Windows not starting up completely, no start menu, no task manager

[Guest Jim 5coat]

Had a virus attack and have cleaned it using McAfee including a full scan in

DOS safe mode. No infected files are on the disk based on the scans. When

I start the PC in “normal mode” the desktop displays but the start menu nor

the task bar display. Even when I use the windows key. Right clicks on the

desk top do not work. I normally do not have icons on my desktop so I do

not know if other programs work.

 

In the safe mode I have attempted to run

windows explorer and the system says in can not find explorer.exe even though

I can see it in the windows directory using the DOS dir command.

 

I have attempted to do the sfc /scannow process but got the following error

message "windows file protection could not initiate a scan of protected

system files.

The specific error code is 0x000006ba (The RPC server is unavailable.].

 

I have reviewed what is running in the Task Manager and notice that

explorer.exe is not running and expect it has something to do with the fact

the system can't find explorer.exe for some reason.

 

Not sure where to go from here.

--

Jim 5coat

[Guest Malke]

Re: Windows not starting up completely, no start menu, no task manager

 

Jim 5coat wrote:

> Had a virus attack and have cleaned it using McAfee including a full scan

> in

> DOS safe mode. No infected files are on the disk based on the scans.

> When I start the PC in ?normal mode? the desktop displays but the start

> menu nor

> the task bar display. Even when I use the windows key. Right clicks on

> the

> desk top do not work. I normally do not have icons on my desktop so I do

> not know if other programs work.

>

> In the safe mode I have attempted to run

> windows explorer and the system says in can not find explorer.exe even

> though I can see it in the windows directory using the DOS dir command.

>

> I have attempted to do the sfc /scannow process but got the following

> error

> message "windows file protection could not initiate a scan of protected

> system files.

> The specific error code is 0x000006ba (The RPC server is unavailable.].

>

> I have reviewed what is running in the Task Manager and notice that

> explorer.exe is not running and expect it has something to do with the

> fact the system can't find explorer.exe for some reason.

 

I very much doubt that your computer is still clean. McAfee is really

dreadful and in any case won't catch a lot of malware.

 

Go through these general malware removal steps systematically -

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

 

Include scanning with David Lipman's Multi_AV and follow instructions to do

all scans in Safe Mode.

 

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Multi-AV - instructions

http://tinyurl.com/yoeru3 - download link and more instructions

 

When all else fails, get guided help. Choose one of the specialty forums

listed at the first link. Register and read its posting FAQ. PLEASE DO NOT

POST LOGS IN THE MS NEWSGROUPS.

 

Or your operating system may have been so damaged that a clean install is

required.

 

Standard disclaimer: I can't see and test your computer myself, so these are

just suggestions based on many years of being a professional computer tech;

suggestions based on what you've written. You should not take my

suggestions as a definitive diagnosis. If you can't do the work yourself

(and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea), take the

machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local equivalent

of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). Please be aware that not all local shops

are skilled at removing malware and even if they are, your computer may be

so infested that Windows will need to be clean-installed. If possible, have

all your data backed up before you take the machine into a shop.

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

[Guest Jim 5coat]

Re: Windows not starting up completely, no start menu, no task man

 

Re: Windows not starting up completely, no start menu, no task man

 

Thanks for the suggestions I will try them in the AM. 10 hours of messing

with this stuff today is about all I can handle. Though it appears I have

narrowed the issue down to the explorer.exe missing issue. It's like the

file allocation table may have gotten hit because the system just doesn't

recognize the file even though it's there.

--

Jim 5coat

 

 

"Malke" wrote:

> Jim 5coat wrote:

>

> > Had a virus attack and have cleaned it using McAfee including a full scan

> > in

> > DOS safe mode. No infected files are on the disk based on the scans.

> > When I start the PC in ?normal mode? the desktop displays but the start

> > menu nor

> > the task bar display. Even when I use the windows key. Right clicks on

> > the

> > desk top do not work. I normally do not have icons on my desktop so I do

> > not know if other programs work.

> >

> > In the safe mode I have attempted to run

> > windows explorer and the system says in can not find explorer.exe even

> > though I can see it in the windows directory using the DOS dir command.

> >

> > I have attempted to do the sfc /scannow process but got the following

> > error

> > message "windows file protection could not initiate a scan of protected

> > system files.

> > The specific error code is 0x000006ba (The RPC server is unavailable.].

> >

> > I have reviewed what is running in the Task Manager and notice that

> > explorer.exe is not running and expect it has something to do with the

> > fact the system can't find explorer.exe for some reason.

>

> I very much doubt that your computer is still clean. McAfee is really

> dreadful and in any case won't catch a lot of malware.

>

> Go through these general malware removal steps systematically -

> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

>

> Include scanning with David Lipman's Multi_AV and follow instructions to do

> all scans in Safe Mode.

>

> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Multi-AV - instructions

> http://tinyurl.com/yoeru3 - download link and more instructions

>

> When all else fails, get guided help. Choose one of the specialty forums

> listed at the first link. Register and read its posting FAQ. PLEASE DO NOT

> POST LOGS IN THE MS NEWSGROUPS.

>

> Or your operating system may have been so damaged that a clean install is

> required.

>

> Standard disclaimer: I can't see and test your computer myself, so these are

> just suggestions based on many years of being a professional computer tech;

> suggestions based on what you've written. You should not take my

> suggestions as a definitive diagnosis. If you can't do the work yourself

> (and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea), take the

> machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local equivalent

> of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). Please be aware that not all local shops

> are skilled at removing malware and even if they are, your computer may be

> so infested that Windows will need to be clean-installed. If possible, have

> all your data backed up before you take the machine into a shop.

>

> Malke

> --

> MS-MVP

> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

> FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

>

>