Windows Explorer (i.e. File Manager) and the Start Menu Button are not working...

E

eman11

New member
Windows Explorer (File Manager) and the Start Menu Button are not working. Most of the time, none of my short-cuts or icons appear either. Only the background custom wallpaper bitmap image. It looks like a blank screen other than the image.

Windows Explorer and the Start Menu Button are not working, except in "Safe Mode".
I'm not able to open "Windows Explorer" (the Windows File Manager) to save and load my files.

I can run some tasks from [cntr + alt + del] using "Task Manager", but it's very limited. Also, "Explorer.exe" is running upon boot up in task manager, but each time only part of it loads into memory. Therefore, I either get just my background wallpaper with "no icons", no start button, and no "Quicklaunch" icons. Other times, I will get the upper icons, but no Quicklaunch icons. Even when I can see the "Start" button on the bottom left, I'm not able to click and run it. I usually just get an hourglass, when I move my mouse into the "Task Bar" area at the bottom of the screen.

All of the icons, Star button menu, etc. work when I'm in "Safe Mode". Windows explorer works, as well, in Safe Mode. One other piece of information. I've tried to go back using "System Restore" (in Safe Mode) and it will run through the entire process showing a progress bar complete, then it will shut down and start to reboot. But it never seems to actually go back to my restore point, in other words the "System Restore" doesn't take. I usually have to press the Reset button on my computer and then choose F8 for "Safe Mode" again. I'm must have tried to do a "System Restore" about 30 times, over the last few days. Arrrrrhhh! I think if it worked, it would likely resolve my issue.

I've been struggling with this issue for over the last week and would really appreciate any help to resolve it.
Thanks! http://forums.spybot.info/images/smilies/Snorkle.gif

By the way, I have a 1.61mb "GMER" Text file, but I'm unable to upload it to this forum, so if it is helpful, please let me know where and how I should send it. I also have a DDS "Attach.txt" file, as well.

Thank You.
 
Hi,

Please archive those into zip files and see if you're able to attach the logs that way.

I need to see:
-GMER log
-dds.txt
-attach.txt
 
Requested files uploaded in zipped format

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. Here are the requested files:
-GMER log
-dds.txt
-attach.txt

I had to split the GMER into two parts and then zip each to make it small enough to upload.

Thank You,
Eman
 
Please visit this webpage for download links, and instructions for running ComboFix tool:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofix/how-to-use-combofix

Please ensure you read this guide carefully and install the Recovery Console first.

The Windows Recovery Console will allow you to boot up into a special recovery (repair) mode. This allows us to more easily help you should your computer have a problem after an attempted removal of malware. It is a simple procedure that will only take a few moments of your time.

Once installed, you should see a blue screen prompt that says:

The Recovery Console was successfully installed.

Please continue as follows:

  1. Close/disable all anti virus and anti malware programs so they do not interfere with the running of ComboFix, link
    Remember to re-enable them afterwards.

  2. Click Yes to allow ComboFix to continue scanning for malware.

When the tool is finished, it will produce a report for you.

Please include the following reports for further review, and so we may continue cleansing the system:

C:\ComboFix.txt
New dds.txt log.

A word of warning: Neither I nor sUBs are responsible for any damage you may have caused your machine by running ComboFix. This tool is not a toy and not for everyday use.
 
Hi Blade,

Thanks for your recommendations. I downloaded and installed the combo fix, as you recommended. Unfortunately, due to the fact that I can't connect to the Internet via Internet Explorer, nor due Windows Updates, because of this. This problem also prevented me from being able to install the "Recovery Console", because everytime it tries to connect to Microsoft for updates, it says there is no connection. Please note that I have a high speed cable modem and that my "Opera" browser works fine (connects to the internet), but just not IE. I'm currently on IE 7. I'm unable to uninstall IE 7, which means that I can't temporarily install an earlier v6, nor reinstall v7, nor will allow me to install version 8.

I have my original OEM XP Professional CDROM, which is what I was trying to use for a manual "Recovery Console" install, but it's always the same issues with it not being able to connect to Microsoft. Please advise.

Should I run the Combo Fix anyway and when it says, "Do you want to continue to install Windows XP Pro", allow it to continue? I'm hesistent, as I don't want to wipe out my OS accidentally in the process.

Here are my system's limits. I need to boot and use Windows Safemode for any of these things I do. While in Safemode, I'm not able to access Microsoft's site for update, except through Opera, which Microsoft only wants you to use IE. I did manually try and download and update, via Opera, but it said it was an older update than my current (SP3 updates), which might be true.

Thanks...I'll check back to see your recommendations, later tonight. I want to get those reports to you ASAP, so I'll follow your instructions exactly.
 
Hi,

Your earlier logs didn't tell me do you have Windows XP pro or home edition and if it's English or some other language (click start->run->write winver and press enter, check header of opened window to see the version). Please let me know these things and I give you a link for recovery console file that you can use with ComboFix.
 
Microsoft (Windows XP (R) (Build 2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234:Service Pack 3

Hi,

The "write winver" didn't work, it tried to launch Word Pad and said my path was not valid.

However, I know that I have Windows XP Professional OEM (English is the language I have installed and I bought it in the USA, so I'm guessing "English" is the version) 2002, with Service Pack 3. It also says, 2002 XP Pro on my CD and when I click my "System" icon.

I can also tell you in "Safe Mode" it says, the following at the top of my screen, "Microsoft (Windows XP (R) (Build 2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234:Service Pack 3)", if that helps.

Thanks, I'll wait for your link for "recovery console" and try and get you the report soon, after I download it.
 
Hi,

Download the recovery console disk version here (suitable for xp pro sp2 or above). Transfer it to same location with ComboFix.exe on infected system. Then drag'n'drop recovery console file to ComboFix.
 
Combofix Log file uploaded

Hi,

I uploaded the "Combofix" log file, called "log.txt" to the attachments. I feel like we are getting very close to a solution.

Thanks,
E
 
Hi,

Are you able to boot in normal mode now? Please post fresh dds log taken there if possible.
 
I've always been able to boot to normal mode. However, in normal mode, I've never had my "Windows Explorer", no icons, no quicklink icons, no start button or start menu. Those are all the things that I'm trying to resolve.

As such, I can only run a few very limited things through the [cntl] + [alt] + [del] = task menu. The rest of my screen is blank, except for my wallpaper.

To answer your question, no I don't think I can run the DDS in "normal mode", usually if I can browse to a file through my task manager, it usually won't open and usually just hangs my system. I then have to create a new task manager to cancel the last action.

Ready for my next step... I have leave in a few minutes for work, but if it's something quick I can do right now, I can try right before I leave.

Do you think I need to run something to restore some of the original Windows files, or is that what the Recovery Console does?
 
New DDS and Attach text, run in Safe Mode

Here is a new DDS and Attach text, run in Safe Mode. If I'm able to later get those to run in "normal mode", I'll send an update. But for now, I don't think they will run in normal mode.

Thanks.
 
I've always been able to boot to normal mode. However, in normal mode, I've never had my "Windows Explorer", no icons, no quicklink icons, no start button or start menu.
Click to expand...
Have you tried to use normal mode after latest ComboFix run? What does "never" mean here? Sounds weird if those issues have always been there.
 
Have you tried to use normal mode after latest ComboFix run? What does "never" mean here? Sounds weird if those issues have always been there.

I shouldn't have used the word "never". I should have said, since the problems started 2 weeks ago, I haven't been able to run applications properly in normal mode.

What I meant, is that for these 2-3 weeks my computer hasn't been working right and therefore has these issues. But prior to these problems, all my icons, start menu and Windows explorer worked fine.

Additionally, what I meant is that I've been able to boot to normal mode, even with these issues, but I haven't been able run applications in "normal mode" to fix them.

So to run DDS, I can only do it if I boot to "safe mode". In normal mode, my computer won't let me browse to the file and run it.

I hope that clears up any confusion on the issue. In the meantime, is there something I can do to move forward to a fix? Thanks, again.
 
What is still unclear to me is if you have tried to run programs like DDS in normal mode after ComboFix run.
 
Yes, I have to run DSS 3 times after Combofix. No, it does not work. It just freezes before it even launches. I then have control/Alt/del a new task manager window to stop the "non responsive" application.
 
Hi,

You have lots of different security programs installed there. Those may be part reason for your issues with windows explorer. Also, I see a couple of file explorer "tweakers": ShellLess Explorer 1.24 & xplorer² lite. Were those installed before all the mess started?

You should uninstall some of that security software installed there.

Leave only one program of each of these categories installed:

a) antispyware
-a-squared Anti-Malware 3.5
-Ad-Aware
-Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4 (outdated, should be replaced with the latest 1.62)
-Spyware Doctor 3.5

b) antivirus
-avast! Antivirus
-AVG Free 8.5
-NOD32 antivirus system

c) firewall
-Online Armor 3.5
-ZoneAlarm

Uninstall these too:
-ESET Online Scanner
-ESET Online Scanner v3
-Norton Security Scan
-Panda ActiveScan 2.0
 
Hi,

I will try to remove those programs in "safe mode", as you have suggested, since I can't in normal mode.

To answer your question about ShellLess Explorer and xplorer lite. I orginally installed "ShellLess Explorer" awhile back maybe 9 months ago (before this mess started), when I was having some issues with Windows Explorer. Those issues, eventually sort of just worked themselves out over time and I continued to just use Windows Explorer, instead of ShellLess Explorer. I only installed xplorer² lite (after the mess), in the last 2 weeks, becuase I was trying to get "any" form of a Windows File Explorer working to be able to access my files. All 3 programs will not launch, nor run in normal mode. But they all work in SafeMode. I'll try and remove those 2 apps. I wish there was an easy way to remove/uninstall Windows Explorer and then just reinstall it. But I know Microsoft has it "embedded" into the OS.

My main apps, prior to the "mess" where mainly the following: AVG free, ZoneAlarm, and SpyBot. I had installed "avast! Antivirus" about 4-6 months ago (even though I know your suppose to only run one anti-virus, my bad), because my AVG had found a few viruses and I know that almost no antivirus program finds all of them. So, I wanted a 2nd opinion, so to speak, with Avast to try and find some more potential viruses.

I will go ahead and remove as many of the applications, as I can according to your notes.

Thanks.
 
Hi,

I've removed all of the programs you've listed, except for:
AVG Free Antivirus
Spybot
ZoneAlarm

Still the same custom wallpaper screen, when I boot to Normal Mode, but none of the other parts are working right.
 
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