can't open explorer or control panel

This is strange. I am having this exact problem. Anyone else using Dell? I've got to figure virus or spyware, but both show clean online or off. I was able to open Realmedia browser, so it seems to me that basically Explorer is damaged. However, I reinstalled XP (did not reformat, that's the next step) and it didn't change anything. The reformat will work, of course, but what a bitch of a thing to happen to several people in such a short span. There's got to be more out there on this somewhere. What sense does it make that safe mode works, but no troubleshooting through services, boot, etc.,. helps? Also, as I load preferences after boot, I get a quick message, so short it's unreadable, but it's there. Any way to see what that might have said?

Welcome to Windrivers gmw

Yes use the pause/break key.

Have you tried a repair install of ie6 sp1?

Yes, I tried reinstalling explorer, repairing Windows, everything that would normally fall in my troubleshooting flow chart. Nothing. I finally gave up too. Reformat the thing and start over. But I bet we'll see this topic again.

I have the similar problem...but it only happens when I open
Control panel\Regional and Language options\Advance\
and change English(U.S) to Chinese(PRC)

i cant get my display to let me do anything it keeps shuting down i fond out that i have the worm klez what do i do

So welcome to windrivers Rex Romero :)

Try this link at symantec for removal instructions/tool W32.Klez Removal Tool

There are however variaties of this, if that doesn't get it you are gonna have to come back & give us some symptoms ;)

I've had this same problem. All I did to fix it was to open IE, go to Tools/Internet Options...Advanced Tab, then UNclick "Enable Third Party Browser Extensions", click apply, then OK.

Weird thing is, mine won't STAY that way. Once I reboot, I have to do that all over again!

Hope this helps...
Annie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Anniebird78

I've had this same problem. All I did to fix it was to open IE, go to Tools/Internet Options...Advanced Tab, then UNclick "Enable Third Party Browser Extensions", click apply, then OK.

Weird thing is, mine won't STAY that way. Once I reboot, I have to do that all over again!

Hope this helps...
Annie

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Welcome to WD Annie.
What you talk about is a fix for certain types of malware/worms. But, if you continue to have the problem, it is not solved. Perhaps view the "sticky" at the top of the AV/Spyware forum here: http://forums.windrivers.com/showthread.php?t=57348
And, if you still have the problem, post with a new thread. in that forumhttps://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2006/04/1.gif

I posted this reply in "Cannot open Control Panel or My Computer" thread:

I have this problem also.
I cannot open "Control Panel, My Computer, short cuts to several folders I have on my Desk Top (but I can open "My Documents" folder short cut on the Desk Top, All Desk Top short cuts to programs work).
The problem happened in Safe Mode one time. When I tried to open control panel it locked up and I had to hold the power button to quit.
The problem will disappear sometimes (rarely) after a restart but will come back.
When shutting down or restarting when the problem is happening always I get the message: End Program Poxy Desktop and I have to click the "End Now" button in the message other wise it will hang.
I have run all the AV suggested with nothing showing up.

In "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\don't load" Ihave only one subkey ab(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)

When opening "sysedit" I get these two messages: "Cannot Find WFWNET.DRV", and "C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT Cannot open this File"
C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT is blank and C:\CONFIG.SYS is also blank.
Here are copies of:

C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI
[programs]
mstsplit.exe=C:\Program Files\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe
[Settings]
fOnOff=
fCloseBrowser=
fIEWhiteList=
fBlockByTitle=
bMinimized=False
bAutoDownload=False
bJavaPops=False
bRunIE=False
bStartup=False
bIEToolBar=False
bBannerSound=False
bBlockAdServers=False
bBlockIEPopups=False
bBlockFlash=False
bPopSound=False
bHostsFullySet=False
[MCI Extensions.BAK]
wpl=MPEGVideo
[drawdib]
vga.drv 1280x1024x32(BGR 0)=1,5,5,5
[WinFax]
ExePath=C:\PROGRA~1\WinFax\
Fax Path=C:\PROGRA~1\WinFax\Data\
Cover Path=C:\PROGRA~1\WinFax\Cover\

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI
; for 16-bit app support
[drivers]
wave=mmdrv.dll
timer=timer.drv
[mci]
[driver32]
[386enh]
woafont=dosapp.FON
EGA80WOA.FON=EGA80WOA.FON
EGA40WOA.FON=EGA40WOA.FON
CGA80WOA.FON=CGA80WOA.FON
CGA40WOA.FON=CGA40WOA.FON

A copy of Hijackthis:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 2:33:28 PM, on 5/17/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

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\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG6\avgserv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cisvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\CTsvcCDA.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\pctspk.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\MUSICMATCH\MUSICMATCH Jukebox\mm_tray.exe
C:\Program Files\MusicMatch\MusicMatch Jukebox\mmtask.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy2\Surround Mixer\CTSysVol.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy2\DVDAudio\CTDVDDet.EXE
C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG6\avgcc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliPoint 4.12\Mouse\SETUP\MSH\Mouse\point32.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ZONELA~1\ZONEAL~1\zlclient.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell Computer\Dell Image Expert\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cidaemon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cidaemon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntvdm.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/categories.php?catid=18
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = c:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\System\PANELS\BLANK.HT M
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = c:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\System\PANELS\BLANK.HT M
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TrojanScanner] C:\Program Files\Trojan Remover\Trjscan.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PinnacleDriverCheck] C:\WINDOWS\System32\PSDrvCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MMTray] C:\Program Files\MUSICMATCH\MUSICMATCH Jukebox\mm_tray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [mmtask] c:\Program Files\MusicMatch\MusicMatch Jukebox\mmtask.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTSysVol] C:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy2\Surround Mixer\CTSysVol.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTDVDDet] C:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy2\DVDAudio\CTDVDDet.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG_CC] C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG6\avgcc32.exe /startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [POINTER] c:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliPoint 4.12\Mouse\SETUP\MSH\Mouse\point32.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] C:\PROGRA~1\ZONELA~1\ZONEAL~1\zlclient.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\Dell Computer\Dell Image Expert\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/...ash/swflash.cab

It looks like all my C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI's have been editted some how. I can not be sure as I do not have a copy of what it should look like. Seems like the false should be true and the shell=explorer.exe is missing. If I rename the extensions to .old would they be rewrittened in the correct layout? I will try a search for proper copies of these ini's. This has been a persistent problem that started happening out of no where. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

One more thing. After clicking "End Now" before shut down/restart the folders on the desktop that I had tried to open will open. So the "Proxy Desktop" is tied in. I also tried reinstalling IE.

Welcome to Windrivers Snookered!

this should help with the WFWNET.DRV problem


Are you running CVS or TortoiseCVS? Proxy Desktop is not one I have heard of.

I am not running CVS or TortoiseCVS. I wouldn't know what they are. How about the C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI, & C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI? Are they correct? Can you post a correct copy? I think the Proxy Desktop is some kind of spyware that the spy remover apps do not know of yet? Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TripleRLtd

Welcome to WD Annie.
What you talk about is a fix for certain types of malware/worms. But, if you continue to have the problem, it is not solved. Perhaps view the "sticky" at the top of the AV/Spyware forum here: http://forums.windrivers.com/showthread.php?t=57348
And, if you still have the problem, post with a new thread. in that forumhttps://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2006/04/1.gif

---

Thank you guys. I browsed this thread yesterday (with FireFox) because I had the same problem. I had installed several different things yesterday, but most suspicious was some program that Norton Anti-Virus caught trying to install itself on my computer. A few hours later, the problem happened: I couldn't open IE, explorer, cntrl panel, etc.

I did what annie said, which did work, but I didn't restart to see if the problem would reoccur. I went to the "sticky" on AV/Spyware, did an online scan (it found nothing), downloaded and updated Spybot, and removed a few spy/ad programs from my computer.

My computer seems fine now. I had to sign up and tell you that. Thanks.

glad you found windrivers useful compsciasaur!