Vista - Windows Explorer Stopped Working, Internet Explorer Stopped Working, what DOES work?

Hey, Fellas, I'm back.
Lately when I've tried looking at different folders and files on my hard drives I keep getting "Windows Explorer has stopped working and will restart." It's driving me nuts, I can barely do anything.
Also, same thing with Internet Explorer...I'm getting real sick of Vista's shoddiness..

Hi,
Have a look at the events log and make a virus scan too.

The virus scan came back clean (no flags). I took a look at the event viewer and here's what it says (the first 3 blocks are Windows Explorer errors and the last block is IE):

Faulting application explorer.exe, version 6.0.6001.18000, time stamp 0x479194ae, faulting module ntdll.dll, version 6.0.6001.18000, time stamp 0x4791a797, exception code 0x80000003, fault offset 0x00000000000da600, process id 0xad4, application start time 0x01c8ef8895b4bffc.

Faulting application Explorer.EXE, version 6.0.6001.18000, time stamp 0x479194ae, faulting module ntdll.dll, version 6.0.6001.18000, time stamp 0x4791a797, exception code 0x80000003, fault offset 0x00000000000da600, process id 0xad0, application start time 0x01c8ef85daf395dc.

Faulting application Explorer.EXE, version 6.0.6001.18000, time stamp 0x479194ae, faulting module ntdll.dll, version 6.0.6001.18000, time stamp 0x4791a797, exception code 0x80000003, fault offset 0x00000000000da600, process id 0xdc4, application start time 0x01c8ef885f17c32c.


Faulting application iexplore.exe, version 7.0.6001.18000, time stamp 0x4791889a, faulting module mshtml.dll, version 7.0.6001.18000, time stamp 0x4791941c, exception code 0x80000003, fault offset 0x00445b38, process id 0xf94, application start time 0x01c8ef85f611348c.

Any ideas?

Hmmmm, it should come from an IE7 addon / toolbar.
In IE7, go in Tools/Manage addons and disable the addons you have (one by one to find the addon which makes troubles)
Sometimes could come also from Omnipage if installed with a printer.
Could come also if the protected mode is activated in IE7 security internet options.

Thanks for your help, but I haven't installed ANY addons or plugins. That's how it came. I'm using the Microsoft Technet Vista Ultimate SP1 checked/debug build. I've had so many problems with it...

Did you try running sfc /Scannow at a command prompt? It will check the integrety of your system files and repair corrupt ones if found.

All the same, did you check and try to perform the reset? You may have gotten something installed without realizing it....

Actually, I think the root of 95% of my problems were caused by the .iso I got from Microsoft Technet. I used the Vista Ultimate w/SP1 Checked/Debug build from March 2008.

Last week I decided to try my friends copy of Vista Ultimate and use my product key, and so far Windows Update, Windows Media Center, Windows Defender, Dreamscenes, and everything else I was having problems with is now working. I haven't really used IE since the fresh installation, but hopefully that's mostly fixed, too.

I had been working with Support from Microsoft and I told them the situation, so Microsoft is aware (or should be) that their .iso they have posted on their Technet website is problematic.

Thanks for all your support!

Don't be sure they they know - they'll just as easily chalk it up to a bad disc / bad download.

Point them to threads here from you and the other one that you replied to where another user has the same issue.

I have the exact same problem and it looks like we have the same build...

those 0x80000003 codes are manual breakpoints put in place and I'm wondering if they weren't taken out. Looks like I need a find a friend with a Retail copy. I got my off of Technet also.