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Explorer Won't Start.

This Windows Server 2003 Terminal Server Wont Show Desktop or Allow explorer.exe to be Launched.

These are the corrective actions taken so far...

1. Edited the registry to by adding HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RpcSs /v ObjectName /t REG_SZ /d LocalSystem

2.  Renamed  Shdocvw.dll to .dll shdocvw.old

3. bxomebc.exe process isn't running

4.  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\ doesn't contain explorer.exe or iexplorer

What am I missing.  This all happened after a normal weekly shutdown.  Did something get installed by MS?  Or do I have some Malware/Virus?  Running AVG Server.

Have to be operational by morning.

Many Thanks to All.

matt
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asrdias
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If you press ctrl+shift+esc all at the same time does the taskmanager show ?
If yes, goto file new task and launch eventvwr.msc. Does it open ? any errors ?
In taskmanager Performance tab what are the values for the Kernel memory fields displayed ?

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Yes I can get the TaskMan to work, as well as other programs, like DOS and malwarebytes.

Kernal shows something like 16000 total  9200 paged and 6500 non-paged

Also I have run Spyware Doctor and Malwarebytes Couple of small things popped in SD.

Checked HKLM and HCCU \Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Winlogon\ Shell=explorer.exe for both
Checked HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution.options niether explorer.exe. or iexplore.exe are listed

If I use explorer.scf the process shows up in Taskman for less than a second and then disappears.

Other issue I am running out of disk space on the boot drive, only 427MB left and cannot get in to run Easeus Partion Tool that is zipped.

Looking to install NTFSdos to get files deleted off the boot drive.  From DOS they won't die.

Tryed running SFC /SCANNOW but keep getting an error stating the CD is the wrong one and I don't have the SP2 CD.  Does anyone get these any more.  Maybe if you have a subscription to MSDN.

Throw me a bone guys.  Please
There seems to be a RASH of problems with explorer.exe. So far, I found one person who was able to fix it by themselves. Let's see if I can find what transpired in that one.

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/23671600/How-do-I-fix-explorer-exe-crashes-and-get-the-icons-on-desktop-to-appear-again.html?sfQueryTermInfo=1+chiefit+desktop+explorer.ex+icon

On top of this, you might try a thorough malware scan.
Sounds like I am having the same problem.  Tryed logging in using my LogMeIn and RDP, even as different users.  Same result.

Now I am having problems getting to the boot order options on this IBM 360 eServer so I can either one run the recovery instead of sfc /scannow or two reinstall.  If you can help with that please let me know.  I will be here all night.

thx,
matt

PS.  Is it Friday the 13th or something?  Feel like over here.
Do you have direct access to the server, or only remote access?
Direct

I am now coping the i386 and SP2 to the server's other partiiton via the network.  I am going to try and change the source location for SFC in the registry.  Found this article: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa382541(VS.85).aspx.

Got an idea for me?

matt
matt:
I don't see where it tells you, on that article, how to change the default location. I see the syntax of how SFC is used.

I am curious, you are not able to run SFC /scannow from the command prompt?
Sorry Chief.  wrong link try controlling sourcepath here: http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/ezine/BestPractice/BestPractice114.htm

Again my luck this weekend.  None of these are listed in the registry.


I can get it to run from the task manager.  Does that give me something I can work with?
If you can run this from task manager, it will verify versions and work for you. All SFC does is verify that you have the latest versions of OS important files. Can you add the switch to this?

Example: SFC.exe /scannow
If not, lets see if we can open a command prompt from task manager.

CTRL+ALT+DEL>>go to the FILE drop down menu>>choose RUN>>type in CMD>>press enter, and run SFC /scannow from the command prompt.
Chief-

I should have been more clear.  I am running SFC and keep getting the source is wrong type of error for both server and SP2.  I have added the sourcepath string to the registry where the files are located.  I also made sure that the source I listed is just the drive letter "t:\" and that my files really live in i386 on that server.   Keep getting the error.  Now mind you I was unable to find the string listed in the second article I posted the link for so I created one.  

I am now going to create one in every hive listed.  Since I only did it in the windows\setup hive, where I stubled upon the SFCQuota string.

It also appears the CD-ROM is not working on the server, but copying the files to the HD should have cured that.

Thanks for hanging in there with me.
~
Don't look now but I finally have something going my way.
I over looked the sourcepath key in the registry.  It was right there.  So make sure you check and then double check.  I changed both the server source files and the service packs location and SFC is now running.

Will up date if that actually fixes the problem before heading home.
~
Ok so SFC hung up again and again on the SP2 CD.  I did double check the path in the resistry.  I can't get past it and yes you guessed it explorer.exe still won't load.  I have also check msconfig and nothing seems to be going on there.

Not going home anytime soon.
~
Anyone up for a HighJackThis log file??????

Bringing a new server online to move over all of my AD roles /DNS.  Everything else has offsite storage.

Hate to loose my Terminal Server.

Still hoping something will give.
~
hijackthis.txt
I would like to show you this tool to self analyze your hijack this logs. It is really great:
Just copy/paste and press analyze:
http://www.hijackthis.de/index.php?langselect=english#anl
With that said, there is one missing file that seems to be important.
Nice tool that analyzer...
But again as my luck would have it replacing the missing file did not restore explorer to a working condition.

Thanks Chief

matt
you were missing the MSwinsock.dll file. You will probably have to register this file.

Run Line command>> REGSRV32 MSwinsock.dll

Once done, I think you should look at the problems SP2 has with Terminal services and RD. It seems that sometimes TS will not listen on the default port. So, please check into this as well.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/23577994/We-just-recently-started-having-an-issue-with-remote-desktop-we-can-logon-as-local-admin-but-not-domain-admin-the-screen-hangs-and-never-logs-in.html


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