Major system problem!

I'm having a very serious problem with my computer, at least i think it's very serious because i have never seen anything like this before. When i start my computer up everything seems fine until i try to log in (I'm running Windows XP). Once i enter in my password and it starts loading my desktop background loads and i immediately get an error report that Windows Explorer has failed! When i open up Windows Task Manager and try to see if there are any foreign processes running there are none, just the basic start-up utilities and my antivirus. When i try to start msconfig.exe to try and see if anything is starting up before i can see it it gives me an error of, "---------------------------
msconfig.exe
---------------------------
Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------".

I found that to be very strange but what i found even worse was that when i tried to start explorer.exe it gives me the same exact error. The only way i can get to anything is if i run internet explorer from task manager by typing in a web URL. IE picks up on it and i can get online and from there i use the address bar to access different programs that i need or want to use. I tried going to C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe, but when i try to execute it i get error report just like on start-up. So please if anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated!

EDIT: I have tried starting up in safe mode but still will not work. I have even tried going to C:\Documents and Settings...\Desktop and try to get to the My Computer properties to attempt a system restore but i get the error report message when it tries to load.

 

Forgot to mention that this happened right after i installed the new Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 RC1

 

Sounds like you found your problem.
Hey, I don't mean to sound rude, but I really think it's just that simple. The entire GUI depends on EXPLORER.EXE for support, and I would certainly suspect that you have a failed installation or a major conflict resulting from the installation. You could try several different things, but a SysRestore would almost certainly be the simplest and the most reliable solution, since an automatic Restore point would have been generated at the time of the IE7 install. Frankly, it's the FIRST solution I would attempt compared to the alternatives....

 

I figured the solution may be simple, it's just it may be hard to complete certain solutions. Any way you could help me get to the System Restore? I've tried lots of different ways of trying to get to it, but i can't...any suggestions?

 

Anyway is one word stvcerra, . But you could try to get into Safe Mode and then try to use System Restore, uninstall IE7RC1 or go into 'msconfig.exe'. When the Windows loadup splash is on the screen hold F8 or F9 (I don't remember which), to get into the Boot menu, go to Safe Mode. This only loads up the essential computer processes so that you can trouble shoot with no problems (Hopefully ). Assuming that you didn't already know that.

 

Yep sorry already tried Safe Mode by pressing F8 on start-up. I got the same exact error as before. Do you think i should attempt to uninstall IE by just running the uninstall exe from explorer window? The only trouble I will run into is I don't know if i can get back on the internet because firefox doesn't launch unless i use IE to launch it


EDIT: And yes i tried running msconfig, i get the same error just like when i attempt to run explorer.exe

 

I would recommend (if possible) going onto a friend or family computer, burning the .exe for IE6 onto a disc, uninstall IE7RC1 and then install IE6 assuming that you can then get into Windows Explorer.

 

Ok i'll give that a try. I have an old computer that should still have IE6 on it that my sister uses. Do you, or anyone else viewing, know of any other ways to get to System Restore? I've tried everything i know of to and failed each time. I know if i can just get to it i'll be able to get it back to normal again (hopefully). It's just the challenge of finding a way to get to it

 

Nope, I've tried getting that to work. All the shortcut keys with the Windows key don't work. The only way to get the Run window open is through task manager

 

You should be able to go into Task Manager and just goto File, new task and locate the system restore .exe file (I don't know what it is called) and then run it and it should work.

OR

You can instead jsut run the uninstall.exe for IE7RC1

 

That's the problem I'm having...locating the System Restore exe. I don't know where to look at all. Most of the exe files in C:\WINDOWS will not run for me so if it's in there I'll have to mose definitely uninstall IE7 and hope it works. Before i try that I'm probably going to get back-up files of anything thats important onto a few DVD-R's just incase.

 

Well after staying up half the night just trying to figure out what i could do i finally remembered that the System Restore exe file is in C:\WINDOWS\system32\Restore i don't remember the exact file name but it is located there. After i got it to load i thought all my problems were over. System Restore window opened, i picked a point 1 week before i upgraded IE just to make sure that it would be gone. After it restarted and loaded my computer, it did nothing. I got so fed up with it i just found that the Add/Remove Program run file is appwiz.cpl located in C:\WINDOWS\system32. For anyone with this problem, open task manager, click File then New Task (Run), in the box type in http://yahoo.com and that should launch internet explorer 7 rc1. After it launches simply type in the address bar, C:\WINDOWS\system32\appwiz.cpl and press enter. IE will display a "Run" or "Save" dialog box. Make sure you click RUN and not save, after that it will bring up another box and just hit "yes" or "ok" i don't remember which one it is. Add/Remove programs will launch and look for Windows Internet Explorer and click Change/Remove. When the uninstall is done restart your computer and it will run fine afterwards. I hope this helps anyone that had this problem like i did, i know how much of a hassle it is