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

Hi,

I was able to remove an older version of Ad Aware, but I have a newer version that I wasn't able to remove using the add/remove button. Also, I don't see an uninstall file in the Lavasoft folder. Other than that, as I mentioned previously, I've removed all of the other apps, except for these 4 protection apps.

AVG Free Antivirus
Spybot
ZoneAlarm

(Ad-Aware) - I want to remove it, but it's being a bit stubborn.
 
After removing those apps, and rebooting, I haven't been able to get back into Safe Mode (yet). I hope I can, but for now it's only loading in normal mode, which only has the Task bar working.

I'll check back with you shortly, as I try to get Safe Mode to boot.
 
Hi,

What error do you get? Have you tried last known good configuration boot option?
 
It wasn't an error message per say, but rather it would just hang and not load. Here is the good and bad news. It seems to be booting to Safe mode again, but a few days ago when changing some settings, I accidentally triggered Windows - Registration Warning. It said, I had 3 days to register, which was by midnight last night. But it will only work in Normal Mode, according to MS. And normal doesn't work on my system, as you know.

So for the moment I'm looked out of my Windows (that I have bought and paid for, thanks Microsoft!)
 
Hi,

What happens if you boot into normal mode, kill explorer.exe thru task manager and then restart it from task manager by clicking File --> New Task (run) and then browsing to c:\windows\explorer.exe?

You have to sort out that activation issue with Microsoft.
 
Hi,

When I do that it basically doesn't do anything. Meaning it will reload explorer partially into memory, but it doesn't open up or anything.

At the moment, due to this dumb Microsoft activation issue, which I need to sort out, I'm not able to run Task Manager. I can only get the pop-up activation window from Microsoft, but it is completely blank (just a white box), so I'm not able to activate it. I'm going to try and contact Microsoft today and see if I can get this activation issue resolved. Then I will continue to try your recommendation. Thanks.
 
To make a long story short...I spent 1/2 the day with Microsoft on the phone to try and get my "Genuine Advantage" activation resolved. They had me try a few different things and the end result created a "hardware driver error" message would appear during the booting process. Because of this, they told me the only thing I could due, was to do a "Parallel install" of XP Pro on the same C: drive, then copy all my files to a backup drive. They said the final step was to format my C: drive, then reinstall Windows.

I'm very disappointed and frustrated by this end result, because I feel like it's partially Microsoft's fault that this hardware issue has resulted from me following their advice and steps. Especially, after all the time and energy I've already spent in trying to resolve my original problem.

I want to thank you very much for all your efforts and time! At this point, I don't know if there is a lot more that can be done to fix the original install.

I will leave you with this message. At the present, I have two boot options on my computer when I start it up. It will boot to the original files on the C: drive which has the (Microsoft registration message - Genuine Advantage Registration), which prevents me from booting into Normal mode and I think might prevent me from booting into Safe Mode, as well. Or I can boot into the newly installed XP Pro, which is on the same drive with access to all my files. So, I could potentially run any programs to try and fix them.

From what I can see, it seems that my only "real" option at this point is to do a full new install and waste another week or two of reinstalling all my applications.

Please advise or give your thoughts on the situation.

Thank You.
 
Hi,

My opinion would probably be to backup stuff like pictures, music and videos and then do a reformat. Yes, reinstalling software takes time but an attempt to survive the situation otherwise takes much time too, maybe even more and still you may end up with reformat option.

To avoid similar thing happen it's good to have hard drive image created (after reformat) that has commonly used programs already installed. Acronis and Paragon both have handy programs available for doing this. They cost some money but are worth it.
 
Thank You!

Thanks for all your help and trying to get my system back to normal. I really appreciate it!

Yes, I agree with you. I've decided to cut my losses and start over with a full reformat. I'm currently backing up my important data that is on my C drive.

You mentioned two programs for copying my system and I was wondering how they stack up against "Ghost"? I've read that some "Disk Imaging" programs run inside of Windows, but as a result they don't copy some of the "locked" Windows files.

If you had to pick only one for yourself to use, what would be "The Best" or your favorite one out there? I need it to work with XP Pro, but it would be good if it also worked with Windows 7. I'm mainly looking for something that "really" works, that I could make a mirror image on a different size hard drive and then hook that one up to my system and it would boot up with everything working and in tact.

Thanks.
 
You're welcome :)

Do you mean Norton Ghost? Both my recommendations should do their job as well or better.

I use Paragon Drive Backup myself on Win7.
 
Since this issue appears to be resolved ... this Topic has been closed.

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