help! explorer & desktop gone, After removing IE 8!

[sammy]

And this is on a friends PC. He complained of an issue with web, IE8 wasnt
compatibable and he wanted to go back to 7. so, l look on microsofts site,
find an answer; and do an unstall through control panel. reboot: No
desktop. not even thru task manager - new task-explorer, no way to connect to
web via crickets modem, all i can do is seek files through taskmgrs 'new
task.' Can i do a system restore? an where can i find it using task manager?
i cannot find the file to restore in there. and NO he dont have a XP2 disk,
looks like hes on XP 3 now. Before i rebooted after removing IE8 i installed
Mozilla Firefor browser. which was fine. all went bad when asked to reboot
after uninstall. HELP cause this guy is a real pain in the butt. sammy IDEAS
PLEEEZ thanks guys!

[Gurpreet Singh]

Did you follow http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700 for uninstall steps

Can you use the browse button from the task manager>>File>>new task. The
explorer should be in c:\windows. Can you locate the file and run
explorer.exe? if the file shows up in task manager but no task visible please
respond back

If that file exists but you are not able to run it. I would suggest opening
a command prompt from task manager. Then browse to the windows folder. then
running the following command

for /f %s in ('dir /b /s *.dll') do regsvr32 /s %s

this will reregister all dll's. Locate explorer.exe again and try to run it,
if you still cant run it, run eventvwr from task manger and see if any
application or system errors were reported.
--
Regards
Gurpreet Singh

[sammy]

Mr. singh,
I cannot run explorer from task bar, but i will look in windows and see if
it is there. i"ll let u know soon.
sammy

[sammy]

Mr. Singh: The error message at startup is:
The ordinal 421 could not be located in the D L L urlmon.dll

[sammy]

And EXPLORER is not running in the process tree in taskmgr.

[sammy]

Oh, no, i did not use that process u quoted, i used control panel, which i
rean on microsoft, but most likely i didnt note the operating system used
under. crap! i dont wanna be working this guys pc all day!

[sammy]

G- Ok, heres where im at: In task manager seaching in Windows files i did
find 'explorer' icon. i will proceed to your next step if it applies

[sammy]

mr. singh:
i am at the dos prompt,(csystem32\cmd.exe.
though only a novice. I ran the command below, dropping the 'for' . It
cannot run, maybe there are spaces i am not seeing or something, could u
resend the command using a dash- where any spaces should be? does the word
'for' preceed the command?

[sammy]

also, i found the system restore command line in windows, but it wont
execute.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[Crossposted to IE General newsgroup]

Please state the full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3) of the machine in
question.

If it's WinXP SP3, which was installed first, IE7 or SP3?

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is the
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)? Were any of these applications running
in the background when IE8 and/or SP3 and/or IE7 was installed and/or
uninstalled?

Has a Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this machine
(e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought it)?

Is there an available Restore Point which predates the install of IE8 (cf.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306084)?

If there's no OEM disks, chances are there's a hidden Recovery partition
that can be used to return the machine to OOBE state.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002

<paste>
> ...The error message at startup is:

[sammy]

winxp2 w/ sp3
unknown which was in first, owner says it has SP3 hwen he got it july last
year.
It has store bought McCaffe virus program.
I cannot open System Restore, when i do from task manager, it does nothing.
Mcaffe was possibly on when i removed IE8, but i remember stoppong its scan
casue it was bogging us down.
Third party Firewall: if mcaffe has one, then yes. Then of course MS has
thiers too. I cant get anything to run on the pc, well, an IE window, but
cannot connect to web because of this glitch. its a cricket mobile modem the
programs just wont run ..
has to be the ordinal code error.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Repost:

>> Is there an available Restore Point which predates the install of IE8
>> (cf. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306084)?
>>
>> If there's no OEM disks, chances are there's a hidden Recovery partition
>> that can be used to return the machine to OOBE state.

Personally, I don't think you're going to be able to fix this without using
System Restore or returning the machine to OOBE (like-new) state, Sammy.

[sammy]

Like i said, i canot find a functional system restore command, when i do open
the restore command from accessories using taskmgr, theres nothing in the
window. cant run a restore if it wont open.
too bad one missing file cant be replaced.

[sammy]

the pc looks like an xp start with upgrade to xp2/3,
i do not know how to recover, i cant run any programs tru task manager and
have no idea on partitions or oobe states. maybe i can wipe it and just
install my xp disk? how do i begin a new install, and wipe the whole darn
thing? since no one has an xp2 disk around here.

[Jean Rosenfeld]

Have you tried safe mode? If you can get into that, you could try a system
restore from there.
"sammy" <sa...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A9E45F31-D8B4-45BE...@microsoft.com...

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Is the machine (purchased in July-08, according to your previous post) still
under warranty or service contract?

What are your F8 options at boot?

[sammy]

jean-
no i cannot access the desktop, its the same look when i use safe mode.
im guessing i should 'partition' and do another XP install. in a quick way,
can anyone tell me how to do that i forgot. do i boot from the windows xp1
disk, then ask it to make a partition?

[sammy]

no, the machine was given to him used, its a dell. i have dell instal sp1 disc.
i'll check my f8 options again, tried safe mode.
dont know of wwhat way you are saying to access restore. thru taskmgr?
resore icon does nothing.
im thinking of doing the partition, do i boot from xp1 disk?
and, they say that the key id# is in the bios. how do i access his key id so
i dont have to use mine which is still on my hubby's PC.??

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

He should have done a clean install of Windows when he took first possession
of this used machine.

1. Contact Dell Support for instructions on how to return the machine to
OOBE state using the Dell WinXP SP1 CD.

2. Backup the personal data to removable media.

3. Return the machine to OOBE state, after which you'll have the equivalent
of a "new computer" so take care of everything on the following page before
otherwise connecting the machine to the internet or a network and before
using a USB key that isn't brand-new or hasn't been freshly formatted:

Five steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/advanced/xppc.mspx

NB: Restoring the machine to OOBE may reinstall a Norton, McAfee or other
free-trial. It will NOT be valid and should be removed before installing a
new anti-virus application.

For a Norton application, download/run the Norton Removal Tool; see
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

For a McAfee application, do Steps #1 and #2 here:
http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS100507

4. Follow these instructions to get the machine fully-patched:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b
--
~PA Bear

[sammy]

ok, rite now im making a xp2 cd, hope it will let me boot it and repair
install. im slipstreaming it, hope it works.
hope dell will offer help, and the service key tag is still on the machine.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Repeat: You do NOT want to do a Repair Install nor would a Repair Install
fix the problem.

[sammy]

Okay i wont and cant do a repair install now anyways. Called dell, they said
try a restore, Ctrl f11) that wont work, no restore point.
I am trying to get the XP2 cd from Dell.
And to think it all happened by uninstalling IE8.
reinstall is the only thing i can do, so says everyone.
thanks for help Pa Bear...
Hope i can fix his PC soon.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Good luck. Are you sure there's not a hidden Recovery partition that can be
used to restore the machine to OOBE state?

> And to think it all happened by uninstalling IE8.

Technically speaking, uninstalling IE8 didn't cause the problem; all
components of the McAfee application running in the background while
installing & uninstalling IE8 did.

[sammy]

i was advised to use CTRL +F11 at the dell splash, nothing happened. Other
users who had same problem were told that means there is no partion- recovery
partition. ive tried any way of accessing sysytem restore via the
files/programs list/windows files and i cannot open the system restore
program that way either.
what does OOBE mean?
And do u know how i can verify if there is a hidden recovery partion?
Again, my only way to access the windows and files is thru taskmgr, and yes
i tried new task-explorer. and many programs wont start because of the
missing file.
Right now i am gonna reinstall IE 8, see if it fixes it, thats what broke it!

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Contact Dell Support for questions related to the possibility of a hidden
Recovery partition (assuming it still exists).

Do not confuse the Recovery partition with WinXP System Restore. (It's
doubtful that any available Restore Point would address the problem anyway.)

OOBE = Out of Box Experience = like the machine was when it left the factory
and when it was first turned-on.

[Jim]

On my Dell it is Ctrl + Enter for the OOBE .

[sammy]

I can access safe mode, again w/ do desktop or explorer, use task mgr to try
anything- do i use the retore in windows files? i see the icon/ program, but
i have tried a restore thru the windows files/programs w no luck, but not in
safe mode.
Kinda a novice here... point me in a direction in safe mode to access
restore, maybe i am doing it wrong . please.
thank you

[sammy]

HI guys i did a clean install, used XP1 disc. Still nd to udate the OS. and
reinstall some programs and drivers. Hardest task for me last nite was
getting the display down to right size and fix the resolution, only 16 bit
color offered, had this issue before forgot how to fix.
Just left it as is till weds. Have a concert to go to- Remember Spinal Tap?
Its a flashback comedy, music, unplugged show. And my girl won these good tix
on radio, only 20 yrs but she knew the trivia Q answer..11 amps..

Back to why im here-
The graphics card needs the driver updated.. am i right? thank god its a
dell, and they offer all those online. And i have the dell supprt and
software discs make it easier. hope the sound works.

ALSO: CRICKET'S internet stinks. 'broadband' yeah rite. Slow as dial up, 41
minutes to get a printer driver downloaded. Rip off. Verizon kicks it's butt.

thanks to all of you for the advice and education.. i love trying to fix
PC's, maybe I should get an education in this and then i an help others
here...

LAST but not LEAST:if anyone can help me speed up the fixing if the screen
resoultion plz advise. everything is big. Is that a monitor driver, or
graphics driver, or both?

Thanks and love ya guys!
SammyKay