explorer.exe crashes after start on Win2k,SP4

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.file_system (More info?)

I have a problem with my Win 2000 Pro(SP4) Workstation.

A couple of weeks ago, an explorer.exe problem started.
Every time I try to open up anything such as: My Computer,
Control Panel, Search for Files, or any folder, Explorer tries
to startup and then quickly fails (it flashes a display of the
opening directory window on the screen, for an instant before
it fails). There is no error message associated with this failure,
no dialog box and there is nothing about it in the event log or
anywhere else I can find.

This started for me around the time I installed some M$ security
patches and also installed 3 or 4 trial video image burning
packages. So, any of these things could have caused it.
Other, "non-explorer" applications work just fine, BTW.

I've searched the M$ Problem DB until I'm blue, but can't
find this problem described there. Hence no fix.

Has anyone else experienced this? If so, how did you
resolve it????