Explorer Error - Locking up Me

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsme.general (More info?)

Each Time I open my PC I am getting a Error message that is specific to
Explorer.
The message reads: Explorer has caused an error in <unknown> Explorer will
Close now. If you continue to experience problems try restating your
computer.

Shortly after this message appears the computer locks out, no mouse action
or from keybord, only option to power down and reboot. But the same thing
happens every time.

I am able to access the PC in SAfe Mode but that is very restricting.

Can anyone give any help please.

Thanking you in advance.

Brian

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsme.general (More info?)

Mike
Thanks for the info, but am one step ahead of you , have already protected
the PC with all the software you mention, Have not used CWS yet will try
that but will have to be in Safe mode when doing it. Am already using Norton
+ AVG as Virus checkers. I have also checked the registry for any lurking
viruses,worms or trojans, but that looks clear, only the items that I would
expect are there. So this still remains a quandry as to what is causing the
problem.

Will try the Hijack This again and post the findings if any as suggested.

Once again thanks for the info.

Brian

"Mike M" wrote:

> Brian,
>
> The message 'Explorer has caused an error in <unknown>'..... is often
> caused by a PC being infected with viruses or other malware, especially
> commercial parasites. You need to check your PC using not only your
> preferred anti-virus application but also various other tools listed
> below.
>
> If you haven't already done so I would strongly recommend that you check
> your system for possible viruses using your preferred anti virus
> application equipped with an updated set of viral signatures. However you
> might first want to check your PC using one of the online virus checks
> such as McAfee's online checker
> (http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp) or Trend Micro's Housecall
> (http://housecall.antivirus.com).
>
> This might be a good time to download yourself a copy of the free Ad-Aware
> SE Personal edition from Lavasoft
> (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/) and also SpyBot Search &
> Destroy 1.3 (http://www.safer-networking.org/) and use them to check your
> system for other commercial parasites remembering that they are only as
> good as when you last updated their reference files. I also use a program
> called BHODemon (http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm that
> checks for unwanted Browser Help Objects and SpywareBlaster
> (http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html) which can help
> prevent some parasites getting a grip on your PC.
>
> Just is case the problem is due to a new version of the CoolWebSearch
> parasite you might want to download and run the CWShredder which targets
> that specific parasite. Unfortunately neither AdAware or SpyBot seem to be
> able as yet to fully detect all the various versions of the CoolWebSearch
> parasite as it keeps changing. The latest version of CWShredder can be
> downloaded (free) from
> http://www.intermute.com/spysubtra [...] nload.html
>
> Finally if you still continue to experience problems download a copy of
> HijackThis from (http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html).
> Create a folder called HJT on C: (not on your desktop nor in your temp
> folder) and copy the file you downloaded to that folder. Close as many
> applications as you can including all instances of Internet Explorer.
> Enable Explorer to see all files and folders (Tools | Folder Options |
> View and check "Show hidden files and folders" and uncheck "Hide protected
> operating system files" ) and then run hijackthis.exe and post back the log
> to either the HijackThis Forum at http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or
> alternatively http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 and hopefully this
> will enable someone to identify the cause of your problem.
>
> See also: Dealing with Unwanted Malware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search
> Engines http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm and also Browser
> Hijacking http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/hijacked/
> --
> Mike Maltby MS-MVP
> mike.maltby@gmail.com
>
>
> BriLar <BriLar@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> > Each Time I open my PC I am getting a Error message that is specific
> > to Explorer.
> > The message reads: Explorer has caused an error in <unknown> Explorer
> > will Close now. If you continue to experience problems try
> > restating your computer.
> >
> > Shortly after this message appears the computer locks out, no mouse
> > action or from keybord, only option to power down and reboot. But the
> > same thing happens every time.
> >
> > I am able to access the PC in SAfe Mode but that is very restricting.
> >
> > Can anyone give any help please.
> >
> > Thanking you in advance.
>
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsme.general (More info?)

I will try running CWS and HJT, have difficulty doing any online scans as I
cannot get access to the internet in safe mode, modem not active.

Take your point about NAV, have always wondered why things did funny things
when that was loaded. Will deactivate to see if that makes a difference.

Once again many thanks for your comments, they have been very useful, will
keep you posted on progress.

Brian

"Mike M" wrote:

> You may be one step ahead of the rest but since you are the one having
> problems I really feel you need to thoroughly check your system and that
> includes running the latest version of CWS and HJT and carefully examining
> the logs for possible problems. It is of course quite possible that the
> cause lies elsewhere in which case if the problem is recent then you
> should seriously consider using system restore to roll your system back to
> before the problems started.
>
> Incidentally you mention using both Norton and AVG. This in itself can
> cause problems (using two AV applications) and I hope that you have only
> one enabled for real time scanning. I trust also you are aware that NAV
> is incompatible with Win Me and is the cause of more problems reported to
> these newsgroups than any other including adware and spyware.
> Incidentally I still recommend that regardless of your having used NAV and
> AVG that you consider using an on-line scanner if only because one of the
> first targets of malware are the tools used to detect that malware and
> that means targeting applications like NAV and AVG as well as AdAware,
> SpyBot etc..
>
> Regards and best wishes in your hunt for the cause of the problem,
> --
> Mike Maltby MS-MVP
> mike.maltby@gmail.com
>
>
> BriLar1 <BriLar1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> > Mike
> > Thanks for the info, but am one step ahead of you , have already
> > protected the PC with all the software you mention, Have not used CWS
> > yet will try that but will have to be in Safe mode when doing it.
> > Am already using Norton + AVG as Virus checkers. I have also checked
> > the registry for any lurking viruses,worms or trojans, but that looks
> > clear, only the items that I would expect are there. So this still
> > remains a quandry as to what is causing the problem.
> >
> > Will try the Hijack This again and post the findings if any as
> > suggested.
> >
> > Once again thanks for the info.
> >
> > Brian
> >
> > "Mike M" wrote:
> >
> >> Brian,
> >>
> >> The message 'Explorer has caused an error in <unknown>'..... is often
> >> caused by a PC being infected with viruses or other malware,
> >> especially commercial parasites. You need to check your PC using
> >> not only your preferred anti-virus application but also various
> >> other tools listed below.
> >>
> >> If you haven't already done so I would strongly recommend that you
> >> check your system for possible viruses using your preferred anti
> >> virus application equipped with an updated set of viral signatures.
> >> However you might first want to check your PC using one of the
> >> online virus checks such as McAfee's online checker
> >> (http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp) or Trend Micro's
> >> Housecall (http://housecall.antivirus.com).
> >>
> >> This might be a good time to download yourself a copy of the free
> >> Ad-Aware SE Personal edition from Lavasoft
> >> (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/) and also SpyBot
> >> Search & Destroy 1.3 (http://www.safer-networking.org/) and use them
> >> to check your system for other commercial parasites remembering that
> >> they are only as good as when you last updated their reference
> >> files. I also use a program called BHODemon
> >> (http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm that checks for
> >> unwanted Browser Help Objects and SpywareBlaster
> >> (http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html) which can help
> >> prevent some parasites getting a grip on your PC.
> >>
> >> Just is case the problem is due to a new version of the CoolWebSearch
> >> parasite you might want to download and run the CWShredder which
> >> targets that specific parasite. Unfortunately neither AdAware or
> >> SpyBot seem to be able as yet to fully detect all the various
> >> versions of the CoolWebSearch parasite as it keeps changing. The
> >> latest version of CWShredder can be downloaded (free) from
> >> http://www.intermute.com/spysubtra [...] nload.html
> >>
> >> Finally if you still continue to experience problems download a copy
> >> of HijackThis from
> >> (http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html). Create a folder
> >> called HJT on C: (not on your desktop nor in your temp folder) and
> >> copy the file you downloaded to that folder. Close as many
> >> applications as you can including all instances of Internet
> >> Explorer. Enable Explorer to see all files and folders (Tools |
> >> Folder Options | View and check "Show hidden files and folders" and
> >> uncheck "Hide protected operating system files" ) and then run
> >> hijackthis.exe and post back the log to either the HijackThis Forum
> >> at http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or alternatively
> >> http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 and hopefully this will
> >> enable someone to identify the cause of your problem.
> >>
> >> See also: Dealing with Unwanted Malware, Parasites, Toolbars and
> >> Search Engines http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm and also
> >> Browser Hijacking http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/hijacked/
> >> --
> >> Mike Maltby MS-MVP
> >> mike.maltby@gmail.com
> >>
> >>
> >> BriLar <BriLar@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Each Time I open my PC I am getting a Error message that is specific
> >>> to Explorer.
> >>> The message reads: Explorer has caused an error in <unknown>
> >>> Explorer will Close now. If you continue to experience problems
> >>> try restating your computer.
> >>>
> >>> Shortly after this message appears the computer locks out, no mouse
> >>> action or from keybord, only option to power down and reboot. But
> >>> the same thing happens every time.
> >>>
> >>> I am able to access the PC in SAfe Mode but that is very
> >>> restricting.
> >>>
> >>> Can anyone give any help please.
> >>>
> >>> Thanking you in advance.
>
>