explorer.exe, iexplorer.exe application errors

Hi Guys-
Your website has been invaluable. I wanted to post this because I realize so many people are having these application errors and wanted to give some input and also ask some advice. My problem was everytime I opened internet explorer 6 (running XP SP 1, Dell dimension 8300, 2 GB RAM) in the past 2 weeks I would get this iexplorer.exe application error "The instruction at Ox10003e8d referenced memory at Ox10003e8d. The memory could not be read. Click on OK to terminate program. Click cancel to debug." The #'s were different I'm just going as an example. If I said cancel the desktop would disappear for a few seconds and then reappear a few seconds later. This wasn't a problem because I would just use Mozilla Firefox and pretty much avoid the problem until I decided to update to SP 2. I haven't updated yet because I wanted to work out any bugs first. I followed your spyware, trojan, and virus removal guide completely. Not a thing except minor spyware issues that weren't picked up by spybot the ad aware SE found. I decided to do an "eventvwr.msc" under run to see if there were any errors in my log and found about 10 red X's under Microsoft Office where someone in my family repeatedly ignored an error to put Word in safe mode. I decided to do a sfc /scannow but I kept getting an error that said I had the wrong install CD even though I knew it was the right one. I decided to dig a bit deeper and found this website http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html which basically solved all my problems. I don't know the guy or anything but what happened was my hard drive was partitioned after I installed XP so the D drive was no longer the CD drive- it was a data drive. Long story short I did a regedit and directed the source path back to my drive. All the corrupted files were replaced and no more errors. I consider your removal guide a great way to clean out your computer anyway so I'm happy I did it.

My question is although the computer is back to normal it's running a bit slow, especially for 2 GB of RAM. Do you still feel it might be necessary to run "Hijack This" to be on the safe side before I install service pack 2? Any other suggestions. Faulty RAM? I can't think of anything that I haven't done but I'm open to suggestions. I've been running Zone Alarm since I've had the computer, spy bot, and microsoft anti-spyware. I've done every deep scan available and not a single virus has been picked up. Thanks for any help and for a great forum.

Dave

Dell Dimension 8300 run for audio recording
Win XP SP 1
2 GB RAM
250 GB Hard drive

 

Well that's weird. I just rebooted after doing another system file checker and I got a big system.exe error and it said the system had to be shut down automatically and to save all my work- this has never happened. There was some message about Zone Alarm but it happened to quick for me to write it all down. I rebooted and everything seems fine?? That scared the %^&* out of me. Should I do anything? Sorry for the double post I just wanted to keep the thread updated.

Dave

 

help?

 

Hey man. Um maybe you have something corrupted in your system. Try a winxp repair. If its corrupt there both system files and it should repair them. Only drawback is that it takes a while to do and you have to reinstall all of your updates but it is worth a try though. Let me know if this helps.
-the new tech guy

 

Hey new tech guy-
Thanks so much for the reply. Do you think I should do this before I install SP 2?

Dave

 

Yes you should scince it will take off all previous updates you already have installed. Then try it without updates and if everything is working again. If everything is working install the updates. Lemme know if this helps ya.
-the new tech guy

 

You probably hear this a thousand times but it is often the best reliable way to cure a sick system ..
when things start to go badly wrong especially at the windows level a format and re-install is the best way to cure the problem once and for all. i experienced a terrible RPC LOCATOR service problem on my system once, the service just vanished for no reason, it wasnt even listed in my services any more and as a result, my windows would crash constantly. I know that windows backs up all of its critical files in a Driver Cache folder and a INI folder for installing them back, but unless you know what your looking for, its like looking for a needle in a haystack! and whats the good of system restore when you cant even log back in to windows or run safe mode ?
It doesnt matter how much ram you have with windows xp (as long as its not over 4gb as it cant address any higher than that) all programs are paged in xp, some parts go in ram, the less used parts are page filed. if you have tons of services running and tasks, the system will slow down, as each one is doing what its told to do when it needs to do it.
if you must carry on as you are, just install SP2, it will overwrite most of the system files anyway, and updates directx accordingly and any drivers as well, there is no need to debug windows as SP2 will do this before it installed

 

Hey Guys-
Thanks again for the replies, I don't know what I'd do without you. Actually I do but that would involve a very high building, some ballbearings, a hydraulic ramp system and an open window to slide this devil machine and everything associated with it plummeting to it's death. OK that might be a bit dramatic. I have to reiterate that ever since I did scannow/system file checker things have really stabilized. I occasionally get an application error but I get that in both firefox and IE, and only once in awhile. I've heard that repairing Windows can be potentially hazardous- do you think I need to take this drastic of a measure to make sure everything is OK? Is it normal to get application errors once in awhile? I also get a "layered hidden window" message also sometimes on shutdown but I'm not sure if that is attributed to Zone Alarm. Actually I've heard of Zone Alarm causing a lot of problems on some systems so maybe I should just uninstall the whole thing when I update to SP2. Any suggestions would be much appreciated and thanks again for the all the help.

Dave

 

Well did ya fix internet explorer? But try installing sp2 with zonealarm and if its causeing problems come back here and tell us what is going on.

 

Well no it isnt really hazardous. It just mainly affects windows in itself. The other programs dont even notice you did this. It just basically rewrites the operateing system while not touching anything else. you can reinstall internet explorer from add/remove windows components. This will ask for the windows disk when you reinstall it but dont freak out it just needs the files from the disk so they can be copied back to where they should be. But i think athalon's idea is dramatic for this situation. What do those "Once in a while" errors exactly say? Write back to give us a status report.

 

Hey New Guy and AMDxp-
I want to make sure I cover evrything so this might be a bit long. I'm running a Dell Dimension 8300/Pentium 4/3Ghz/2GB RAM/Win XP SP1/cable connection just in case you didn't know. The errors say either explorer.exe or iexplorer.exe application error "the instruction at "0x63005527" referenced memory at "0xc0da17a7". The memory could not be "read". Ok to close. Cancel to debug." Although the series of #'s change depending on the situation. If I said OK to close it would shut down- if I chose debug I would get this weird pause, the desktop would disappear then reappear with some icons missing on the bottom toolbar in XP. ??? I had no idea what was going on so I'd reboot and the desktop would reboot like normal again. This happened every single time I opened IE6 "the instruction at "0x63005527" referenced memory at "0xc0da17a7". The memory could not be "read". Ok to close. Cancel to debug." I couldn't even use IE for updates until I did the sytem file checker and now it happens occasionally but still enough to make me worried if I'm dedicating this machine for recording audio. It also did it constantly when I hit the help tab for certain software programs??? I would get the explorer.exe application error and sometimes the computer would just out of nowhere get a blue screen and reboot. But after the reboot things seemed normal again. Which brings us to the present- after I did the sytem file checker a week ago none of these things happen anymore besides IE and firefox "referenced memory" errors. It happens in firefox sometimes when I am accessing the internet- usually when the computer has been sitting idle for an hour or so and I'll go into firefox and it will pause for 5-10 seconds and I'll get a program crash message from firefox and it sends an error report. I'll reboot and it works fine. Also I still get this weird "layered hidden window. This program is not responding." message when I'm shutting down. If I wait for the program to shut down it says "program not responding" so I usually have to hit "end now" and it ends immediately. I'll reboot and things are dandy- I may not get the message again for another 2 or 3 shutdowns but like clockwork it comes back.
The great thing now is that IE6 seems to be working fine again, I can get updates (Microsoft is nagging me to install SP2), and no issues with accessing help sections in programs. I don't know- my head hurts and I'm delirious. I've followed your spyware/virus/malware checklist twice now without as much as a mouse fart- I've gone all the way through it except to "Hijackthis". Do you think I should give that a shot before I do a complete re-install or a repair of XP SP1? Thanks again for all your help my friends- I wish there was such thing as buying a round of cyber-beers. I bet the "cantina bar" in Star Wars had that.

Dave

 

As new tech guy says, repairing windows will only affect everything in the WINDOWS folder, thats all the system32 stuf and all the critical operating system files and stuff, it wont touch your "my documents" or installed software, and this problem you have is definately windows based, it could be a kernal driver (responsible for memory allocation) many ghosts exist in our machines and i still swear windows has a personality of its own. SP2 is there to iron out the problems that microsoft are aware of with its previous versions and also to clear up a lot of security issues with the known problem areas. it would be pointless reinstalling windows SP1 when you could jsut repair it and then go str8 to installing SP2 (which will open up a new ball game of security updates) IE6 updates are also included in SP2. you are aware that explorer.exe is your desktop environment and iexplorer.exe is internet explorer, this problem happened to me with windows 2000 pro, constant crashes with SP1, i tried SP2 for it but had problems with hardware so it just wasnt working for me full stop, so i forked out the dosh for xp and apart from my webcam drivers completely ****ing up my plug and play device enumerator (and the web cam subsequently meeting a fate with a large hammer for the trouble it caused) nothing has gone wrong, however my version of xp had SP2 included with it. so in a nut shell, repair windows, and install SP2, see how you go from there , ps i dont drink lol, il just have a coke

 

Well if you do a repair you wont lose your normal data. It just repairs windows. Do NOT reformat because it could simply be a corrupted program that you can fix in a winxp repair. And do install sp2 because it fixes alot of problems there are in sp one. Dont worry bout anything. Do you know how to do a windows xp repair? Post back here and if you dont know how to do it I will post instructions. JUST DO NOT REFORMAT BECAUSE I DO NOT THINK YOU NEED THAT. Cause alot of unnessary trouble. Im just trying to stress that because i would rather install a bunch of windows updates rather than your entire computer. Wouldnt you? Anyway as for the other thing, i would let that go maybe thats just a stupid microsoft program. Or maybe this be a good time spyware people cam here and verified that it is a safe program. Lemme know if this helps
-the new tech guy

 

Ok thanks athalon for agreeing with me dude. For a minute i thought you were gonna tell the guy to reformat when it isnt nesscary and you also touched base on something i missed. One time my kernal was f***ed up and i had to do a repair and it went straight to sp2 and it runs without a cinch. One improvment was my windows startup. Mine used to hang when i turned it on and it got to the welcome screen...winxp sp2 goes in...problems gone. But do the repair and go str8 to sp2 and agian if you need instructions me or AMD will come and help. Whoever comes first. hope this helps too
-the new tech guy

 

OK Guys-
Thanks again for replying and being such a great help. I got a dreaded blue screen error last night. Stunned. Zone Alarm kept shutting down the online scans last night in Win XP safe mode (after 3 scans in normal mode- not a single problem found)so I got frustrated and decided to try the McAfee Avert Stinger before installing SP2 becuase everything else was running great. This is after running through your spyware checklist 3 times (besides Hijack this). I did a reboot, hit f8 to go in safe mode and for the first time since owning this computer (about 9-12 months) I got "A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer" message. Then it said uninstall recent virus programs, etc but I couldn't write it all down. SO I rebooted, and rebooted, and rebooted in every mode they had possible and nada. My heart skipped a beat and then I threw up. The only thing I can say right now is I was able to boot from my DELL XP SP1 cd, press R for recovery, was able to go into the Win XP Professional set up screen and did not go into repair Win XP installation using recovery console2) but into 1) set up Windows XP now. I did that and my system started back up again and besides the color/graphics being completely screwed up it seems to be back to normal. Why do you think this happened when I was being so cautious, and do you think I still might be infected!? I didn't get a damn thing on the scans and I did everyone to the point of exhaustion. I can't begin to thank you guys for your help. I have no idea what to do next but I'm pretty sure I won't do a p diddle to my computer until you guys reply. Thanks again.

Dave

 

Hey guys-
Can you run through the XP repair with me. I want to make sure I do this right. Thanks.

Dave

 

Hi buddy!, firstly to NewTech, lol you guys have been here longer than me and know more than I do, I wouldnt dare argue *cringes*. Now Dave (may I call you Dave?) before doing any repair work on your system it is vital you do the following, Disconnect your self from the internet completely (un plug your modem), then shut down ANY programs you have running including Zone Alarm (it can interfere with installer programs) Do a FULL virus scan OFFLINE and make sure the virus scanner is up to date!, you could also try the CHKDISK utility in windows (it will need to restart) and let it do a complete full check , this will look through all your program entries and data and HD read write capabilities to ensure your hard disk is fully functional, your os is not corrupt, the security descripters havent been tampered with (NTFS only) and it will read test all your data on that drive. CHKDISK can cure invalid disk entries as well. I know what you mean with the repair option, mine did that too it was almost like it ignored me and just wanted to re install windows. I have never done a repair on windows so i will leave that to new tech to talk you through. The reason your getting crappy colours is because whatever you did, windows lost its Graphics card drivers during the process, just reinstall your graphics card drivers and all will be well i must admit my screen looks horrible on my ATI until i install the drivers its because windows uses the lowest resolution possible at 16 bit colours as most monitors can handle this for safety. Safe Mode also uses the pc in this way, no drivers whatsoever are loaded which is why its called safe mode, if you still have a problem in safe mode then it is DEFINATELY a windows problem that REPAIR SHOULD cure. need anymore info, just ask over to newtech lol ...

 

Hey AMD-
Thanks so much for the help. I took all your advice and chaslang in the spyare forum checked out my Hijack this log and found some malware- he took me through it and we got rid of it. I also downloaded the driver file for my video card- you were dead on- everything cleared up. I still think there might be some corrupted files so I'm trying to think if I should still run this repair. New Tech you around?? I want to make sure I have a completely stable system before updating to SP2. I did run the CHDSK utility and everything was OK. My Windows media player is acting a bit funny though so I'm thinking there might be a few more bugs that could be ironed out with a repair. I just want to make sure I do it correctly. AMD thanks again for all your help- you have no idea how much I appreciate it.

Dave

 

i wish i knew about this site when i had problems, i know what its like when it all goes horribly wrong on you lol, so your very welcome indeed!!!!

 

Well after you did the winxp repair, are you still getting errors? If not go ahead and install all the drivers for your dell crap (thatll fix the messed up screen). If your not haveing any more problems then your all clean.
Wirte back to me with a status report.
-the new tech guy

PS: I might not get back to you right away cause in a couple days i am going on vacation but once im back i will come back and help you. Its only a week i will be away so dont worry i will be back soon.

 

Oh yeah dont forget to install all updates[/B]INCLUDEING SERVICE PACK 2!!!![/B] that fixes alot of problems in windows xp. Lemme know if this is useful and yes you are quite welcome for all the help.

 

Hey New Tech-
Thanks for the reply. I have not installed SP2 yet because I wanted to talk to you first. The system is running a lot better but Windows Media player is acting a bit funny, and I have gotten an application error once (same one we've been talking about). I'm not sure if I ran Win XP repair correctly since there was so many options- can you do a quick walk through so I make sure I do it right? Since you've been helping me from the start you would probably know which one would best fit my problems. I want to make sure this stuff is repaired before I install SP2- thanks again for all your help.

Dave

 

This has an excellent guide on how to do a repair installation with xp. (with pics.)

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/rep... XP by Installing Over top of Existing Setup:

 

Ha! I'm not a computer idiot "theefool "(first seargeant snap salute)so the pics are optional. My point is that Win XP repair isn't press R and that's that- there seems to be at least 3 options that apply to my situation. Have you read my thread? I appreciate the post though and your help. I'm just confused and want to make sure that I don't have some corrupt file that I'll be taking with me to the grave. I could easily slide out the window with the computer.

Dave

 

Well I've got the dreaded blue screen error twice now today. XP just unexpectedly reboots in the middle of doing something, first time I was in Outlook, second time I was on the web with IE. I went to the event log and it says this "Content index on c:\system volume information|catalog.wci could not be initialized. Error 3221225477. " Event ID 4127.

??? Not sure what to do from here. Thanks in advance for any help or direction.

Dave

 

ok mate this sounds like that anoying indexing service to me, go into admin tools - services and disable the indexing service, i dont know if your aware of this but the more you install, the bigger the index files get, and i know from windows 2000 if it grew to more than 4gb in size it would corrupt windows files, it could be the same for xp, you dont need the service at all, also uncheck the "allow indexing of this drive" from all your partition properties, your on a sure fire way to having to repair windows here.

also do a very thourough check for "bogus" tasks running in task manager its very possible you have picked up something nasty, you not a fool with pcs i can see that so you should know which services running in task manager are real and which ones stand out like a sore thumb (in case you dont, look for any .exe with a really unusual stupid name like 1~EFIHAIEM.EXE you get the idea, virus`s are THICK sometimes with choosing a task name lol whatever you do, do it soon, and always off line hope iv helped and i certainly am not trying to insult your intelligence

 

Ok well heres how you go about the windows xp repair.
step one: boot from the windows cd
step 2: once your at the winxp main screen you start like it is a regular windows xp install
step 3: you eventually come to a screen asking what windows partition you want to install to.
It should say to repair this current windows xp installation press r at that screen or something and scince it is the only operateing system install that one partition thing should be there. select it and press r.
step4: After pressing r it should start to copy setup files or something and there will be a bar showing your progress on screen. Let that do its thing then it should restart the computer.
step 5: when the restart from step 4 occurs you start up as if you are normally starting winxp.
step 6: while starting it will do some more install stuff. Let it do its thing.
step 7: after step six the computer will restart again. Let it do so. Then go through the regular setup as if you are normally first installing winxp and once done it will once again restart (or not mine freezes at that screen for some odd reason but runs fine). Anyway, once that little setup prompt is done you are finished. Then check for the error if it stopped put on all updates includeing service pack 2 and you should be done.
note: a quick way to check if you did it right is to see if your computer has any updates on it at all. If it doesnt have anything... and i mean not even sp1 or updates before that installed it is done right.
let me know if this helps ya.
PS: sorry if step three is confuseing i havent done a repair in a long time so i cant remember very well what it said. If your confused i will check for you.
-the new tech guy

 

thats cool amd. If you guys are confused with my instructions again lemme know and i will check everything for you and it is supposed to look like a clean install of windows and when you get to the screen where you pick a partition to install to you just pick the current one (which is what it shows) and press r. then it is relatively easy from there just start normally and it should get self explanitory. But lemme know if this helps.
the new tech guy

 

XP REPAIR INSTALL

1. Boot the computer using the XP CD. You may need to change the boot order in the system BIOS. Check your system documentation for steps to access the BIOS and change the boot order.

2. When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will see the options below This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your computer:

To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.​

3. Press Enter to start the Windows Setup. DO NOT choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R", (you DO NOT want to load Recovery Console). I repeat, DO NOT choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R".

4. Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing Windows installations.

5. Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press R to start the repair.

NOTE: If the option to Repair Install is NOT available and you continue with the install; you will delete your Windows & Documents and Settings folders. All Applications that place keys in the registry will need to be re-installed.

You should exit setup if the repair option is not available and consider other options. I have found if the Repair option is not available, you have a few paths I have listed to try before XP requires a Clean install.​

6. Setup will copy the necessary files to the hard drive and reboot. Do not press any key to boot from CD when the message appears. Setup will continue as if it were doing a clean install, but your applications and settings will remain intact.

NOTE: Files Not Found During The Copying Stage If you get files not found during the copying stage, restart the repair install after inspecting the CD for any surface imperfections and if you have multiple CD drives, switch to the other CD drive. Also check the hard drive cables making sure they are the proper cable and seated tightly in the connections.

If the problem is not resolved, and you have no other option, continue with the install by closing all the files not found message windows until setup finishes.

Apply the XP firewall, then run Windows update after reaching the desktop and the missing files should be replaced.

You should backup ALL data if you haven't done so prior to the repair install before making any other changes to the system.

If the system seems unstable, run defrag, reboot a few times and trouble shoot any error messages. If system cannot recover, double check if you have all data you can not replace backed up and the proceed with a Clean install.​

Blaster worm warning: Do not immediately activate over the internet when asked, enable the XP firewall before connecting to the internet. You can activate after the firewall is enabled. Control Panel - Network Connections. Right click the connection you use, Properties, and there is a check box on the Advanced page.

KB 833330 Blaster removal

What You Should Know About the Sasser Worm and Its Variants

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-011​

7. Reapply updates or service packs applied since initial Windows XP installation. Please note that a Repair Install from the Original install XP CD will remove SP1/SP2 and service packs will need to be reapplied.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[EDIT] Be as clear as possible when giving instructions on how to execute a given task. Issues can be made worse when procedures or commands are not executed properly. [/EDIT]
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Ok thanks for clarifying shadow. I havent been in the winxp repair for a while and was running off the top of my head there. Yeah shadow explained better than i and has been here longer so i would follow his instruction cause there more clear. Let us know if he helped. And afterwords are you still haveing the problem? Come back and let us know.
-the new tech guy

 

Hey guys-
Well I did the repair, got a few can't locate files messages and another that said my NVIDIA graphica driver didn't pass Windows certication, and another message about not being able to load the installer for TapeController and to contact my hardware vendor for assistance, I pressed cancel and continued with installation and it completed fine. It restarted and then I got the dreaded blue screen error message again. I tried to reboot into last known configuration and I keep getting the error. I've always at least been able to get into my desktop but it keeps rebooting. I'm on my third repair and I have no idea where to go from here. Thanks for all your help- UGH!

Dave

 

I just got a winlogon.exe application error and the repair rebooted and started over- this has never happened. Just thought I'd keep you updated from the fiery depths of computer h*ll.

Dave

 

@davepicc

The error message you are recieving is normally associated with some type of malware infection.

Download and burn Knoppix 3.9 'Live CD' WARNING: This file is approximately 696Mb in size.

Once you have burned the CD, put it in your CD drive and boot the computer. Make sure your computer is configured to boot from CD in the BIOS. Which, I am fairly certain you are currently configured that way.

Make sure your NTFS partition is readable. You can access the partition right from the KDE desktop. Next backup all the data you want to save from the drive. Knoppix comes with the K3B CD burner program.

2 Questions, are you working from a Win XP Cdrom, or the Dell recovery Disk set? If your are working from a Win XP CD, do you have the Dell recovery CD set.

The reason I ask, is you may be headed for a clean install of XP.

 

Hey Shadow-
Thanks for the reply and your help. I am working from the DELL Reinstallation CD. I have a thread in the spyware Specific forum and had done a thorough scan of my system according to the directions. I did a Hijack log and chaslang helped me get rid of the malware. This is the thread:

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=67265&highlight=zone+alarm

Besides that I had no viruses, spyware or anything. I was running Microsoft Spyware and Spybot at all times so I can't understand how this happened. I'll do what you suggested and post my results. The error message says to run a chkdsk \f ? Is that even an option at this point? Or a scannow? I'm nut sure if I can even run these if I can't get to my desktop. Thanks again Shadow.

Dave

 

Boot into the recovery console and enter chkdsk /r /r implies /f and will repair the file system as well as any errors on the physical drive.

 

Hey Shadow-
Well I ran the chkdsk /r and it repaired one or more errors. I burned Knoppix to a CD and loaded it into my drive but for some reason it goes right to the Windows did not shutdown correctly menu and seems to ignore the CD in the drive. I then put my Dell Install CD back in and rebooted and right away it picks it up and asks if I want to boot from CD to press any key. I burned the program again on another type of CD and at a slower speed but it still doesn't acknowledge Knoppix. ??? Thanks again for the help.

Dave

 

Mistake- I meant "Windows did not startup successfully" menu not shutdown correctly- my bad. It has options for starting in safe mode, last know good config, etc. I want to make sure I'm as clear as possible. Sorry.

Dave

 

Did you create a CD from an image file, or did you just burn the ISO to the CD?

 

Start the system in safe mode and rerun the READ ME First scans from the spyware specific forum. If you can get into safe mode, that is a good sign.

 

No I didn't get into safe mode- just the menu. If I try and start in safe mode it tries and blue screen and reboots. As far as Knoppix I just burned the ISO to CD- should I create a CD from an image file? That would make sense- I'm not thinking straight after 3 weeks of this crap. Thanks again.

Dave

 

I've been trying to follow your thread, but a points it gets a little confusing. Are you getting the same BSOD error, or different errors each time.

 

For the winlogon error try this solution:

1. Use the Windows XP Setup start-up disks or the Windows XP CD-ROM to start your computer.

2. At the "Welcome to Setup" screen, press R, and then press C to start the Recovery Console.

3. Type the number for the appropriate Windows XP installation, and then type the Administrator account password.

4. Type the following commands, and then press ENTER after each command:

cd \
cd windows\system32
ren winlogon.exe winlogon.old
ren msgina.dll msgina.old
ren shell32.dll shell32.old
ren shlwapi.dll shlwapi.old
cd..
cd servicepackfiles\i386
copy MSGINA.DLL c:\windows\system32
copy SHELL32.DLL c:\windows\system32
copy WINLOGON.EXE c:\windows\system32
copy SHLWAPI.DLL c:\windows\system32​

NOTE: If the DLL files are not in the Servicepackfiles folder, you must expand these files from the Windows XP installation CD-ROM and copy them to the System32 folder. To expand these files from the Windows XP installation CD, follow these steps:

a. Put the Windows XP installation CD in your CD-ROM or DVD drive.

b. Type the following commands, and then press ENTER after each command:

expand CD_Drive_Letter:\i386\MSGINA.DL_ C:\windows\system32
expand CD_Drive_Letter:\i386\SHELL32.DL_ C:\windows\system32
expand CD_Drive_Letter:\i386\WINLOGON.EX_ C:\windows\system32
expand CD_Drive_Letter:\i386\SHLWAPI.DL_ C:\windows\system32

NOTE: type map at the command prompt followed by enter make a note of the drive letter for your cdrom.​

5. Type exit, and then press ENTER.

 

Sorry Shadow. I'll try and make this clear:
I orginally got iexplorer.exe and explorer.exe application errors until I did a scannow. I am going to use this machine for audio recording so I wanted to make sure it was clean before installing SP2. Things seemed to really clear up after I did scannow but I would still get an application error here and there. I also ran a major spyware removal according to instructions from the "spyware specific" forum. I didn't think it was spyware though because I had been very careful. I decided to do a repair because New Tech guy seemed to think there was still something up with XP and files might be corrupted, especially becuase the computer would unexpectedly reboot in the middle of doing anything from browsing the web to being in Outlook- granted it only happened once or twice a day but far too much for recording- and this blue screen error has been the same everytime. I ran it and ever since then I can not get my sytem to desktop- which is where we are now. This stupid error happens now everytime I restart. If I'm not rebooting from a CD it goes straight to the "Windows did not start up successfully" menu. The desktop of XP seems as distant as a childhood memory of field trips and fig newtons shoved in the same tupperware container as a smooshed whole wheat PB & J in a HULK lunch box with a thermos that smells like the milk has been spoiled for decades- help mommy. I'll try your suggestions and dream of a computer that runs on marshmallow skies and chocolate chip rain drops. My name is Dave and I'd like to check myself into grassy knolls for a week...or two. OK I'll stop.

Dave

 

I really sympathise, and people get on at me for saying this but everyone seems bent on doing the run around trying to patch up your problem, have you actually tried just backing up all your work, formating the drive and reinstalling windows from scratch, its the only way to get rid of any crap on your drive once and for all, and the only way you can be sure that nothing other than windows is to blame for all this. sorry to say the word FORMAT, but when its gone this far, it certainly wouldnt hurt. its a depressing thought i know, but try it, but do back up all your stuff first mate. i hate formatting only to find that "program missing" (DOH! never backed it up)

 

Hey AMD-
You have been more helpful then anyone on any forum I have ever posted and I'm pretty sure this is about the most I've ever posted. I think most guys around here aren't looking for a quick fix as much as they are trying to get the problem solved without having to take the most drastic measures. I think I have come to that point and I'm not sure if Knoppix would even be worth it if I'm going to reformatt and do a clean install- what do you think Shadow?? On that note I have never done this- is there a website that you guys can link me to that might help me with this process? I just want to reiterate how much I appreciate you guys helping me- the computer would have dropped through an elevator shaft and into a subway by now if it wasn't for how cool you guys have been. One pizza to London and one pizza to the guys at Majorgeeks. Or two.

Dave

 

Dave, Knoppix is a good way to backup the data on your hard drive when you can't boot into windows. If you want to do a clean install here are the directions.

 

Ok well when athalon xp started talking about reformatting i thought he was nuts but now im thinking its not a bad idea at this point. Sorry i screwed up your computer man. I seriously thought that the repair would fix the messed up files but it seemed to make problems worse. Not in all cases will it do that. In some cases it will help. Again sorry bout that and shadow sorry bout being a bit of nuicansse lately. Anyway, im sure that the reformat will solve the problem. Shadows post looks like pretty good instructions to follow and he knows more than I. Come back and let us know if the information that shadows and amd provided was useful.
-the new tech guy