Windows explorer has stopped working, is shutting down

Wow.
This was my worst experience EVER with a computer. These errors popped up
every 2 second for two days....I contacted Microsoft (not their fault),
McAfee (not their fault) and Dell (not their fault).
We ran scan after scan and nothing worked. We rebooted over and over and
still nothing. Every TWO seconds. It was crazy.
Finally, this afternoon we were brave and restored the computer to last
week. But, this is no guarantee that this won't happen again.
Any suggestions as to why this happened, what we might do to prevent it and
why won't anyone take any responsiblity for this?
Is there a way to complain to Microsoft directly - I know this won't help
but I would feel better at least. Our computer was basically dead as this
virus or Vista glitch basically took over.
Any advice? or has this happened to anyone else? Lots of google postings
out there.
thanks,
robynnn

This is supposed to be a Vista feedback link...

http://feedback.windowsvista.microso...p_vista_master


"Robynnn" <Robynnn@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6D6CBB11-8510-484D-9FF8-F14BF10BCB71@microsoft.com...
> Wow.
> This was my worst experience EVER with a computer. These errors popped up
> every 2 second for two days....I contacted Microsoft (not their fault),
> McAfee (not their fault) and Dell (not their fault).
> We ran scan after scan and nothing worked. We rebooted over and over and
> still nothing. Every TWO seconds. It was crazy.
> Finally, this afternoon we were brave and restored the computer to last
> week. But, this is no guarantee that this won't happen again.
> Any suggestions as to why this happened, what we might do to prevent it
> and
> why won't anyone take any responsiblity for this?
> Is there a way to complain to Microsoft directly - I know this won't help
> but I would feel better at least. Our computer was basically dead as this
> virus or Vista glitch basically took over.
> Any advice? or has this happened to anyone else? Lots of google postings
> out there.
> thanks,
> robynnn
>

Hi Robynnn--

There could be a number of reasons why explorer shuts down, and you might
get a clue by going to event viewer (type "eventvwr.msc" without quotes in
your run box (windows key +R brings it up). In the left panel, Expand
Windows Logs>Click on Application and scroll up and down looking for red x's
and then on System.

You may get an error that gives you a clue and this is a place worth looking
for errors--a diary of sorts when problems happen, althought it's not
perfect and some of them may be in code.

If I wanted to fix a persistent explorer crash, I'd first run SFC, then you
can try system restore or a startup repair, which does not require a no boot
Vista to fix significant problems with Vista components:

A list of ways to repair Vista is here:

SFC or System File Checker is a bit like the spare tire in your car or a
backup battery I suppose. In Vista of course, they have changed it somewhat
and come up with a new name--Redmond stands for name it something different
twice a year and now it's part of WRP or Windows Resource Protection. It
scans protected resources including thousands of files, libraries, critical
folders, and essential registry keys, and it replaces those that are
corrupted with intact ones. It fixes a lot of problems in Windows XP, OE,
Windows Vista, Win Mail, IE6, and on Vista or if it is installed on XP, IE7.
It protects these things from changes by any source including
administrators, by keeping a spare of most of them.


How to Run SFC:

Type "cmd" into the Search box above the Start Button>and when cmd comes up
at the top of the Start menu>right click cmd and click "run as Admin" and
when the cmd prompt comes up at the cmd prompt type "sfc /scannow" no quotes
and let it run. This may fix things quite a bit. It replaces corrupt files
with intact ones, if you're not familiar with it.

If no help from SFC, you can try a restore point to before this happened or
you try the steps below if you have a Vista DVD:

______________

You can try a restore point to before this happened or you try the steps
below if you have a Vista DVD:

Pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a generic
way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.

Startup Repair will look like this when you put in the Vista DVD:

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content...r-computer.png

You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
also sometimes effective):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm


I'm going to give you a bunch of links and most of them you won't have to
use, but they are alternative ways to fix Vista.

Right now I want you to put in the DVD and restart. It will automatically
take you to this on your screen:

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content...r-computer.png

That will allow you to go to the Vista setup that has a Repair link on the
lower left corner>click it and then you'll see a gray backgrounded list and
I want you to click Startup Repair from it and follow the directions.

The gray screen after you click the first link in the above pic will look
like this:

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winv...ir/Image17.gif

Click Startup Repair, the link at the top and after it scans>click OK and
let it try to repair Vista. It will tell you if it does, and if not

This should work, but if not,then you can follow the alternative ways to fix
this including booting into Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key and using System
Restore.

Directions and links for alternative ways to fix this are below, but I hope
you won't need them:

If you have any questions on getting the Startup Repair done, just post
them.

If you have a Vista DVD try Startup Repair. If that doesn't work, try
SafeMode>System Restore from the Recovery Environment, and you always have
the F8 advanced options ( five of them including Last Known Good
Configuration) and a repair install (with the DVD) as well.

In addition you can use the Bootsect tool to manually repair the boot sector
by accessing the command prompt from the DVD or from F8 and typing at the
prompt:

****Ten Methods to Repair BSOD No Boots or Serious Problems in Windows
Vista****

***Startup Repair and System Restore from the Win Recovery Environment on
the DVD***

Although MSFT's Official Party Line as expressed by the Win RE team is that
Startup Repair is only to fix startups, like a lot of features rtm'd that
have broader application, so does Startup Repair. I have used it many times
to fix major systemic problems in Vista when it would still boot
successfully, and am talking with them to try to find out why they seem to
bill it as only fixing startup problems.

You can run Startup Repair by putting your Vista DVD in after theanguage
screen in setup. You can also run System Restore from the same
location.

You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
also sometimes effective):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

Note The computer must be configured to start from a CD or from a DVD. For
information about how to configure the computer to start from a CD or from a
DVD, see the information that came with the computer.
2. Restart the computer. To do this, click Start, click the arrow next to
the Lock button, and then click Restart.

This usually means that you enter bios setup by whatever key or keys
(sometimes there is more than one key that will do it for your model--go to
pc manufacturer site) and configure CD to be first in the boot order (this
will allow you to boot from the Vista DVD as well):

See for ref:
Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS (applies to Vista as well)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

Boot Order in Bios (Set Boot from HD 1st)
http://www.short-media.com/images/mm...ios/bios03.jpg

Note If you cannot restart the computer by using this method, use the power
button to turn off the computer. Then, turn the computer back on.

3. Set your language preference, and then click Next.

Note In most cases, the startup repair process starts automatically, and you
do not have the option to select it in the System Recovery Options menu.

4. Click Repair your computer.

5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click the operating system
that you want to repair, and then click Next.

6. In the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair to start the
repair process.

7. When the repair process is complete, click Finish.

Additional References for Startup Repair With Screenshots:

How to Use Startup Repair:

***Accessing Windows RE (Repair Environment):***

1) Insert Media into PC (the DVD you burned)

2) ***You will see on the Vista logo setup screen after lang. options in the
lower left corner, a link called "System Recovery Options."***

Screenshot: System Recovery Options (Lower Left Link)
http://blogs.itecn.net/photos/liuhui...4/500x375.aspx

Screenshot: (Click first option "Startup Repair"
http://www.leedesmond.com/images/img...SysRecOpt2.bmp

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

3) Select your OS for repair.

4) Its been my experience that you can see some causes of the crash from
theWin RE feature:

You'll have a choice there of using:

1) Startup Repair
2) System Restore
3) Complete PC Restore
___________________

In addition you can use the Bootsect tool to manually repair the boot sector
by accessing the command prompt from the DVD or from F8 and typing at the
prompt:

Bootsect.exe is available from the \Boot\folder of the Windows Vista DVD and
can be run from within System Recovery or Windows XP on a dual boot.


1. Use Bootsect.exe to restore the Windows Vista MBR and the boot code that
transfers control to the Windows Boot Manager program. To do this, type the
following command at a command prompt: Drive:\boot\Bootsect.exe /NT60 All

In this command, Drive is the drive where the Windows Vista installation
media is located.

Note The boot folder for this step is on the DVD drive.
2. Use Bcdedit.exe to manually create an entry in the BCD Boot.ini file for
the earlier version of the Windows operating system. To do this, type the
following commands at a command prompt.

Note In these commands, Drive is the drive where Windows Vista is
installed. . Drive:\Windows\system32\Bcdedit /create {ntldr} -d "Description
for earlier Windows version"

Note In this command, Description for earlier Windows version can be any
text that you want. For example, Description for earlier Windows version can
be "Windows XP" or "Windows Server 2003".
.. Drive:\Windows\system32\Bcdedit /set {ntldr} device partition=x:

Note In this command, x: is the drive letter for the active partition.
.. Drive:\Windows\system32\Bcdedit /set {ntldr} path \ntldr
.. Drive:\Windows\system32\Bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} -addlast

3. Restart the computer.
____________________________
******Using the BootRec.exe Tool

Using the System Recovery Tool from the Repair link on the DVD after the
language choice in the lower left hand corner you can select command prompt
and you have the following options:

Bootrec.exe (You can use this tool to recover Vista even when you do not
receive the error message that is the title of the 2nd linked MSKB below):

How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to
troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392/en-us

Error message when you start Windows Vista: "The Windows Boot Configuration
Data file is missing required information"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927391/en-us
_____________________________________________________________
***Using the F8 Environment or a Repair Install from the DVD:***

Pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a generic
way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.

See for ref:
Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS (Applies to Vista as well)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

Boot Order in Bios (Set Boot from HD 1st)
http://www.short-media.com/images/mm...ios/bios03.jpg

Repair Install (for XP or Vista)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ps/doug92.mspx

Repair Install (Method 2): (for XP or Vista)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/315341

***Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu)
by starting the PC and tapping F8 once per second when the firmware screen
with the pc manufacturer's name shows a few seconds after restarting***:

The F8 options in Vista are the same as XP, and the link for Safe Mode Boot
options is labled XP by MSFT but they are the same for Vista (they haven't
updated to add Vista to the title as they have with several MSKBs that apply
to both).

Again, pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a
generic way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.

You could also:

Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
Configuration


Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a
choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
Prompt.

These methods are outlined in

A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro.../faqsrwxp.mspx


System Restore can be run from the Win RE recovery environment from the same
link as Startup Repair, and sometimes it will work from one F8 safe mode
location or from the Win Recovery Environment when it won't work from other
locations.


How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304449


Repair Install: (This option has the best chance of succeeding and it
preserves everything in your OS--you do not lose anything with this option):

Make sure the DVD you have is a Vista DVD. Many OEMs will send you a
Recovery DVD and it may restore you to factory settings, but a high
percentage of the time it does not in my experience.

Pitfalls: If the DVD came from friend or relative or P2P, you may have
problems. P2P besides being illlegal in many countries including the U.S.
can be corrupt. If CD came from friend or relative, they may have given
you the CD to use but if product key is in use, MSFT is not going to accept
it for activation. Make sure you clean the CD carefully using proper
cleaning fluid and strokes that radiate from center like spokes on a wheel.

Again a repair install has the most likely chance to succeed in XP, (and can
work in Vista) but you need
to have a Vista DVD.

First, in order to do a Repair Install You must boot to the bios setup and
position booting from the "CD" first in the boot order--it probably will not
say DVD but might.

Booting to Bios Setup:

For 85% of PC's and all Dells you can tap the F2 key to reach bios setup.

How To Enable DVD/CD Rom Support (put CD boot first) in bios setup boot
order:

http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how..._support_i.htm

Screen Shot of bios setup boot order:
http://www.poy.net/proxy/bios2.jpg

Repair Install Does Not Lose Anything; you may need to try 2-3 times but
that's rare.

How To Repair Install (Applies to Vista as well as XP)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/3153...22120121120120

Screen Shot Repair Install
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winx...exfullpage.htm

Good luck,

CH




"Robynnn" <Robynnn@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6D6CBB11-8510-484D-9FF8-F14BF10BCB71@microsoft.com...
> Wow.
> This was my worst experience EVER with a computer. These errors popped up
> every 2 second for two days....I contacted Microsoft (not their fault),
> McAfee (not their fault) and Dell (not their fault).
> We ran scan after scan and nothing worked. We rebooted over and over and
> still nothing. Every TWO seconds. It was crazy.
> Finally, this afternoon we were brave and restored the computer to last
> week. But, this is no guarantee that this won't happen again.
> Any suggestions as to why this happened, what we might do to prevent it
> and
> why won't anyone take any responsiblity for this?
> Is there a way to complain to Microsoft directly - I know this won't help
> but I would feel better at least. Our computer was basically dead as this
> virus or Vista glitch basically took over.
> Any advice? or has this happened to anyone else? Lots of google postings
> out there.
> thanks,
> robynnn
>