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EXPLORER.EXE corrupted or infected [Solved]

DennisPS 2Posts Sunday June 1, 2008Registration date - Latest answer on May 4, 2013 10:46AM

Hello,
Desktop is dropping after boot. I cannot open task manager because I try but I get error message that says task manager was disabled by administrator. I have to click ok. Then I get the same problem. I cannot do a system restore because I cannot go back past the last time I tried to do it, which was two days ago. There are no more available days to restore to.
Symptoms: When I boot my pc, it comes up fine, with all the regular icons on the desktop and programs appear to be running, but then my desktop icons, and all files I might be trying to click on close down in a flash. Then they re-apear again, just to do it all over again. I managed to get to the run function to run regedit. That's as far as I want to go because I don't know where to go in regedit to find the culpret infected file to delete it. I try to run virus scan with Mcaffee, but nothing is found.
Question: Is there anywhere that I might look to find the culpret file in the regedit editor? From what I have managed to find on the Net, it involves the explorer.exe file and I don't know what to do to get to this infection, and I do not, under any circumstances, want to re-install my OS just to get rid of it. I have no back-up for all my files, I know I am a fool for not backing up my files daily, but what is done is done. Can I fix this? The pc is rendered useless without the fix or re-install. Can't I just find the infected file, delete it, and then re-establish my explorer.exe file at re-boot from the install disk or the Internet?
Question: Where is the explorer.exe file located in the registry? Can this issue be resolved without drastic measures? Please help me. All my files from over 14 classes are on that drive, and if I lose them, I have nothing to refer to for my capstone project for graduation BaSc Degree in four months. I don't know where else to turn except the Internet and you.
Thank you. DennisPS

Answer

+316

3thK Sep 4, 2008 05:49AM

Here's how to fix this issue:

1. CTRL-Alt-Del to bring up Task Manager.
2. Click File | New Task(run).
3. Type regedit in the Run box and click OK.
4. Browse to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution.options

5. Under this key there will be subkeys named explorer.exe and iexplorer.exe. Delete the explorer and iexplorer keys entirely. They should not be listed under the Image File Execution.Options key.
6. Close the Registry Editor.
7. Restart the computer.

Assuming no other viruses / adware / spyware / malware are interfering, the Windows desktop should load fine now.

Thanks to Aur computer service.
Originally post by 2/9/06: SmitRem

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Sanjay Shrestha - Sep 24, 2008 05:00AM

Hi ..
Its work perfectly..
Thanks........

Elly - Oct 3, 2008 11:16PM

Hi..

I followed your instructions and I don't have them listed there - thus is there anything else you could suggest? Unfortunately my puter was preloaded, so I dont' even have a "restore, repair or reinstall" CD.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I can work everything through Task Manager - although I have some programs that click out when the icons go.

Elly

hakakt - Oct 8, 2008 03:51AM

Thanks Mate!! Worked Like a charm!

jpinzon - Oct 16, 2008 07:35AM

worked like a charm. Thanks.

cindy - Oct 22, 2008 12:20AM

I followed some of the step listed, and deleted a couple of files. I seem to have no problems with my monitor at the moment...thanks.

Muzz - Oct 27, 2008 07:44AM

Thanks Man, this saved me heaps of time.
Cheers

Accellora - Oct 27, 2008 05:50PM

Worked like a charm.

bucko - Oct 28, 2008 05:57AM

thanks......that solved the problem immediately. Appreciate it.

sdw - Dec 3, 2008 11:49AM

I didn't have the iexplorer.exe, but I did have the explorer.exe exactly where you said it would be - I deleted it, restarted and it worked perfectly. My desktop came right up after I logged in. Now, I'm running a Kaspersky virsus check to make sure my system is clean. Thanks for the sound advice.

Anonymous User - Dec 10, 2008 01:44PM

Hey thanks man. For years I search for way to work around this but now I know the real problem and, thanks to you, how to solve it. Cheers Bro

dimrin - Jan 17, 2009 05:04PM

thanks

Kulz - Jan 17, 2009 05:07PM

Thanks a Lot man!
That worked very well !
You saved me a lot of time

mayor - Jan 19, 2009 07:07AM

hello, i tried and followed the instructions but i could not find any folder called explorer.exe and iexplorer.exe.ns. this means i the problem is not solved. please help me

Omz - Jan 31, 2009 01:04PM

3thk.....Dude..you rock...its the perfect solution........excellent..

jino - Feb 20, 2009 04:00PM

Hello,

Your post was very helpful, however, when I look for the subkeys for explorer.exe and/or iexplorer.exe neither one is there. I did find Internet explorer under HKey_Curren_user, will this work as well?

Thank you.

montoya - Feb 26, 2009 03:10AM

Brilliant!!!! Thanks a lot!!! :DDDD It's probably the best advice ever posted on the net...

Vijay - Mar 20, 2009 04:29AM

Good Point.

Woked like a Charm !!

Many Thanks ....

Mireya - Apr 13, 2009 10:51PM

OMG!!! Your a life saver. i've been at this problem for a week until now thank you so much it works great.

Tamil Selvan - May 23, 2009 07:02AM

Hey......thanks. It worked for me. After long R&D i got your post. With out format I have done it.

Thankuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu So much

zianpor 1Posts Sunday March 12, 2006Registration date - Jun 1, 2009 02:17AM

Thanks a lot that's very good! My desktop works well now.

auraeulogia - Jul 11, 2009 02:54PM

THXXXXXXXXXXXX!!! I solved the issue svhost, task bar whatever, very useful the regedit trick, I was a bit afraid it would do worst, but IT WORKED!!!!, the best of all nobody knew I screwed up. thanks!!

JL - Jul 16, 2009 12:32AM

Thanks for helping with this suggestion. Deleted the explorer.exe file and restarted. Upon restart everything was back to normal.

anonymous - Sep 20, 2009 07:02AM

thanks, it worked like a charm

pauls88 - Sep 25, 2009 01:29AM

I ran regedit and followed the steps and it wasn't there what else could I do

parttime - Nov 21, 2009 08:09AM

i did all u mentioned there in my registry editor but at last i found there no explorer.exe and iexplorer.exe . iam using win xp sp2. can u find me a solution

toby - Apr 30, 2010 05:37AM

it still says applicaqytion not found

Anni - Jun 5, 2010 06:54PM

Heyy solve my problem....and i am tooooo Happpy with your solution

j.j. - Jun 19, 2010 01:44PM

i cant find explorer.exe its not there at all what do i do?

jas - Oct 10, 2012 03:04AM

sorry but my task manager is missing or not working too.. :((

sorin_romania - Oct 17, 2012 09:31AM

you are the best !!!!!! :D

John - Oct 30, 2012 02:47AM

Um... There aren't any subkeys of explorer.exe and iexplorer.exe... But the problem persists... Can you please explain the last bit?

chris - Nov 18, 2012 04:29AM

you must use the "run" operation

press the WIN + R

then type regedit

the it needs an administrative access then ok....

and follow her steps...

Answer

+35

cheeto Apr 30, 2009 02:28PM

It's a miracle! 2 calls to Dell tech support and a pro that couldn't fix it, but this did. Thanks to the Genius that found and shared this solution

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+20

Pineapple Oct 29, 2008 08:45PM

ok. I had the same problem as everyone, but I just fixed it about 2 minutes ago.

I had just deleted a bunch of malwares from my computer, and restarted it. But it still had a completely black screen with no start menu or anything.

So I opened the task manager, clicked on new task, and typed in C:\windows and clicked ok. then I just right clicked on the windows explorer icon and clicked run as administrator.

It was as simple as that, and after three seconds everything came back. ^^ hope this helps

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+13

anne Jan 7, 2009 12:08AM

YOU ARE A GENIOUS! THANK YOU. IT WORKS FOR ME.

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Tomson Jan 18, 2009 10:22AM

Just tried malwarebyes as well, let it do a full scan and wait for it to finish. I put it onto the jump drive, pushed control+alt+delete, and file > new task (run ...). Then just find your way to the jump drive, run the installer, and run it :)

Got a new problem now, but at least this one's fixed :P

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Arnab Jan 24, 2009 11:28AM

Works perfectly...thanks a lot dude

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The Dr. Feb 12, 2009 10:58PM

Great info! Works like a charm!

I had a slightly different problem, but this worked!

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JTaye Dec 2, 2012 07:59AM

doesn"t seem to work. theexplorer.exe and iexplorer.exe were not there.

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valadis 1Posts Saturday May 4, 2013Registration date May 4, 2013Last seen - May 4, 2013 10:46AM

yea thats also happens to me???
WHAT I CAN DO GUYS???

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mango Sep 11, 2008 06:14PM

Thaks for that professional solution

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Salim Dec 16, 2008 05:43AM

Thanks Mate!! Worked Like a charm.... ;)

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manimanus Jan 18, 2009 07:57PM

incredible , i ran 4 of the best malware soft , and none of them had fix them exept malwarebyte.
great thx for the tip

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Mym8 Oct 20, 2008 09:54AM

Thankyou vey much worked fine for me THANKYOU

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Zac Jan 14, 2009 01:07PM

Thank you very much!!! It works like a treat!

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EXPLORER.EXE corrupted or infected [Solved]

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