Explorer shutting down

External Since: Jul 26, 2008 Posts: 3

Yep... Right now, if I try to use windows explorer at all, it shuts down
leaving me a desktop. I can re run it from task manager and it comes
back, and I can use email, and surf and pull up applications, but if I
try to drill down to a file using my computer, or go into control panel
it'll shut down again... registry settings look good, and I'm suspecting
a virus of some kind, but as I run scans I thought I'd post and see if
anyone has had this bug, and what they may have done to eradicate it...

--
jlhawk

External Since: Feb 09, 2008 Posts: 2121

jlhawk wrote:

>
> Yep... Right now, if I try to use windows explorer at all, it shuts down
> leaving me a desktop. I can re run it from task manager and it comes
> back, and I can use email, and surf and pull up applications, but if I
> try to drill down to a file using my computer, or go into control panel
> it'll shut down again... registry settings look good, and I'm suspecting
> a virus of some kind, but as I run scans I thought I'd post and see if
> anyone has had this bug, and what they may have done to eradicate it...

You'd be better off running your scans first and then posting back if you
have questions about the results. Otherwise we're all just guessing, which
isn't useful.

Go through the malware scanning steps I'll give you. Be thorough. If after
you've done all that the machine is clean, you can try MVP Rick Roger's
tip. Certainly you can try Rick's tip first to save time, but if the
machine is infected that won't help.

A. For when explorer.exe won't start - from MVP Rick Rogers

Click start, type 'regedit' and hit <enter> to open the registry editor.
Expand the keys at left to reach:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Click on this key, then locate the 'shell' string in the right pane.
Double-click it, replace the contents with just:

explorer.exe

Click ok, then close the registry editor and reboot.

B. General malware removal steps:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Include scanning with David Lipman's Multi_AV and follow instructions to do
all scans in Safe Mode. Please see the special Notes regarding using
Multi_AV in Vista.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Multi-AV - instructions
http://tinyurl.com/yoeru3 - download link and more instructions

When all else fails, get guided help. Choose one of the specialty forums
listed at the first link. Register and read its posting FAQ. PLEASE DO NOT
POST LOGS IN THE MS NEWSGROUPS.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ