Windows XP No Desktop Icons, Explorer.exe will not open, program closes it.

I agree with Callandor,

but if you aren't ready for a complete reinstall you can clean up first.

Update and run all AV & the four antispyware programs Callandor recommended.

Run defrag.

Run System File Checker to restore and repair all Windows files.
Start > Run > Type "sfc /scannow" without the quotes. There's a space before the /.
Click OK.
Have your Windows CD ready to insert if prompted when repair is necessary.

If SFC doesn't fix the problem:

Repair installation of Windows.
This leaves all your programs and data intact while reinstalling Windows.
Full instructions on how to do this are here:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Back up your data first, just in case!

Also run check disk:

Reboot,
tap F8 continuously until you get to the screen which gives you boot choices.
Select Command Prompt.
Type chkdsk /r
Press Enter.

Reboot normally when it has finished.

It's not an error.  It's intelligent design to stop Explorer.exe from running.
I will try the spyware tools and let you know!
Thanks!

Yeah, I would try:
SUPERAntiSpyware (http://www.superantispyware.com/downloadfile.html?productid=SUPERANTISPYWAREFREE)
Maybe, rpggamergirl will get here soon so she can help figure this problem out.

Also, I think rpggamergirl said something about opening:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
in regedit and deleting the explorer.exe key if it exists.

Yes, I looked for that registry key and it did not exist.  I have been able to fix this before, but I honestly forgot what I had to do.  I am trying AVG's rootkit remover now too.  SUPER did not find anything.  Install Ad-aware 2007 now then AVG RootKit remover.

I don't think this will work but try opening to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
and check to make sure that the "Shell" value is set to "Explorer.exe", the "UIHost" value is set to "logonui.exe", and the "Userinit" value is set to "C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,"

Hi,
Any chance of us looking at your hijackthis log? (with all the bad entries I mean)
If you already removed any bad entries, can you give us a copy from the backup that hijackthis keeps.


You can also run this tool,
Download ComboFix to your Desktop, from either of these locations:
http://www.techsupportforum.com/sectools/sUBs/ComboFix.exe
http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/sUBs/ComboFix.exe

Double click "combofix.exe" and follow the prompts.
When finished, it shall produce a log for you.
Post that log and a HiJackthis log in your next reply

Note: Do not mouseclick combofix's window while its running. That may cause it to stall

I suggest you run the Online Free Virus scan from McAfee:
http://us.mcafee.com/root/catalog.asp?catid=free

else, try Process Explorer for Windows v10.21, it able for you to "Kill (but not just stop)" the process in running:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/ProcessesAndThreads/ProcessExplorer.mspx

see what is running "inside" the explorer.exe / iexplorer ........

I had to accept a resintall.  All of your solutions were helpful in finding more infections and other issues.  But nothing made it all better but a reinstall.  I guess some things just can't be fixed.  Thanks for your help.

I just wanted to add a comment on this.

My belief is
XP is always can be fixed!
Just like any car can be fixed, with time of course.
There are not many XP machines, I've needed to reinstall Windows.  All is repairable.

Stick around nociuduis, you'll either learn something new or you'll be able to teach some of us a thing or two!

In my limited experience, the only way an installation can be (almost) guaranteed fixable is if a viable image exists.

http://www.mistywindow.com/security/imaging.html

:)

Kia ora,

Alan Vallis

Please take it in a bad way...

Im just sick of hearing and reading on every thread, reinstall, format, recover. i dont believe none of it, it may take me more time to fix it, but less time the second go around, i use it as a learning experience.  Which in turn will save me time down the road, i do this day in and day out, and i need to teach myself to fix it correctly.  Im up for the challenge i guess, i dont like to take the easy way out.

Oh, I'm sure given enough time, anything can be fixed, but in the end, reinstalling clean may take far less time.  It all depends on how you view your time - is it better spending it on something else, or using it on the problem as a learning experience.  I keep backup images because a 10 min restore is preferable to me than hours that may not give me a solution.  I would rather be doing something else.

Wasn't meaning to be critical.
What you've learned may well be of use to future seekers of answers on EE.

:)