explorer.exe flashes will not stay running

Well, it appears you have another computer available, since you are using the internet to ask the question.

>At the very least I want to get all my personal information (pictures, emails) off and loaded to the new one... but that is difficult without windows.

Does the computer you're using have a CD burner available?  If so, you could try burning and using a bootable CD with a version of Linux called Knoppix on it:

http://www.knoppix.com/

What is KNOPPIX®?
KNOPPIX is a bootable Live system on CD or DVD, consisting of a representative collection of GNU/Linux software, automatic hardware detection, and support for many graphics cards, sound cards, SCSI and USB devices and other peripherals. KNOPPIX can be used as a productive Linux system for the desktop, educational CD, rescue system, or adapted and used as a platform for commercial software product demos. It is not necessary to install anything on a hard disk. Due to on-the-fly decompression, the CD can have up to 2 GB of executable software installed on it (over 8GB on the DVD "Maxi" edition).


This site has an excellent tutorial on how to recover files using Knoppix:

http://www.shockfamily.net/cedric/knoppix/
Computer First Aid Using Knoppix

Have you tried Winsockfix to see if it will restore your internet connection?

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4372.html

First you must delete the XP background to make sure that it has no bad effect on the file explorer.exe

Then you must extract a new copy of explorer.exe to windows\directory.

After doing the above, Use the SFC command to repair any bad system files.
Goto taskmanager --> file --> new task(run) Type sfc /scannow and enter, see the link below for more information.

http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

If you couldn't locate the background your desktop, you can use the registry hack to change it at least to a different one..

1. Goto Tasmanager--> run ->  type regedit > and click OK.
2. Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_USERS\DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop
3. In the details pane (right-side), double-click the Wallpaper string value item.
4. In Value data , type the path and name of the picture or background, and then click OK
.
IMPORTANT: Make sure that you specify the path correctly to the Background.

Restart now.. and check

the next restart goto msconfig, --> services tab and make sure that most of the windows services are running and not stoped, if they are disabled then try enabling all of them. and restart again.

hope this helps.

Check this also.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21238020/How-to-fix-Explorer-Exe-failed-to-initialize-properly-0xc0000006.html

Services guide ->> http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm

I would suggest:

(1) Follow LeeTutor's suggestion for backing up your data.

(2) Reinstall XP on your damaged system by installing into a new folder (e.g. c:\win rather than c:\windows). This should get your system working again, plus give you access to your files, but you will have to reinstall all applications.

In any case try to backup your files first to guard against losing anything important. Another possible boot CD for this purpose: http://www.ubcd4win.com/

thanks for the help so far.  I did a winsock fix... internet worked for a minute or so.  Then got real slow... before finally quitting again.  I downloaded ubcd4win.... I see it will take me several hours to decipher the instructions on creating a cd.  I am thinking about just seeing if I can save the pictures and music and emails to a thumbdrive and just putting them on my laptop for now.  I am not sure I want to transfer any of this operating system mess to another hard drive.  I am worried about doing a reinstall under another folder... my c drive is not real big...4gb  I have a 40gd F drive... but it is not set as a boot drive.  I was looking at the plugins in the program and was trying to determine if any could diagnose the issue.  I am really hoping to find a fix for the system before resorting to trashing the whole thing.


I know the background image is not the issue... because the problem exists on any profile within XP and in safe mode.   Tried the scannow.... it ran but did not do anything.  I did run hijack this.  I already looked for spyware but here is the log in case I am missing something.

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.0
Scan saved at 2:03:58 PM, on 6/3/2006
Platform: Windows XP  (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 (6.00.2600.0000)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
F:\Program Files\Sygate\SPF\smc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\CDAC11BA.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
F:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
F:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\IWP\NPFMntor.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RioMSC.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\wanmpsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\netsh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\taskmgr.exe
F:\pebuilder\plugin\hijackthis\HijackThis.exe

O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {A8F38D8D-E480-4D52-B7A2-731BB6995FDD} - F:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {C4069E3A-68F1-403E-B40E-20066696354B} - F:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SysAgent] C:\SysAgent\SysAgent.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SmcService] F:\PROGRA~1\Sygate\SPF\smc.exe -startgui
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinFast2KLoadDefault] rundll32.exe wf2kcpl.dll,DllLoadDefaultSettings
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LoadQM] loadqm.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe"  -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NAV Agent] C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~2\NAVAPW32.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinFoxV2] C:\WINDOWS\system32\WF2K.EXE Initial
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [tgcmd] "C:\Program Files\support.com\bin\tgcmd.exe" /server /startmonitor /deaf
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelliType] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Hardware\Keyboard\type32.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DIGStream] C:\Program Files\DIGStream\digstream.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SRFirstRun] rundll32 srclient.dll,CreateFirstRunRp
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SchedulingAgent] mstinit.exe /firstlogon
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSConfig] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\MSConfig.exe /auto
O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel present
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Yahoo! Search - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycsrch.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://F:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &Dictionary - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycdict.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &Maps - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycmap.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &SMS - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycsms.htm
O9 - Extra button: Yahoo! Services - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\SHDOCVW.DLL
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1136133724656
O16 - DPF: {A17E30C4-A9BA-11D4-8673-60DB54C10000} (YahooYMailTo Class) - http://us.dl1.yimg.com/download.yahoo.com/dl/installs/essentials/ymmapi_0727.dll
O23 - Service: C-DillaCdaC11BA - Macrovision - C:\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\CDAC11BA.EXE
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPodService - Apple Computer, Inc. - F:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect Service - Symantec Corporation - F:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Firewall Monitor Service - Symantec Corporation - F:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\IWP\NPFMntor.exe
O23 - Service: Norton Protection Center Service - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Console\NSCSRVCE.EXE
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: Rio MSC Manager - Digital Networks North America, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\RioMSC.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec AVScan - Symantec Corporation - F:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe
O23 - Service: Sygate Personal Firewall - Sygate Technologies, Inc. - F:\Program Files\Sygate\SPF\smc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Network Drivers Service - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: SPBBCSvc - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Core LC - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
O23 - Service: WAN Miniport (ATW) Service - America Online, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\wanmpsvc.exe

Thanks again for the help so far

I posted your HJT log at http://www.hijackthis.de/ and the saved analysis is here:
 
 http://www.hijackthis.de/logfiles/8162635dce2815d631f5927c54cb2e56.html

At first glance it shows nothing bad.

If you have less than 500 MB free space on the C: drive then you should not install XP in a new folder.

I'm also suspecting a free space issue here as r-k has commented, You might want to free up to 1 giga at least, try to uninstall programs from C drive and reinstall them to F drive..

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU rpgamergirl.  I guess it should have been an obvious solution to go back and check the hijackthis backups.  In searching I found a second hijackthis program on my harddrive that I must have used the last time I ran it.

I found that I deleted "Norton Antivirus Shell Extension Module" by Symantec.  Definately should not have been deleted.... could have been an accident.  I restored that... and bingo the desktop returned on next bootup.

I ran the smitfiles program before that... but I have a feeling the problem was that Norton file... since it was deleted at the time this all started.

Thanks to everyone for the help.. but I have to give the points to rpggamergirl.

It's amazing how just by fixing a legit hijackthis entry can mess up a system, especially with Norton that is.

Glad to hear your problem is solved, You did a great job running hijackthis from it's own folder and backup were still intact.
Some people run hijackthis from the temp folder(where backups are not safe) or worse running it from a .zip or .rar(where no backups are created)

Thank you very much for your generousity of giving me the points, :)

Best wishes!