the same as XP, and the link for Safe Mode Boot
> options is labled XP by MSFT but they are the same for Vista (they haven't
> updated to add Vista to the title as they have with several MSKBs that apply
> to both).
>
> Again, pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a
> generic way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.
>
> You could also:
>
> Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
> 1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
> prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
> Configuration
>
>
> Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
> use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a
> choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
> Prompt.
>
> These methods are outlined in
>
> A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/
>
> Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro.../faqsrwxp.mspx
>
> System Restore can be run from the Win RE recovery environment from the same
> link as Startup Repair, and sometimes it will work from one F8 safe mode
> location or from the Win Recovery Environment when it won't work from other
> locations.
>
> How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304449
>
> Good luck,
>
> CH
>
>
>
>
> "emad senejani" <> wrote in message
> news:1C1D868D-B14B-422D-9199-...
> >i accessed my system settings in control panel, however i saw blank window.
> > then my taskbar got frozen. few seconds later the the error report came
> > out
> > to solve the problem (which by the way never works---the error report has
> > found 255 problems on my computer with zero solutions)
> > anyways.......ironically the error report came up with a solution to why
> > my
> > explorer got messed up and told me to follow the link for an update. I
> > downloaded the update but when i ran it and Error came, telling me that
> > the
> > update does not apply to my system.
> >
> > By the way, i am running Windows Vista home premium.
> > and here is the update i was told to download and install:
> > http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
> >
> > And No I am positive that i do not have a spyware or Virus or anything
> > related.
> > HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED
> > THANKS.
>
>

Your TM freezing doesn't prevent you or have anything to do with trying
the steps I gave you. While SFC is run from the command prompt, command
prompt can still be reached from the Recovery link on the Vista DVD if you
have one. Also nothing you have just said leads me to believe you can't
type cmd in the search box and right click it>run as admin>and run SFC. Pay
attention to the directions I gave you and use them. If you can't run SFC,
and I don't know why you don't have access to a command prompt one of the
ways I gave you, do you have a Vista DVD--from which you can run startup
repair? I linked and illustrated how to do this profusely. If you don't
have or can't borrow a Vista DVD--we are well aware that MSFT who could care
less about Recovery denies a Vista DVD to 99% of the users of Vista by
forcing OEM named partners not to ship one--then you still have access to F8
to try the Safe Mode routes to System Restore as well as Last Known Good
configuration and all of that is in my directions previously.

You have not said whether you have a Vista DVD or not, because until SP1 is
released (it's now in Beta testing) most of the purchasers of Vista via OEM
preinstalled machines won't have acess to Win RE's Recovery link including
Startup Repair, a Command Prompt there , and System Restore there. If you
mean you tried to access msinfo32 via the run box, it has nothing to do with
using the tools I gave you to use.

In addition this probably works for Vista, although if you run Startup
Repair or System Restore wqorks you don't need them.

Restore Missing Control Panel Icons
http://www.winhelponline.com/blogs/3...nel-icons.html

Create Copies of Task Manager, Regedit, msconfig
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_emergencyutil.zip

Enable Task Manager
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs...askmanager.reg

Restore Taskbar to Default Settings
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs...oretaskbar.reg

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

CH


"emad senejani" <> wrote in message
news:6620E00D-0D19-4983-9C88-...
> Bad news Chad....My one and only hope has died......my task manager just
> froze.
> oh and by the way about the Comand prompt thing...well my explorer is
> frozen
> so i can't access the start menu. so i tried to use task manager. i tried
> running
> system 32 to find cmd to run as administrator. however as soon as i
> clicked
> run task manager froze. anyways i don't want to restart cuz i am doing a
> project right now.
>
> "Chad Harris" wrote:
>
>> Yo emad--
>>
>> Where did an error report that "found 255 problems" come from? I'd be
>> skeptical of it. It reminds me of those so called registry cleaners that
>> don't tell you exactly what they find but say the have hundreds of
>> problems.
>> This error checker whatever it is, sounds like a turkey.
>>
>> It sounds like you could have spyware and I'd run a couple of decent
>> spyware
>> scans and an antivirus program first.
>>
>> You can boot to Windows so that's an advantage.
>>
>> I'd try these:
>>
>> ***SFC as a Remedy***:
>>
>> SFC or System File Checker is a bit like the spare tire in your car or a
>> backup battery I suppose. In Vista of course, they have changed it
>> somewhat
>> and come up with a new name--Redmond stands for name it something
>> different
>> twice a year and now it's part of WRP or Windows Resource Protection. It
>> scans protected resources including thousands of files, libraries,
>> critical
>> folders, and essential registry keys, and it replaces those that are
>> corrupted with intact ones. It fixes a lot of problems in Windows XP,
>> OE,
>> Windows Vista, Win Mail, IE6, and on Vista or if it is installed on XP,
>> IE7.
>> It protects these things from changes by any source including
>> administrators, by keeping a spare of most of them.
>>
>>
>> How to Run SFC:
>>
>> Type "cmd" into the Search box above the Start Button>and when cmd comes
>> up
>> at the top of the Start menu>right click cmd and click "run as Admin" and
>> when the cmd prompt comes up at the cmd prompt type "sfc /scannow" no
>> quotes
>> and let it run. This may fix things quite a bit. It replaces corrupt
>> files
>> with intact ones, if you're not familiar with it.
>>
>> ***Startup Repair from the Vista DVD***
>>
>> How to Use The Vista DVD to Repair Vista (Startup Repair is misnamed by
>> the
>> Win RE team and it can be used to fix many Vista components even when you
>> ***can boot to Vista):
>>
>> http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm
>>
>> If you elect to run Startup repair from the Vista DVD (it can fix major
>> components in Vista--I've verified this many many times; it's good for
>> more
>> than startup problems, and the Win RE team simply screwed up when they
>> named
>> it not understanding its full functionality):
>>
>> Startup Repair will look like this when you put in the Vista DVD:
>>
>> http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content...r-computer.png
>>
>> You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
>> also sometimes effective):
>>
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us
>>
>> How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
>> http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm
>>
>> It will automatically take you to this on your screen:
>>
>> http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content...r-computer.png
>>
>> That will allow you to go to the Vista setup that has a Repair link on
>> thelower left corner>click it and then you'll see a gray backgrounded
>> list
>> and I want you to click Startup Repair from it and follow the directions.
>>
>> The gray screen after you click the first link in the above pic will look
>> like this:
>>
>> http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winv...ir/Image17.gif
>>
>> Click Startup Repair, the link at the top and after it scans>click OK and
>> let it try to repair Vista. It will tell you if it does, and if it
>> doesn't, try System Restore from the Recovery Link on the DVD. If these
>> don't work booting into Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key and using System
>> Restore from one of the safe modes besides VGA may work. That means you
>> have the option to try 4 different safe modes to get to system restore,
>> (one
>> from the Recovery link on the DVD) and sometimes one will work when the
>> others won't.
>>
>>
>> You could also try a Repair Install with Vista which is done exactly the
>> same way as in XP:
>>
>> ***Repair Install Steps*** (can be used for Vista) MVP Doug Knox
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ps/doug92.mspx
>>
>>
>> ***Using the F8 Environment***
>>
>> ***Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options
>> Menu)
>> by starting the PC and tapping F8 once per second when the firmware
>> screen
>> with the pc manufacturer's name shows a few seconds after restarting***:
>>
>> The F8 options in Vista are the same as XP, and the link for Safe Mode
>> Boot
>> options is labled XP by MSFT but they are the same for Vista (they
>> haven't
>> updated to add Vista to the title as they have with several MSKBs that
>> apply
>> to both).
>>
>> Again, pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is
>> a
>> generic way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.
>>
>> You could also:
>>
>> Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in
>> order.
>> 1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
>> prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
>> Configuration
>>
>>
>> Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
>> use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives
>> you a
>> choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
>> Prompt.
>>
>> These methods are outlined in
>>
>> A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/
>>
>> Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:
>>
>> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro.../faqsrwxp.mspx
>>
>> System Restore can be run from the Win RE recovery environment from the
>> same
>> link as Startup Repair, and sometimes it will work from one F8 safe mode
>> location or from the Win Recovery Environment when it won't work from
>> other
>> locations.
>>
>> How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
>>
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304449
>>
>> Good luck,
>>
>> CH
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "emad senejani" <> wrote in message
>> news:1C1D868D-B14B-422D-9199-...
>> >i accessed my system settings in control panel, however i saw blank
>> >window.
>> > then my taskbar got frozen. few seconds later the the error report came
>> > out
>> > to solve the problem (which by the way never works---the error report
>> > has
>> > found 255 problems on my computer with zero solutions)
>> > anyways.......ironically the error report came up with a solution to
>> > why
>> > my
>> > explorer got messed up and told me to follow the link for an update. I
>> > downloaded the update but when i ran it and Error came, telling me that
>> > the
>> > update does not apply to my system.
>> >
>> > By the way, i am running Windows Vista home premium.
>> > and here is the update i was told to download and install:
>> > http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
>> >
>> > And No I am positive that i do not have a spyware or Virus or anything
>> > related.
>> > HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED
>> > THANKS.
>>
>>