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

How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes


Intended For
Windows Vista
Windows XP
Windows 2003
Windows 2000
From time to time, Explorer (the application responsible for the taskbar, desktop, and Start Menu) will crash, and the taskbar and all your desktop icons will disappear. Now, there’s a built-in safeguard for this that relaunches Explorer automatically if such a crash is detected, but it doesn’t always work as it’s designed. For example, if you have a separate Windows Explorer window open and the Launch folder windows in a separate process option (in Control Panel -> Folder Options -> View tab) is enabled, and the taskbar disappears, Windows will mistakenly open another Windows Explorer window instead of reinstating your taskbar and desktop. Here's how to get your taskbar and desktop back:

* Close all visible Windows Explorer windows. Other running applications can be left alone.
* Press Ctrl-Alt-Del, and then click Task Manager.
* In the Windows Task Manager application that appears, select New Task (Run) from the File menu.
* Type Explorer and click Ok.

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Problem - Explorer.EXE - Application Error The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0150002). Click on ok to terminate the application. This error can occur if the computer does not complete applying Microsoft Windows Update KB923191, which attempts to fix a security hole relating to ActiveX implementation. The following symptoms occur: * The computer boots successfully to the login prompt. * However, only the traditional NT style login prompt is displayed, not the welcome screen. * On successfully logging in, the user is greeted with the above error. * On clicking OK, the user is left with a completely blank desktop. Crtl + Alt + Del does not work. * Neither uninstalling or applying the patch in full appear to resolve the problem. * Microsoft offer no fix to the problem beyond the usual "reinstall". The following steps taken were unsuccessful: * Running a repair reinstall of Windows XP Home SP2. * Running chkdsk * Booting the computer into Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking Support, or Last Known Good Configuration. * Uninstalling the patch via spuninst.exe contained within the C:\Windows\$NtUninstallKB923191$ directory structure. Solution This problem was repaired by replacing the following two folders from the same folders on another working Windows XP SP2 install (or a parallel install) without the patch having been applied: * %windir%\WinSxS * %windir%\SoftwareDistribution Read/write access must be gained to the drive, which can be done through Microsoft's recovery console, BartPE, or another method. The failure is almost certainly due to just one file in one of these directories

More specific Solution-
Note: of late a cause for the frequent crashing of Explorer in Windows 2000 and Windows XP has been found by the writer. Please continue below for resolution.

Blank Windows upon bootings- Press F8 on REstart for SafeMode or Last Known Good Configuration. Deny Access to all LSASS,EXE 51079.exe, lsass.exe.45064.exe, & ~.exe.152319.exe instances at ZoneAlarm (or any firewall program) popups. The digits may be in any order, Locate & Delete C:\ lsass.exe.37013.exe instances Do a search for LSASS.EXE to delete lsass.exe.45064.exe, LSASS.EXE 51079.exe instances . (lass.exe are trusted program) Do a search for .exe. to delete all ~.exe.152319.exe instances . Right Click undelatable file for Unlocker at Context Menu. Kill its processes. Proceed to delete manually. Kill at ZoneAlarm Program control (or any firewall program) lsass.exe.45064.exe ~.exe.152319.exe LSASS.EXE 51079.exe whereas lass.exe are trusted program Delete all ~.exe.152319.exe instances in Sysinternal AutoRun Press Ctrl*Alt+Delete to bring up the Windows Task Manager. Click File for New Task (....Run) Type Regedit & Press Ok Do a find & find next for .exe. to delete all ~.exe.152319.exe instances as C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\~.exe.128534.exe ~.exe.128534 and PendingFileRenameOperations !\??\C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\~.exe.127923.exe Run CCleaner-Cleaner & Registry tab and any Registry cleaner program. See here Shut Down System Start System May need to do another restart. All is well. Do a system restore

However, if everything else fails, you may have to perform a Windows XP Repair Install


.... 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.

If all the above does not work follow the post here to eliminate the virus file as described.

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