explorer won't open on boot

[usergame]

so I have to start it manually after boot. How to fix? Should I make a shortcut and put into my start folder?

[efc]

Download StartUp Manager (startman.exe) at the bottom of this page, http://home.ptd.net/~don5408/toolbox/startupcpl/.

I have used it for many years to know what programs are loading at boot and to add or remove programs from the list. Should be in every toolbox.

[usergame]

I think I was messing around with Autoruns.

Which way do I choose to start explorer? If I were to guess, I would choose: machine run

[efc]

You don't have to worry about run paramaters with Startup Manager. It is intuitive. Add the application and select the target file via the browse function.

[usergame]

You don't have to worry about run paramaters with Startup Manager. It is intuitive. Add the application and select the target file via the browse function.

I just did and it put it in the user's startup folder. Now I know that's not right.

*edit - I put it in REG user RUN because other system32 applications were run there and Machine RUN applications are started by Explorer.

*edit - well that didn't work. so I'll try win.ini [load]

*edit - that's not working. I'll put it in Startup folder common since my desktop.ini file is there and it's starts immediately. .

*edit - nope. Not working. That gives me a My documents folder only after I start explorer.exe manually. I guess this isn't going to work. When I boot - after I sign in, I get 38 processes running and just my wallpaper on my desk (my icons are normally hidden). I then have to start explorer for the rest of my applications to open and get a taskbar.

[piaqt]

Try system restore. Or post in the MS newsgroups.

Use this to check your system: http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Autoruns.html
And check this key: HKLM\software\microsoft\windows NT\currentversion\winlogon

At 12/17/2007 2:38:31 PM the text below was copied from the web document
[SOLVED] Explorer Wont Load On Startup - Tech Support Forum
http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache...nk&cd=10&gl=us

Captured Text Selection:
Boot on the XP CD (set the boot device priority to CD-rom first in the BIOS) and press 'R' to access the recovery console. There type chkdsk /F /R to scan the hard drive for errors.

Once that's done retry to boot into safe mode without networking (it's not very safe to boot in normal or safe mode with networking if your antivirus and firewall are not loaded).

If the task bar and icons are still missing then go to the task manager (press ctrl+alt+del) => file => new task => sfc /scannow (don't forget the space after sfc). This should run the system file checker which will replace possible missing or corrupt system files with a good copy. Insert the XP CD if prompted to do so and don't do anything else while the scan is running.

If that doesn't work or if sfc fails to run then we'll try a repair install.

For SFC and the repair install to work properly on your computer it's advised that you use an XP Pro SP2 CD. If your CD has an older version of XP Pro then create a slipstreamed CD with service pack 2 using another computer and use that CD when running SFC or trying the repair install. Use one of these guides:
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/Windo...p2-bootcd.html
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase...slipstream.asp

(Damn I'm good)

[usergame]

Try system restore. Or post in the MS newsgroups.

Use this to check your system: http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Autoruns.html
And check this key: HKLM\software\microsoft\windows NT\currentversion\winlogon

At 12/17/2007 2:38:31 PM the text below was copied from the web document
[SOLVED] Explorer Wont Load On Startup - Tech Support Forum
http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache...nk&cd=10&gl=us

Captured Text Selection:
Boot on the XP CD (set the boot device priority to CD-rom first in the BIOS) and press 'R' to access the recovery console. There type chkdsk /F /R to scan the hard drive for errors.

Once that's done retry to boot into safe mode without networking (it's not very safe to boot in normal or safe mode with networking if your antivirus and firewall are not loaded).

If the task bar and icons are still missing then go to the task manager (press ctrl+alt+del) => file => new task => sfc /scannow (don't forget the space after sfc). This should run the system file checker which will replace possible missing or corrupt system files with a good copy. Insert the XP CD if prompted to do so and don't do anything else while the scan is running.

If that doesn't work or if sfc fails to run then we'll try a repair install.

For SFC and the repair install to work properly on your computer it's advised that you use an XP Pro SP2 CD. If your CD has an older version of XP Pro then create a slipstreamed CD with service pack 2 using another computer and use that CD when running SFC or trying the repair install. Use one of these guides:
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/Windo...p2-bootcd.html
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase...slipstream.asp

(Damn I'm good)

Thanks for that but, I was hoping for an easy registry entry fix. I'm not so sure I want to run repair then go to windows update to download four hundred and seventy six updates. I'll try putting an icon in the startup folder.

[harrytb]

ive had this problem after running some desktop apps.
the only thing that was viewable at boot was the desktop wallpaper.
i finally fix it using registry machanic.
all sorted now.

[cash_site]

Can you press F8 on boot-up, and then select "Last Known Good Start-up" Or does that just do a SFC?

[piaqt]

@ lk: "repair" is NOT restore. It shouldn't require a to of updates. Also, in the winlogon key, there should be a REG_SZ value, Shell, containing Explorer.exe as the data.

With my names removed, here's a screenie of this key on my machine. I'm running Vista, but it should be the same on XP.