Richard Elkins
December 11th 03, 09:28 PM
A non-tech friend of mine has Windows XP home edition.
Admittedly, he has downloaded stuff from the Internet
since installation for about 1 year. Suddenly last month,
he can no longer, in normal startup mode, run (1) Windows
Explorer, (2) Internet Explorer, (3) Control Panel, or (4)
any of their derivatives. Launching any of the above
results in the desktop disappearing (except for the
wallpaper) for around 2-3 seconds followed by a re-
appearance; the requested program is never launched.
Still works okay: Browsing directories in an open file
dialogue, using regedit.exe, and various other tools.
I tried re-installing service pack 1 and all of the
subsequent "hotfixes" since SP1. No change in behaviour.
We have emptied the registry HKCU/HKLM run entries, his
login startup folder, "all users" start up folder, and
restarted. No change in behaviour.
On the other hand, if we restart in safe/networking mode,
everything works as one would expect. Of course, he needs
to stop using this mode.
Suggestions and questions would be most welcome.
Admittedly, he has downloaded stuff from the Internet
since installation for about 1 year. Suddenly last month,
he can no longer, in normal startup mode, run (1) Windows
Explorer, (2) Internet Explorer, (3) Control Panel, or (4)
any of their derivatives. Launching any of the above
results in the desktop disappearing (except for the
wallpaper) for around 2-3 seconds followed by a re-
appearance; the requested program is never launched.
Still works okay: Browsing directories in an open file
dialogue, using regedit.exe, and various other tools.
I tried re-installing service pack 1 and all of the
subsequent "hotfixes" since SP1. No change in behaviour.
We have emptied the registry HKCU/HKLM run entries, his
login startup folder, "all users" start up folder, and
restarted. No change in behaviour.
On the other hand, if we restart in safe/networking mode,
everything works as one would expect. Of course, he needs
to stop using this mode.
Suggestions and questions would be most welcome.