"Windows is Toast" - Just Want to Be Sure "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> 10/29/2008 10:26:29 PM Without warning on my Dell XPS 1530 laptop (Vista Home Premium - pretty much up to date) I found that my system would no longer boot. I could get to the User Select step, but it was just a Blue Screen from that point forward. I sent some time today with a Dell tech and we tried to run a Restore (F8 on boot -> Repair your Computer -> System Restore) on a couple of different restore points. They were all unsuccessful. His diagnosis was that I was going to have to do a system reinstall. My data is adequately backed up but I REALLY hate the thought of reinstalling all the software (nothing from unknown sources, BTW - am pretty careful with that stuff). I am guessing that he is right but I thought I would post here in case others have thoughts on something else that I might try first. BTW Safe Mode with command line mostly works, although CHKDSK interestingly enough hangs. Thanks. dave

Re: "Windows is Toast" - Just Want to Be Sure "philo" <philo[ at ]privacy.net> 10/29/2008 10:37:49 PM "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote in message news:N4udnUY4iJXsf5XUnZ2dnUVZ_g-dnZ2d[ at ]earthlink.com... [Quoted Text] > Without warning on my Dell XPS 1530 laptop (Vista Home Premium - pretty much > up to date) I found that my system would no longer boot. I could get to the > User Select step, but it was just a Blue Screen from that point forward. > > I sent some time today with a Dell tech and we tried to run a Restore (F8 on > boot -> Repair your Computer -> System Restore) on a couple of different > restore points. They were all unsuccessful. His diagnosis was that I was > going to have to do a system reinstall. My data is adequately backed up but > I REALLY hate the thought of reinstalling all the software (nothing from > unknown sources, BTW - am pretty careful with that stuff). > > I am guessing that he is right but I thought I would post here in case > others have thoughts on something else that I might try first. BTW Safe Mode > with command line mostly works, although CHKDSK interestingly enough hangs. > > Thanks. > > dave > > Well before you do anything else try a RAM test and the mfg's HD diagnostic

Re: "Windows is Toast" - Just Want to Be Sure barman58 <guest[ at ]unknown-email.com> 10/29/2008 10:41:38 PM Hi Dave, before you take the re-image option you may want to try a system file check 'System Files - SFC Command - Vista Forums' (http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html?filter%5B11%5D=Performance%20Maintenance) quite often the techs from the larger OEM's will suggest a restore to factory install option when other options are still available :mad: it's an easy success for them on their call logs :( you may also want to try to reset drivers to std options from safe mode as it could be a driver issue also from a recent problem with an XPS laptop I know DELL has released new drivers this week. so a check of those and possible safe mode update may help you say you get blue screen after log-in what errors do you receive - or is it just a blank screen -- barman58 Regards, *Nigel* the beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand.,- frank herbert

Re: "Windows is Toast" - Just Want to Be Sure "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> 10/29/2008 11:43:40 PM "barman58" <guest[ at ]unknown-email.com> wrote in message news:54f55f7e4ac0035c1cf49b934a395a6e[ at ]nntp-gateway.com... [Quoted Text] > > Hi Dave, > before you take the re-image option you may want to try a system file > check > > 'System Files - SFC Command - Vista Forums' > (http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html?filte r%5B11%5D=Performance%20Maintenance) > > > quite often the techs from the larger OEM's will suggest a restore to > factory install option when other options are still available :mad: it's > an easy success for them on their call logs :( > > you may also want to try to reset drivers to std options from safe mode > as it could be a driver issue > > also from a recent problem with an XPS laptop I know DELL has released > new drivers this week. so a check of those and possible safe mode update > may help > > you say you get blue screen after log-in what errors do you receive - > or is it just a blank screen > > > -- > barman58 > > Regards, > *Nigel* > the beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not > understand.,- frank herbert Thanks for the suggestion. Can you give me a reference to how to go about reseting drivers from safe mode? I can only get a command line - nothing else. I have never seen SAFE MODE run, but am I supposed to see clickable icons somewhere? I don't get anything but a few SAFE MODE labels on a black screen. I can only run from the command line. After the log-in screen I get the normal blue'ish Windows screen with the "circle running around the ball" and 'welcome'. After a short while this leads to a blue screen - nothing else. FWIW, I have had one other, possibly related, problem and that is that sometimes my system would go into SLEEP mode and would have abended when I wake the system up. It only happened from SLEEP, not SUSPEND. It wasn't a regular occurence, but wasn't a singular event either. dave

Re: "Windows is Toast" - Just Want to Be Sure "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> 10/30/2008 12:00:12 AM "philo" <philo[ at ]privacy.net> wrote in message news:eJju2ahOJHA.4088[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... [Quoted Text] > > "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote in message > news:N4udnUY4iJXsf5XUnZ2dnUVZ_g-dnZ2d[ at ]earthlink.com... > > Without warning on my Dell XPS 1530 laptop (Vista Home Premium - pretty > much > > up to date) I found that my system would no longer boot. I could get to > the > > User Select step, but it was just a Blue Screen from that point forward. > > > > I sent some time today with a Dell tech and we tried to run a Restore (F8 > on > > boot -> Repair your Computer -> System Restore) on a couple of different > > restore points. They were all unsuccessful. His diagnosis was that I was > > going to have to do a system reinstall. My data is adequately backed up > but > > I REALLY hate the thought of reinstalling all the software (nothing from > > unknown sources, BTW - am pretty careful with that stuff). > > > > I am guessing that he is right but I thought I would post here in case > > others have thoughts on something else that I might try first. BTW Safe > Mode > > with command line mostly works, although CHKDSK interestingly enough > hangs. > > > > Thanks. > > > > dave > > > > > > > Well > before you do anything else try a RAM test > > and the mfg's HD diagnostic > > Thanks - I'm not sure how to run a HD diagnostic as I didn't get anything that looks like that that can be run standalone. The only thing that I have that is runnable is the command line. If SAFE MODE is supposed to give you icons/etc., I don't get any. NOW I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.!! I just (for no reason) tried a normal Windows reboot and it worked!!! It appears that the RESTORE that didn't seem to work actually finished - my single/earlier reboot attempt after RESTORE failed.. I now have some serious thinking to do about next steps. Will probably recontact DELL for sure. Thanks for the help. dave

Re: "Windows is Toast" - Just Want to Be Sure DDW <dd.wright[ at ]KILLSPAMcomcast.net> 10/30/2008 12:29:58 AM On Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:43:40 -0500, "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote: [Quoted Text] >Thanks for the suggestion. Can you give me a reference to how to go about >reseting drivers from safe mode? I can only get a command line - nothing >else. I have never seen SAFE MODE run, but am I supposed to see clickable >icons somewhere? I don't get anything but a few SAFE MODE labels on a black >screen. I can only run from the command line. Right after your computer goes through POST (the first black screen with text on it) and before Windows starts to load, start tapping F8. When you get the screen with the choices, choose SAFE MODE. DDW -- Reply via this group No email please

Re: "Windows is Toast" - Just Want to Be Sure "philo" <philo[ at ]privacy.net> 10/30/2008 10:26:19 AM "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote in message news:mY-dnf7Ctfv6ZZXUnZ2dnUVZ_hadnZ2d[ at ]earthlink.com... [Quoted Text] > > "philo" <philo[ at ]privacy.net> wrote in message > news:eJju2ahOJHA.4088[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > > > > "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote in message > > news:N4udnUY4iJXsf5XUnZ2dnUVZ_g-dnZ2d[ at ]earthlink.com... > > > Without warning on my Dell XPS 1530 laptop (Vista Home Premium - pretty > > much > > > up to date) I found that my system would no longer boot. I could get to > > the > > > User Select step, but it was just a Blue Screen from that point forward. > > > > > > I sent some time today with a Dell tech and we tried to run a Restore > (F8 > > on > > > boot -> Repair your Computer -> System Restore) on a couple of different > > > restore points. They were all unsuccessful. His diagnosis was that I was > > > going to have to do a system reinstall. My data is adequately backed up > > but > > > I REALLY hate the thought of reinstalling all the software (nothing from > > > unknown sources, BTW - am pretty careful with that stuff). > > > > > > I am guessing that he is right but I thought I would post here in case > > > others have thoughts on something else that I might try first. BTW Safe > > Mode > > > with command line mostly works, although CHKDSK interestingly enough > > hangs. > > > > > > Thanks. > > > > > > dave > > > > > > > > > > > > Well > > before you do anything else try a RAM test > > > > and the mfg's HD diagnostic > > > > > Thanks - I'm not sure how to run a HD diagnostic as I didn't get anything > that looks like that that can be run standalone. The only thing that I have > that is runnable is the command line. If SAFE MODE is supposed to give you > icons/etc., I don't get any. > > NOW I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.!! > > I just (for no reason) tried a normal Windows reboot and it worked!!! It > appears that the RESTORE that didn't seem to work actually finished - my > single/earlier reboot attempt after RESTORE failed.. > > I now have some serious thinking to do about next steps. Will probably > recontact DELL for sure. Thanks for the help. > > dave > > Glad it is now working... but still, I'd run the diagnostics... Vista now has a built-in RAM test, so you will not need a third party utility As to the HD diagnostic you can get that from your HD mfg's website

Re: "Windows is Toast" - Just Want to Be Sure "Rick Rogers" <rick[ at ]mvps.org> 10/30/2008 10:42:35 AM Hi Dave, Open the registry editor from Task Manager (applications tab/click 'new task') and check the contents of the shell string in this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon It should be just 'explorer.exe'. I suspect that you will find it is appended with additional items. If so, alter it, close and reboot the machine. -- Best of Luck, Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/ Windows help - www.rickrogers.org My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote in message news:N4udnUY4iJXsf5XUnZ2dnUVZ_g-dnZ2d[ at ]earthlink.com... [Quoted Text] > Without warning on my Dell XPS 1530 laptop (Vista Home Premium - pretty > much > up to date) I found that my system would no longer boot. I could get to > the > User Select step, but it was just a Blue Screen from that point forward. > > I sent some time today with a Dell tech and we tried to run a Restore (F8 > on > boot -> Repair your Computer -> System Restore) on a couple of different > restore points. They were all unsuccessful. His diagnosis was that I was > going to have to do a system reinstall. My data is adequately backed up > but > I REALLY hate the thought of reinstalling all the software (nothing from > unknown sources, BTW - am pretty careful with that stuff). > > I am guessing that he is right but I thought I would post here in case > others have thoughts on something else that I might try first. BTW Safe > Mode > with command line mostly works, although CHKDSK interestingly enough > hangs. > > Thanks. > > dave > >

Re: "Windows is Toast" - Just Want to Be Sure "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> 10/30/2008 11:38:25 AM "Rick Rogers" <rick[ at ]mvps.org> wrote in message news:%2381r6wnOJHA.1164[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... [Quoted Text] > Hi Dave, > > Open the registry editor from Task Manager (applications tab/click 'new > task') and check the contents of the shell string in this key: > > HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon > > It should be just 'explorer.exe'. I suspect that you will find it is > appended with additional items. If so, alter it, close and reboot the > machine. > > -- > Best of Luck, > > Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP > http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/ > Windows help - www.rickrogers.org > My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com Of coures one of my own rules to to never mess with regedit, but ... :-) Under that KEY I've got tons of stuff and none of it is iexplorer.exe. I really don't understand of of this but what you are suggesting seems inconsistent with what I am seeing. Thanks. dave > > "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote in message > news:N4udnUY4iJXsf5XUnZ2dnUVZ_g-dnZ2d[ at ]earthlink.com... >> Without warning on my Dell XPS 1530 laptop (Vista Home Premium - pretty >> much >> up to date) I found that my system would no longer boot. I could get to >> the >> User Select step, but it was just a Blue Screen from that point forward. >> >> I sent some time today with a Dell tech and we tried to run a Restore (F8 >> on >> boot -> Repair your Computer -> System Restore) on a couple of different >> restore points. They were all unsuccessful. His diagnosis was that I was >> going to have to do a system reinstall. My data is adequately backed up >> but >> I REALLY hate the thought of reinstalling all the software (nothing from >> unknown sources, BTW - am pretty careful with that stuff). >> >> I am guessing that he is right but I thought I would post here in case >> others have thoughts on something else that I might try first. BTW Safe >> Mode >> with command line mostly works, although CHKDSK interestingly enough >> hangs. >> >> Thanks. >> >> dave >> >> >

Re: "Windows is Toast" - Just Want to Be Sure "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> 10/30/2008 11:38:58 AM "philo" <philo[ at ]privacy.net> wrote in message news:OE50tmnOJHA.1144[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... [Quoted Text] > > "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote in message > news:mY-dnf7Ctfv6ZZXUnZ2dnUVZ_hadnZ2d[ at ]earthlink.com... >> >> "philo" <philo[ at ]privacy.net> wrote in message >> news:eJju2ahOJHA.4088[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >> > >> > "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote in message >> > news:N4udnUY4iJXsf5XUnZ2dnUVZ_g-dnZ2d[ at ]earthlink.com... >> > > Without warning on my Dell XPS 1530 laptop (Vista Home Premium - > pretty >> > much >> > > up to date) I found that my system would no longer boot. I could get > to >> > the >> > > User Select step, but it was just a Blue Screen from that point > forward. >> > > >> > > I sent some time today with a Dell tech and we tried to run a Restore >> (F8 >> > on >> > > boot -> Repair your Computer -> System Restore) on a couple of > different >> > > restore points. They were all unsuccessful. His diagnosis was that I > was >> > > going to have to do a system reinstall. My data is adequately backed > up >> > but >> > > I REALLY hate the thought of reinstalling all the software (nothing > from >> > > unknown sources, BTW - am pretty careful with that stuff). >> > > >> > > I am guessing that he is right but I thought I would post here in >> > > case >> > > others have thoughts on something else that I might try first. BTW > Safe >> > Mode >> > > with command line mostly works, although CHKDSK interestingly enough >> > hangs. >> > > >> > > Thanks. >> > > >> > > dave >> > > >> > > >> > >> > >> > Well >> > before you do anything else try a RAM test >> > >> > and the mfg's HD diagnostic >> > >> > >> Thanks - I'm not sure how to run a HD diagnostic as I didn't get anything >> that looks like that that can be run standalone. The only thing that I > have >> that is runnable is the command line. If SAFE MODE is supposed to give >> you >> icons/etc., I don't get any. >> >> NOW I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.!! >> >> I just (for no reason) tried a normal Windows reboot and it worked!!! It >> appears that the RESTORE that didn't seem to work actually finished - my >> single/earlier reboot attempt after RESTORE failed.. >> >> I now have some serious thinking to do about next steps. Will probably >> recontact DELL for sure. Thanks for the help. >> >> dave >> >> > > > Glad it is now working... > > but still, I'd run the diagnostics... > > Vista now has a built-in RAM test, > so you will not need a third party utility > > As to the HD diagnostic > you can get that from your HD mfg's website > > > Got it - thx. dave

Re: "Windows is Toast" - Just Want to Be Sure "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> 10/30/2008 11:40:10 AM "DDW" <dd.wright[ at ]KILLSPAMcomcast.net> wrote in message news:dtvhg4hvdpef7m5isllpc13rgc7jnurg08[ at ]4ax.com... [Quoted Text] > On Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:43:40 -0500, "Dave Lee" > <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote: > >>Thanks for the suggestion. Can you give me a reference to how to go about >>reseting drivers from safe mode? I can only get a command line - nothing >>else. I have never seen SAFE MODE run, but am I supposed to see clickable >>icons somewhere? I don't get anything but a few SAFE MODE labels on a >>black >>screen. I can only run from the command line. > > Right after your computer goes through POST (the first black screen > with text on it) and before Windows starts to load, start tapping F8. > When you get the screen with the choices, choose SAFE MODE. > > > DDW > -- > Reply via this group > No email please I'd been running SAFE MODE since I ran into this problem. But the SAFE MODE that I was getting was not totally functional (basically all that worked was the command line). For now that problem is gone - for now. Thanks. dave

Re: "Windows is Toast" - Just Want to Be Sure Richie Hardwick <richiehardwick[ at ]yahSPAMhoo.com> 10/30/2008 12:33:23 PM "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote: [Quoted Text] > >"Rick Rogers" <rick[ at ]mvps.org> wrote in message >news:%2381r6wnOJHA.1164[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> Hi Dave, >> >> Open the registry editor from Task Manager (applications tab/click 'new >> task') and check the contents of the shell string in this key: >> >> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon >> >> It should be just 'explorer.exe'. I suspect that you will find it is >> appended with additional items. If so, alter it, close and reboot the >> machine. >> >> -- >> Best of Luck, >> >> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/ >> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org >> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com > >Of coures one of my own rules to to never mess with regedit, but ... :-) > >Under that KEY I've got tons of stuff and none of it is iexplorer.exe. I >really don't understand of of this but what you are suggesting seems >inconsistent with what I am seeing. Check again. With the key he mentioned highlighted, look in the right portion of the window and find "shell". It's there. Richie Hardwick

Re: "Windows is Toast" - Just Want to Be Sure "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> 10/30/2008 2:04:22 PM "Richie Hardwick" <richiehardwick[ at ]yahSPAMhoo.com> wrote in message news:49ajg4tm1hpf7l2g6d20hcitvu9vvg43mr[ at ]4ax.com... [Quoted Text] > "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote: > >> >>"Rick Rogers" <rick[ at ]mvps.org> wrote in message >>news:%2381r6wnOJHA.1164[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>> Hi Dave, >>> >>> Open the registry editor from Task Manager (applications tab/click 'new >>> task') and check the contents of the shell string in this key: >>> >>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon >>> >>> It should be just 'explorer.exe'. I suspect that you will find it is >>> appended with additional items. If so, alter it, close and reboot the >>> machine. >>> >>> -- >>> Best of Luck, >>> >>> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP >>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/ >>> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org >>> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com >> >>Of coures one of my own rules to to never mess with regedit, but ... :-) >> >>Under that KEY I've got tons of stuff and none of it is iexplorer.exe. I >>really don't understand of of this but what you are suggesting seems >>inconsistent with what I am seeing. > > Check again. With the key he mentioned highlighted, look in the right > portion of the window and find "shell". It's there. > > Richie Hardwick Yep - missed it. Thanks for catching that. Let me be sure of what I am hearing here. I should delete all the keys under WINLOGON except for "Shell ... REG_SZ .... explorer.exe:. I just want to be really sure here because of lack of knowledge on my part. I've got 20'ish entries and "WINLOGON" seems pretty fundamental from my limited understanding. At a glance you can tell that many of these are not so important (like "LegalNotice Text"). Others (such as userinit) I'm not so sure. So I'm being extremely cautious here. OTOH, given my symptoms I can understand why this particular entry should be viewed with some suspicion. Thanks again for the help. dave ps. the UserInit entry has only userinit.exe listed so I assume that userinit.exe would run even if nothing was there - but I honestly just don't know that much about this stuff.

Re: "Windows is Toast" - Just Want to Be Sure "Zaphod Beeblebrox" <Zaphod.Arisztid.Beeblebrox[ at ]gmail.com> 10/30/2008 6:24:16 PM "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote in message news:OgFyphpOJHA.588[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... [Quoted Text] > > "Richie Hardwick" <richiehardwick[ at ]yahSPAMhoo.com> wrote in message > news:49ajg4tm1hpf7l2g6d20hcitvu9vvg43mr[ at ]4ax.com... >> "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote: >> >>> >>>"Rick Rogers" <rick[ at ]mvps.org> wrote in message >>>news:%2381r6wnOJHA.1164[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>>> Hi Dave, >>>> >>>> Open the registry editor from Task Manager (applications tab/click >>>> 'new >>>> task') and check the contents of the shell string in this key: >>>> >>>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows >>>> NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon >>>> >>>> It should be just 'explorer.exe'. I suspect that you will find it >>>> is >>>> appended with additional items. If so, alter it, close and reboot >>>> the >>>> machine. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Best of Luck, >>>> >>>> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP >>>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/ >>>> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org >>>> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com >>> >>>Of coures one of my own rules to to never mess with regedit, but ... >>>:-) >>> >>>Under that KEY I've got tons of stuff and none of it is >>>iexplorer.exe. I >>>really don't understand of of this but what you are suggesting seems >>>inconsistent with what I am seeing. >> >> Check again. With the key he mentioned highlighted, look in the >> right >> portion of the window and find "shell". It's there. >> >> Richie Hardwick > > Yep - missed it. Thanks for catching that. > > Let me be sure of what I am hearing here. I should delete all the keys > under WINLOGON except for "Shell ... REG_SZ .... explorer.exe:. I just > want to be really sure here because of lack of knowledge on my part. > I've got 20'ish entries and "WINLOGON" seems pretty fundamental from > my limited understanding. At a glance you can tell that many of these > are not so important (like "LegalNotice Text"). Others (such as > userinit) I'm not so sure. So I'm being extremely cautious here. > > OTOH, given my symptoms I can understand why this particular entry > should be viewed with some suspicion. > > Thanks again for the help. > > dave > > ps. the UserInit entry has only userinit.exe listed so I assume that > userinit.exe would run even if nothing was there - but I honestly just > don't know that much about this stuff. Dave, do NOT delete the other keys under Winlogon. There are a bunch of keys that could, and indeeed should, be there. On my system there are probably 2 dozen keys and a half dozen additional folders. This is normal. It looks like Rick was just wanting to make sure that the specific key "Shell" had the correct value of "Explorer.exe" and nothing else. Seems like rather a long shot for your problem, but worth checking. It looks like it is OK from what you've posted. -- Zaphod Arthur: All my life I've had this strange feeling that there's something big and sinister going on in the world. Slartibartfast: No, that's perfectly normal paranoia. Everyone in the universe gets that.

Re: "Windows is Toast" - Just Want to Be Sure "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> 10/30/2008 6:51:06 PM "Zaphod Beeblebrox" <Zaphod.Arisztid.Beeblebrox[ at ]gmail.com> wrote in message news:gecu4r$udl$1[ at ]registered.motzarella.org... [Quoted Text] > > "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote in message > news:OgFyphpOJHA.588[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >> >> "Richie Hardwick" <richiehardwick[ at ]yahSPAMhoo.com> wrote in message >> news:49ajg4tm1hpf7l2g6d20hcitvu9vvg43mr[ at ]4ax.com... >>> "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote: >>> >>>> >>>>"Rick Rogers" <rick[ at ]mvps.org> wrote in message >>>>news:%2381r6wnOJHA.1164[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>>>> Hi Dave, >>>>> >>>>> Open the registry editor from Task Manager (applications tab/click >>>>> 'new >>>>> task') and check the contents of the shell string in this key: >>>>> >>>>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows >>>>> NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon >>>>> >>>>> It should be just 'explorer.exe'. I suspect that you will find it is >>>>> appended with additional items. If so, alter it, close and reboot the >>>>> machine. >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Best of Luck, >>>>> >>>>> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP >>>>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/ >>>>> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org >>>>> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com >>>> >>>>Of coures one of my own rules to to never mess with regedit, but ... :-) >>>> >>>>Under that KEY I've got tons of stuff and none of it is iexplorer.exe. I >>>>really don't understand of of this but what you are suggesting seems >>>>inconsistent with what I am seeing. >>> >>> Check again. With the key he mentioned highlighted, look in the right >>> portion of the window and find "shell". It's there. >>> >>> Richie Hardwick >> >> Yep - missed it. Thanks for catching that. >> >> Let me be sure of what I am hearing here. I should delete all the keys >> under WINLOGON except for "Shell ... REG_SZ .... explorer.exe:. I just >> want to be really sure here because of lack of knowledge on my part. I've >> got 20'ish entries and "WINLOGON" seems pretty fundamental from my >> limited understanding. At a glance you can tell that many of these are >> not so important (like "LegalNotice Text"). Others (such as userinit) I'm >> not so sure. So I'm being extremely cautious here. >> >> OTOH, given my symptoms I can understand why this particular entry should >> be viewed with some suspicion. >> >> Thanks again for the help. >> >> dave >> >> ps. the UserInit entry has only userinit.exe listed so I assume that >> userinit.exe would run even if nothing was there - but I honestly just >> don't know that much about this stuff. > > Dave, do NOT delete the other keys under Winlogon. There are a bunch of > keys that could, and indeeed should, be there. On my system there are > probably 2 dozen keys and a half dozen additional folders. This is > normal. > > It looks like Rick was just wanting to make sure that the specific key > "Shell" had the correct value of "Explorer.exe" and nothing else. Seems > like rather a long shot for your problem, but worth checking. It looks > like it is OK from what you've posted. > > -- > Zaphod Thanks, Zaphod. After reading Rick's note carefully I believe that you are correct. The additional keys that he was referring to were in the SHELL string (and I have nothing else there) not in WINLOGON. Thanks for the clarification. dave

Re: "Windows is Toast" - Just Want to Be Sure "Rick Rogers" <rick[ at ]mvps.org> 10/31/2008 12:02:32 AM Right. All I wanted you to check was the shell string under that key. Do not mess with anything else in there. -- Best of Luck, Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/ Windows help - www.rickrogers.org My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote in message news:OfB93BsOJHA.4780[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... [Quoted Text] > > "Zaphod Beeblebrox" <Zaphod.Arisztid.Beeblebrox[ at ]gmail.com> wrote in > message news:gecu4r$udl$1[ at ]registered.motzarella.org... >> >> "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote in message >> news:OgFyphpOJHA.588[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >>> >>> "Richie Hardwick" <richiehardwick[ at ]yahSPAMhoo.com> wrote in message >>> news:49ajg4tm1hpf7l2g6d20hcitvu9vvg43mr[ at ]4ax.com... >>>> "Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC[ at ]ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote: >>>> >>>>> >>>>>"Rick Rogers" <rick[ at ]mvps.org> wrote in message >>>>>news:%2381r6wnOJHA.1164[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>>>>> Hi Dave, >>>>>> >>>>>> Open the registry editor from Task Manager (applications tab/click >>>>>> 'new >>>>>> task') and check the contents of the shell string in this key: >>>>>> >>>>>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows >>>>>> NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon >>>>>> >>>>>> It should be just 'explorer.exe'. I suspect that you will find it is >>>>>> appended with additional items. If so, alter it, close and reboot the >>>>>> machine. >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Best of Luck, >>>>>> >>>>>> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP >>>>>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/ >>>>>> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org >>>>>> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com >>>>> >>>>>Of coures one of my own rules to to never mess with regedit, but ... >>>>>:-) >>>>> >>>>>Under that KEY I've got tons of stuff and none of it is iexplorer.exe. >>>>>I >>>>>really don't understand of of this but what you are suggesting seems >>>>>inconsistent with what I am seeing. >>>> >>>> Check again. With the key he mentioned highlighted, look in the right >>>> portion of the window and find "shell". It's there. >>>> >>>> Richie Hardwick >>> >>> Yep - missed it. Thanks for catching that. >>> >>> Let me be sure of what I am hearing here. I should delete all the keys >>> under WINLOGON except for "Shell ... REG_SZ .... explorer.exe:. I just >>> want to be really sure here because of lack of knowledge on my part. >>> I've got 20'ish entries and "WINLOGON" seems pretty fundamental from my >>> limited understanding. At a glance you can tell that many of these are >>> not so important (like "LegalNotice Text"). Others (such as userinit) >>> I'm not so sure. So I'm being extremely cautious here. >>> >>> OTOH, given my symptoms I can understand why this particular entry >>> should be viewed with some suspicion. >>> >>> Thanks again for the help. >>> >>> dave >>> >>> ps. the UserInit entry has only userinit.exe listed so I assume that >>> userinit.exe would run even if nothing was there - but I honestly just >>> don't know that much about this stuff. >> >> Dave, do NOT delete the other keys under Winlogon. There are a bunch of >> keys that could, and indeeed should, be there. On my system there are >> probably 2 dozen keys and a half dozen additional folders. This is >> normal. >> >> It looks like Rick was just wanting to make sure that the specific key >> "Shell" had the correct value of "Explorer.exe" and nothing else. Seems >> like rather a long shot for your problem, but worth checking. It looks >> like it is OK from what you've posted. >> >> -- >> Zaphod > > Thanks, Zaphod. After reading Rick's note carefully I believe that you are > correct. The additional keys that he was referring to were in the SHELL > string (and I have nothing else there) not in WINLOGON. > > Thanks for the clarification. > > dave