Windows Explorer Stops Responding

  • Thread starter Thread starter RyanW
  • Start date Start date
R

RyanW

My computer has recently started a new problem. On startup, i can load to
the point of the desktop with icons presented (gets past password and all
looks normal). However, the computer does not respond to any input. I
cannot start any programs (no response when clicking desk-top icons - doesn't
even highlight), and cannot access the start menu - mouse cursor changes to
the "thinking" display (egg-timer) and nothing can be selected. The only
thing that the computer responds to is ctrl-alt-del - task manager appears.
no applications are running, processes look normal (i cannot see any unusual
ones and none are chewing up memory). moving the task manager popup around
the screen leaves a "trail" (ie it leaves imprints behind it (like
mouse-pointer trails, but they stay permanently and take-over the screen).
my only option is to reboot the computer. if i try to log off (change user),
i cannot enter a password, but still can select the "turn off computer"
option. sometimes the computer then runs correctly, others i need to restart
repeatedly to get it working.

I have only recently started getting this error. updates are up to date
(this actually started after the last automatic updates), i run defrag
regularly and have not had any viruses detected by my antivirus scanning.
There are no errors appearing in event viewer. the reason that i think that
the problem is explorer is that when i turn off the computer, i get the
message that explorer is not responding, click to end now. sorry so long
winded - trying to give as much info as i can at the start. any help would
be greatly appreciated
 
Ryan

What reports in Event Viewer?

Please post copies of all Error and Warning Reports appearing in the
System and Application logs in Event Viewer for the last boot. No
Information Reports please.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, and Event Viewer. When researching the meaning
of the error, information regarding Event ID, Source and Description
are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us

Part of the Description of the error will include a link, which you
should double click for further information. You can copy using copy
and paste. Often the link will, however, say there is no further
information.
http://go.microsoft.com/fw.link/events.asp
(Please note the hyperlink above is for illustration purposes only)

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Click the button and close Event
Viewer.Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from
Event Viewer.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



RyanW wrote:
> My computer has recently started a new problem. On startup, i can
> load to the point of the desktop with icons presented (gets past
> password and all looks normal). However, the computer does not
> respond to any input. I cannot start any programs (no response when
> clicking desk-top icons - doesn't even highlight), and cannot access
> the start menu - mouse cursor changes to the "thinking" display
> (egg-timer) and nothing can be selected. The only thing that the
> computer responds to is ctrl-alt-del - task manager appears. no
> applications are running, processes look normal (i cannot see any
> unusual ones and none are chewing up memory). moving the task
> manager popup around the screen leaves a "trail" (ie it leaves
> imprints behind it (like mouse-pointer trails, but they stay
> permanently and take-over the screen). my only option is to reboot
> the computer. if i try to log off (change user), i cannot enter a
> password, but still can select the "turn off computer" option.
> sometimes the computer then runs correctly, others i need to restart
> repeatedly to get it working.
>
> I have only recently started getting this error. updates are up to
> date (this actually started after the last automatic updates), i run
> defrag regularly and have not had any viruses detected by my
> antivirus scanning. There are no errors appearing in event viewer.
> the reason that i think that the problem is explorer is that when i
> turn off the computer, i get the message that explorer is not
> responding, click to end now. sorry so long winded - trying to give
> as much info as i can at the start. any help would be greatly
> appreciated
 
Hi Gerry

Thanks for your fast response. There are no error reports appearing in the
Event Viewer. All reports in there at the times that i have had these issues
are simply "Information" reports, with nothing out of the ordinary. Do you
have any other ideas?

Thanks

Ryan

"Gerry" wrote:

> Ryan
>
> What reports in Event Viewer?
>
> Please post copies of all Error and Warning Reports appearing in the
> System and Application logs in Event Viewer for the last boot. No
> Information Reports please.
>
> You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Control Panel,
> Administrative Tools, and Event Viewer. When researching the meaning
> of the error, information regarding Event ID, Source and Description
> are important.
>
> HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us
>
> Part of the Description of the error will include a link, which you
> should double click for further information. You can copy using copy
> and paste. Often the link will, however, say there is no further
> information.
> http://go.microsoft.com/fw.link/events.asp
> (Please note the hyperlink above is for illustration purposes only)
>
> A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
> click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
> button resembling two pages. Click the button and close Event
> Viewer.Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
> the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from
> Event Viewer.
>
> --
>
>
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Gerry
> ~~~~
> FCA
> Stourport, England
> Enquire, plan and execute
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
>
> RyanW wrote:
> > My computer has recently started a new problem. On startup, i can
> > load to the point of the desktop with icons presented (gets past
> > password and all looks normal). However, the computer does not
> > respond to any input. I cannot start any programs (no response when
> > clicking desk-top icons - doesn't even highlight), and cannot access
> > the start menu - mouse cursor changes to the "thinking" display
> > (egg-timer) and nothing can be selected. The only thing that the
> > computer responds to is ctrl-alt-del - task manager appears. no
> > applications are running, processes look normal (i cannot see any
> > unusual ones and none are chewing up memory). moving the task
> > manager popup around the screen leaves a "trail" (ie it leaves
> > imprints behind it (like mouse-pointer trails, but they stay
> > permanently and take-over the screen). my only option is to reboot
> > the computer. if i try to log off (change user), i cannot enter a
> > password, but still can select the "turn off computer" option.
> > sometimes the computer then runs correctly, others i need to restart
> > repeatedly to get it working.
> >
> > I have only recently started getting this error. updates are up to
> > date (this actually started after the last automatic updates), i run
> > defrag regularly and have not had any viruses detected by my
> > antivirus scanning. There are no errors appearing in event viewer.
> > the reason that i think that the problem is explorer is that when i
> > turn off the computer, i get the message that explorer is not
> > responding, click to end now. sorry so long winded - trying to give
> > as much info as i can at the start. any help would be greatly
> > appreciated
>
>
>
 
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