[help] Problems with Windows Explorer

I recently restarted my computer and upon restarting, explorer did not load. I tried to load it up by pressing control alt delete, but this didn't work either, it just came up for a second and then flickered and dissapeared. Any ideas as to how to fix this? My computer won't show the taskbar/start menu which is very annoying and I've blogged around for solutions, but I haven't found any that seem to pertain to my exact situation short of creating a new account which I wouldn't want to do.

Here's what Hijackthis brings up:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1

Scan saved at 4:30:23 PM, on 1/16/2006

Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)

MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:

C:WINDOWSSystem32smss.exe

C:WINDOWSsystem32winlogon.exe

C:WINDOWSsystem32services.exe

C:WINDOWSsystem32lsass.exe

C:WINDOWSsystem32svchost.exe

C:WINDOWSSystem32svchost.exe

C:WINDOWSsystem32spoolsv.exe

C:PROGRA~1GrisoftAVGFRE~1avgamsvr.exe

C:PROGRA~1GrisoftAVGFRE~1avgupsvc.exe

C:WINDOWSSystem32nvsvc32.exe

C:WINDOWSSystem32svchost.exe

C:Program FilesiTunesiTunes.exe

C:Program FilesiPodbiniPodService.exe

C:Program FilesMozilla Firefoxfirefox.exe

C:WINDOWSsystem32ctfmon.exe

C:Documents and SettingsBenDesktopHijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain,Start Page = http://www.aimtoday.com

R0 - HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbar,LinksFolderName =

O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:Program FilesAdobeAcrobat 5.0ReaderActiveXAcroIEHelper.ocx

O3 - Toolbar: StylerToolBar - {D2F8F919-690B-4EA2-9FA7-A203D1E04F75} - C:Program FilesStylerTBStylerTB.dll

O4 - HKLM..Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:Program FilesiTunesiTunesHelper.exe"

O4 - HKLM..Run: [KernelFaultCheck] %systemroot%system32dumprep 0 -k

O4 - HKLM..Run: [AVG7_CC] C:PROGRA~1GrisoftAVGFRE~1avgcc.exe /STARTUP

O4 - HKLM..Run: [system Files Updater] C:WINDOWSFlyakiteOSXSystem Files Updater.exe /S

O4 - HKLM..Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:WINDOWSsystem32NvCpl.dll,NvStartup

O4 - HKCU..Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:WINDOWSsystem32ctfmon.exe

O4 - HKCU..Run: [AVEDESK] "C:Documents and SettingsBenDesktopAvedeskAVEDESK.EXE"

O4 - Startup: Locate32 Autorun.lnk = ?

O4 - Startup: RK Launcher.lnk = ?

O4 - Startup: Updtdb32 Autorun.lnk = C:Program FilesLocateUpdtdb32.exe

O8 - Extra context menu item: Add to EverNote - res://C:Program FilesEverNoteEverNoteenbar.dll/2000

O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://c:program filesgoogleGoogleToolbar2.dll/cmcache.html

O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:PROGRA~1MICROS~2OFFICE11EXCEL.EXE/3000

O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:Program FilesJavajre1.5.0binnpjpi150.dll

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:Program FilesJavajre1.5.0binnpjpi150.dll

O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:PROGRA~1MICROS~2OFFICE11REFIEBAR.DLL

O9 - Extra button: Add to EverNote - {A5ABA0BB-F195-40d8-A5E9-0801153E6597} - C:Program FilesEverNoteEverNoteenbar.dll

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Add to EverNote - {A5ABA0BB-F195-40d8-A5E9-0801153E6597} - C:Program FilesEverNoteEverNoteenbar.dll

O16 - DPF: {15AD6789-CDB4-47E1-A9DA-992EE8E6BAD6} - http://static.windupdates.com/cab/WebsiteA.../bridge-c18.cab

O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204

O16 - DPF: {4ED9DDF0-7479-4BBE-9335-5A1EDB1D8A21} - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/shared/m...01/mcinsctl.cab

O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v5co...b?1106703712423

O16 - DPF: {BCC0FF27-31D9-4614-A68E-C18E1ADA4389} - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/shared/m...,26/mcgdmgr.cab

O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:PROGRA~1GrisoftAVGFRE~1avgamsvr.exe

O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:PROGRA~1GrisoftAVGFRE~1avgupsvc.exe

O23 - Service: Diskeeper - Executive Software International, Inc. - C:Program FilesExecutive SoftwareDiskeeperDkService.exe

O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:Program FilesCommon FilesInstallShieldDriver11Intel 32IDriverT.exe

O23 - Service: iPodService - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:Program FilesiPodbiniPodService.exe

O23 - Service: Macromedia Licensing Service - Unknown owner - C:Program FilesCommon FilesMacromedia SharedServiceMacromedia Licensing.exe

O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:WINDOWSSystem32nvsvc32.exe

O23 - Service: Symantec Network Drivers Service (SNDSrvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:Program FilesCommon FilesSymantec SharedSNDSrvc.exe

O23 - Service: TuneUp WinStyler Theme Service (TUWinStylerThemeSvc) - TuneUp Software GmbH - C:Program FilesTuneUp Utilities 2006WinStylerThemeSvc.exe

#350130

Press the Windows Key + R. type explorer.exe and hit enter. See if that works. Some funky things have happened to me and this sometimes fixes it.

#350148

When I pressed windows R I just hear the exclamation sound... thanks, but it doesn't help... any other ideas? I'm so glad I'm getting a mac for college, no more having to deal with stuff like this lol.

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The problem appears to be getting worse ... I now can't access the internet, even though my router says I'm connected through the DHCP table and the other computers on the network are working fine. This may be unrelated, but it seems unlikely.

#350155

Hiding the Task Manager is usually indicative of a virus. Restart in Safe Mode and Scan for Viruses. Also once you restart, open up Task Manager and see if anything there looks suspicious.

-NC

#350216

I ran AVG in safe mode and it came up with nothing....

Tasks are:

-smss.exe

-xrss.exe

-winlogin.exe

-lssas.exe

-svchost.exe (appears 3 times)

-avgwb.dat

-taskmgr.exe

#350220

have u fixed the problem yet?

#351247

I ran AVG in safe mode and it came up with nothing....

Use the NOD32 trial. AVG really isn't that great a scanner.

#351493

I just reinstalled windows, and just had to reinistall a few programs...just copied my profile and everying onto a new account. Took a few hours, but back to normal...arghhh I hate windows sometimes.

#351533

don't we all !

#351595