Explorer.exe will not load, no icons or task manager

[Tarheel72]

I recently updated XP Home from SP1 to SP2, and installed IE 7.0 and Windows Defender. Everything seemed to be working normal. I left the computer on to autoupdate. When I got the next morning, I was suffering from the symptoms described in this thread:

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1061853506

When I start up XP, the machine goes through a NT type log on screen asking for a password, which it never did before. It then goes to the desktop, but will not load any icons, nor am I able to call up the task manager with ctrl-alt-delete. Instead I get the following error message:

"explorer.exe application error the application failed to initialize properly 0xc0150002 error code"

I can boot in safe mode, but same results. I can boot in safe mode with the cmd prompt and I have tried all of the fixes listed in the above referenced thread with no success. Here is what happened:

1. Used system restore from the cmd prompt, but it did not help, no change to the activity
2. Tried to uninstall SP2 from the add/remove panel called up via appwiz.cpl while in safe mode cmd prompt screen. It fails with the message "windows could not load the installer for disk drive"
3. I tried to rename the files in the C:\winnt\system32 directory, but when I enter that in the command prompt it says the path is invalid
4. I do not have the Google desktop, but I do have the Google toolbar installed. However, when I try to remove it via the add/remove programs panel, it does nothing. Screen flashes, but no activity occurs.
5. I can call up the windows directory and it shows the KB923191 update was installed. When I tried to run the commands suggested relative to $ntuninstallerkb923191$, I get various messages that the path is not valid or the file can not be found. In the add/remove programs panel, it says that this update can not be uninstalled.

According to the log in the win directory, KB923191 was installed when I did all of the remaining critical updates after the install of SP2. The machine was running fine afterward but I left it on to be sure Windows Defender would run and update overnight. Auto update was also engaged. When I got up the next morning and checked the machine, I found it in the state discribed above.

When I boot up in safe mode with cmd prompt, the prompt reads as follows: C:\Documents & Settings\Mary Brown.Mary> where Mary Brown is the users name. I am assuming that I enter all commands after the > in this string. I try to enter them with the C:\ prefix followed by the command, and with just the command alone, but they all fail except for the two related to the add/remove panel and the restore commands.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I read the posting at andrewsworld about replacing two files

http://www.andrewsworld.org/manual/s...s/c0150002.htm

but I am not sure if this would help or even how to do this, I would need more detailed instructions. thanks

"Tarheel72" wrote:

>
> I recently updated XP Home from SP1 to SP2, and installed IE 7.0 and
> Windows Defender. Everything seemed to be working normal. I left the
> computer on to autoupdate. When I got the next morning, I was
> suffering from the symptoms described in this thread:
>
> http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1061853506
>
> When I start up XP, the machine goes through a NT type log on screen
> asking for a password, which it never did before. It then goes to the
> desktop, but will not load any icons, nor am I able to call up the task
> manager with ctrl-alt-delete. Instead I get the following error
> message:
>
> "explorer.exe application error the application failed to initialize
> properly 0xc0150002 error code"
>
> I can boot in safe mode, but same results. I can boot in safe mode
> with the cmd prompt and I have tried all of the fixes listed in the
> above referenced thread with no success. Here is what happened:
>
> 1. Used system restore from the cmd prompt, but it did not help, no
> change to the activity
> 2. Tried to uninstall SP2 from the add/remove panel called up via
> appwiz.cpl while in safe mode cmd prompt screen. It fails with the
> message "windows could not load the installer for disk drive"
> 3. I tried to rename the files in the C:\winnt\system32 directory, but
> when I enter that in the command prompt it says the path is invalid
> 4. I do not have the Google desktop, but I do have the Google toolbar
> installed. However, when I try to remove it via the add/remove
> programs panel, it does nothing. Screen flashes, but no activity
> occurs.
> 5. I can call up the windows directory and it shows the KB923191 update
> was installed. When I tried to run the commands suggested relative to
> $ntuninstallerkb923191$, I get various messages that the path is not
> valid or the file can not be found. In the add/remove programs panel,
> it says that this update can not be uninstalled.
>
> According to the log in the win directory, KB923191 was installed when
> I did all of the remaining critical updates after the install of SP2.
> The machine was running fine afterward but I left it on to be sure
> Windows Defender would run and update overnight. Auto update was also
> engaged. When I got up the next morning and checked the machine, I
> found it in the state discribed above.
>
> When I boot up in safe mode with cmd prompt, the prompt reads as
> follows: C:\Documents & Settings\Mary Brown.Mary> where Mary Brown is
> the users name. I am assuming that I enter all commands after the > in
> this string. I try to enter them with the C:\ prefix followed by the
> command, and with just the command alone, but they all fail except for
> the two related to the add/remove panel and the restore commands.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions? I read the posting at andrewsworld
> about replacing two files
>
> http://www.andrewsworld.org/manual/s...s/c0150002.htm
>
> but I am not sure if this would help or even how to do this, I would
> need more detailed instructions. thanks
>
>
> --
> Tarheel72
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Tarheel72's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/24728.htm
> View this thread: Explorer.exe will not load, no icons or task manager
>
> http://forums.techarena.in
>
>



You might try this information

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

.... or you could try restoring your system to a time just prior to
installing the Windows Updates, as long as you can access the "Safe Mode with
Command Prompt" option from the Advanced Options menu (in order to access the
menu, press the F8 key just before Windows begins to load / directly after
POST). You'll need to log on as the administrator, or a user that has
administrative rights. At the command prompt, type...

%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe ...and then press ENTER.

....then just follow the instructions on the screen. Another possibility is
to select the "Last Known Good Configuration" (your most recent settings that
worked) option from the Advanced Options menu.