Explorer Crashes

[Rosie]

Windows 98 system, Got Hi jacked or a virus but when I tried to uninstalled
weird programs from comp that had installed themslves and rebooted I get a
explorer error and end up with just the wallpaper on screen, no icons or
taskbar, Tried running a scanreg fix in dos it saids it fixed errors but when
windows loads still get the explorer error and just a blank desk top.....EVen
in safe mode I get explorer error and end up with just a wallpaper with no
icons...Any ideas on how I can fix this??

[Brian A.]

Scanreg /fix will not fix the problem. What you are thinking about would =
be scanreg /restore, which probably won't fix it either.

This may be slightly outdated or incomplete, perhaps Glee will be along =
with a better write-up.

Blank Desktop or Illegal Operations Error Message After You Install =
Internet Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=3Dkb;en-us;249191&Product=3D=
w98

Some have had trouble when it comes to Article #129605 at step #3. What =
you need to do is reinstall your version of IE to work out the missing =
files issue.
Look for the IE#setup.exe files in:
C:\Progra~1\Intern~1
or
C:\Windows\Window~1

To overinstall IE6:
First, close all via CTRL+ALT+DEL except Explorer (includes your AV =
program, Scheduled Tasks, Screensaver, and going offline). =
Start>Run>IE6Setup.exe.
Select Minimal - Custom, select all the parts you use (but not any you =
didn=E2=80=99t originally download) and overinstall. Should take about 2 =
minutes.
Reboot...the computer.

http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/answers.htm#preinstall

Once the above is completed ( or Glee's recommendation if/when he comes =
along ), then:
**It is very important to run the update for each program before running =
to be sure you have the latest definitions.** Run the programs in Safe =
Mode after assuring you have shut down all running tasks except explorer =
or systray.
Download/run Cool Web Shredder from: (last update v1.59.1, no longer =
being updated)
http://www.richardthelionhearted.com/~merijn/downloads.html
http://majorgeeks.com/downloads31.html

For Info on Cool Web Search:
http://www.richardthelionhearted.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Then download/install/run Ad-Aware to detect/rid of any other =
parasites/spyware that may be installed. It can be obtained free from:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
After installing Ad-Aware, open it and click on the ref update to get =
the latest up-to-date ref file, then run Ad-Aware and delete everything =
it finds.=20

And/or download/install/run:
Spybot - Search & Destroy:
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=3Den&page=3Ddownload=20
Run it at it's default settings until you learn an know more about it. =
Spybot S&D is more of an advanced users tool and changing from the =
default settings can be dangerous to the novice user. Items found in the =
default settings that are RED can usually be safely removed. If you are =
unsure of a found item, do not remove it and ask for help.=20

If you still have problems, download/run HijackThis from:
http://www.richardthelionhearted.com/~merijn/downloads.html
http://majorgeeks.com/downloads31.html

Do not remove anything with it until you get advice on what to remove, =
HJThis will list many apps that are needed along with the bad ones. =
Removing items listed hap-hazardly without knowing what they are =
can/will create a royal mess. Read the quick start here on how to create =
a log file that can be copied/pasted into a forum that can provide =
assistance on removal of unwanted pests.
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/#quick

Then post the logs to an appropriate forum where they specialize in =
spyware/hijacker removal. Please read any sticky notes for proper =
posting which are most commonly posted first at the top in each specific =
forum. Read any information under each forum category name for =
information on what that particular one is used for, look for the proper =
one that you post logs to.
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/

http://forum.aumha.org/

After running the above and assuring you have a clean machine:
It=E2=80=99s also a good idea to have a HOSTS file to block bad sites, =
scroll to HOSTS File Manager here:
http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Software.htm

Another good app is SpywareBlaster which stops the badboys before they =
even get a chance to install:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

--=20

Brian A.

Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Rosie" > wrote in message =
...
> Windows 98 system, Got Hi jacked or a virus but when I tried to =
uninstalled=20
> weird programs from comp that had installed themslves and rebooted I =
get a=20
> explorer error and end up with just the wallpaper on screen, no icons =
or=20
> taskbar, Tried running a scanreg fix in dos it saids it fixed errors =
but when=20
> windows loads still get the explorer error and just a blank desk =
top.....EVen=20
> in safe mode I get explorer error and end up with just a wallpaper =
with no=20
> icons...Any ideas on how I can fix this??

[Troll]

Brian
We tried the scanreg/restore and it fixed it, System came back up before all
the errors happen and computer is running great now, Thx for your help,
thought we going to have to re-installing OS but not now
"Rosie" wrote:

> Windows 98 system, Got Hi jacked or a virus but when I tried to uninstalled
> weird programs from comp that had installed themslves and rebooted I get a
> explorer error and end up with just the wallpaper on screen, no icons or
> taskbar, Tried running a scanreg fix in dos it saids it fixed errors but when
> windows loads still get the explorer error and just a blank desk top.....EVen
> in safe mode I get explorer error and end up with just a wallpaper with no
> icons...Any ideas on how I can fix this??

[glee]

Brian has pretty well covered the possible cause and suggested resolution. Here's
my standard reply to this problem:

Follow the procedures here:
Blank Desktop or Illegal Operations Error Message After You Install Internet
Explorer:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=kb;en-us;249191

If those procedures do not help, have a look here...this procedure might be all you
need:
Recovering From a Failed Internet Explorer Upgrade in Windows 98:
http://www.cs.bsu.edu/~gjjones/administrivia/stories/2003/03/21/recoveringFromAFailedInternetExplorerUpgradeInWind ows98.html
or
http://tinyurl.com/r5ba

Especially this section at the end:

"If you still have boot problems after you reboot, you should use the command prompt
to edit the c:\windows\system.ini file. On the command line type edit
c:\windows\system.ini.

"Once it is open, change the line shell=explorer.exe to shell=progman.exe. What you
are doing here is changing the default shell (that is having problems) from the
Windows Explorer to the old Windows Program Manager shell.

"Reboot Windows. It should now successfully boot with no errors into an empty
Program Manager shell. Use the File | Run | Browse drop down menu selection to
browse to c:\program files\internet explorer and launch ie5setup.exe or ie6setup.exe
(depending on what is there). Do a custom install and check all the Bold faced
options. When the setup program alerts you that these files are already installed,
tell it to reinstall all of the files.

"When the Internet Explorer Setup program is done and reboots, hit the F8 key to
bring up a Boot Menu. Choose Command Prompt and boot to the command prompt. Once
there, type edit c:\windows\system.ini and, once it is open, change the line
shell=progman.exe back to shell=explorer.exe. Save and exit the file. You have now
set the shell back to the original value."
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Rosie" > wrote in message
...
> Windows 98 system, Got Hi jacked or a virus but when I tried to uninstalled
> weird programs from comp that had installed themslves and rebooted I get a
> explorer error and end up with just the wallpaper on screen, no icons or
> taskbar, Tried running a scanreg fix in dos it saids it fixed errors but when
> windows loads still get the explorer error and just a blank desk top.....EVen
> in safe mode I get explorer error and end up with just a wallpaper with no
> icons...Any ideas on how I can fix this??