Cant click on 'start menu', and 'My Computer' is unresponding..

  • Thread starter Zhukov
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Zhukov

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As I type this in the same computer, on Firefox internet explorer; I don't know if anyone can help me, but my computer froze up on me, so I whent to task manager to restart. Now I can't open the 'start menu', and when I click on 'My Computer' (desktop icon) it searches untill it is "unresponding" in the task manager.

Hopefully I can get some feedback on what I can do. My back-up discs where damaged in a fire a while ago, and I just got my PC back two weeks ago. I have no back-ups; nothing came with the PC either (is that leagal?).

Could a Windows reinstall do the trick? If so, will I loose all my unsaved data? I've never had any issues like this before, so it's new to me.

Windows XP server pack 2
 
You will lose whatever is on your computer with a reinstall. Problem is, you sound like you have a nasty virus, or quite possibly your registry is messed. You might want to try a Virus scan, and quite possible a Spyware scan as well. Afterwards, if you get no luck, try saving as much as you can to disc, because a re-format is in your near future.
 
When the computer is starting, (just as it shows you the Windows XP screen), hit F8, and choose "Safe Mode". Run your antivirus program, and see if the computer behaves differently.
 
Yes Safe Mode is a good idea. I usually continuously hit F8 from the moment the computer starts just to make sure i get in. Sounds like you may have a slightly corrupted explorer.exe file, but that's just a guess. Virus scan first then come back and tell more.
 
Well, it does sound like something's hooking Explorer's processes. A little known fact is that Explorer - as well as showing you the contents of your drives, underpins the operation of the desktop and task bar. Sometimes you can cure an unresponsive system by going into the Task Manager, and killing the Explorer process. Then you go File > New Task, type in "explorer" and you get your task bar back.

It's dirty, but it can save you a reboot for that time when you probably should have saved 5 minutes ago.
 
Hmm, i got the non responsive task manager problem before. On my desktop, which isn't worth the metal it's made from.
 
I've ran a virus scan, and nothing was detected; however, it will not run in Safe Mode as suggested. I've ran Spybot search and destroy, as well as AdAware a couple of hours before the problem, and all I deleted was two harmless tracking cookies. No I didn't search for XXX or other nasty-virus infected sites... :P, but I will rescane just to check.

Safe mode was unsucceful, and GilesGuthrie, a buddy of mine did the 'kill explorer.exe trick', and nothing changed; thankfully, nothing got worse either.

Everything seams to work like normal (that I've tried), but takes a while to start the programe up at first. Execution issue? Thankfully, my back-up programe seams to work...hopefully.

~much thanks..
 

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