Help Me!

Ok, here is a synopsis of what is happening:
Everytime I open a window (for example: the E: drive (my external hard drive), and proceed to open a folder, the computer prompts this:

Windows Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close.
We are sorry for the inconvenience
AppName: explorer.exe AppVer: 6.0.2900.5512 ModName: unknown
ModVer: 0.0.0.0 Offset: 00000000

in a nice professional looking window. When I click "Do not Send" (because I have not internet connection... more on that later) The computer freezes up. I then have to CTL-ALT-DEL, and manually close the window. It usually does after about 3-4 times of hitting end process.

When I ignore, and move the message over, it takes a little bit, but it freezes all processes, erases everything on the desktop, freeze for a moment, close the windows, then resume.


How I got here:
I have a couple of registry cleaners I ran. (I wanted to clean up my computer, since it slowing down.) I did the smart thing, and set up restore points everytime I ran a process. Now that I am going through these issues, I tried "restoring" but I get a message telling me that it cannot restore to that point. I tried even earlier restore times, to no avail.

Extra credit bonus situation:
I am in the military, and am in a remote location in Afghanistan. The only access I have to internet is through their "shared" computers. I cannot connect my personal laptop to the net. So in essence, I cannot update anything I have.

What I am including here:
I have been reading a bit, and found that most times it is required that a HiJack This page be included, so I did.

Can you please help me? I cannot even watch movies off my hard drive, which is my only past time here.

Thanks ahead of time... I appreciate it.

 

:majorCan you give us a little more info on your system? XP or Vista ~ I just reinstalled Win XP Pro on a desktop and I am having much the same problem. Maybe they will be able to help us both. I have been to Iraq twice so I'm felling your pain about not being able to watch video's :major~ Kat the Rogue

 

Thanks for the quick responses! lol

I have XP. Don't know what else to put about my system.

Will work from the malware forums and download the scanners, to see what it comes up with.

Thanks again!

 

Ok, did the malware scan, and nothing noticeable showed up. Pretty much the only thing the scans came up with was this one ad ware cookie. Pretty clean! I have and will put up the logs in the malware thread, just to make sure, though.

Anyhow, just a little more info I noticed. This started happening possibly about a week or two before I posted my original message. And it happened after I ran a couple of registry cleaners.

I wiped out my Mcaffee, and instead installed the free AVG you guys have here. Also, I haven't tried booting up in safe mode, but will if you recommend me to. Finally, the problem seems to only happen when I open up folders containing movie files and pictures.

 

Well said and definitely a warning to be heeded. The amount of clients I get who have run registry cleaners and destroyed their system is amazing ... no registry cleaner is safe, you should only play with your registry if you REALLY know what you're doing with it.

Correct me if I'm wrong but as far as I know, the only way to restore your registry is to format and re-install. I know there are other programs that attempt to heal your registry, adding to it rather than removing it, but I've heard sometimes they do more harm than good.

I think you'd be best off backing up all of your personal files and running a clean, fresh install. Its what I do for clients machines and they are always extremely satisfied after wards because of the big jump in speed they get because of the fresh OS.

 

Windows is an expert in the Windows registry. So why not let the expert take care of it? Let Windows clean the Windows registry. It free for all and it's a part of an online scanner. Windows knows best! Here - go for a full scan. There's a separate link in there for Vista users: http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm

Unlike what some people think Microsoft do not warn against registry cleaners in general. They have one inside the OneCare that they sell and one inside that free online scanner. But apart from their own registry cleaner only CCleaner's is good enough.

The rest really can't be recommended.

 

Thanks a lot, didn't know there was an AV removal tool. While I was doing the scans I noticed some Norton stuff still on my computer, after I thought I had taken it all off. I hope this at least takes all of the McAfee products off my laptop.

As for the registry cleaner, I know better now. It sucks I cannot get my computer online in order to have Windows scan my registry. Is there any other way to have my registry looked at?

 

There's also an official Norton removal tool: http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

 

Thanks a lot cordialis, I am going to use the tool, although I know this probably isn't whats screwing with my system.

 

No? Residue of anti-malware programs can screw up a lot of things...

 

Also: you need to run chkdsk and scannow.

chkdsk: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265/en-us
scannow: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310747/en-us

 

used the mcafee removal tool, will use the norton one tonight. Also ran the checkdisc, and no problems were found. Having problems running the scan now. Read the article, but unsure how to run it. Can you explain how to use it in laymans terms? lol. thanks.

 

About scannow: put the Windows CD in. If a window opens click the red x in the upper right corner to close it. Go to Start -> Run -> Write: sfc /scannow. The space after the c must be there. Let it run. The little progress bar just disappears when it's done.

This article is a fine one: http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

 

ahhh, that would be the problem. I don't have the CD. Crap.

 

Run it anyway. It sometimes work all the same.