Explorer crash

Jackarias · 08-19-2009, 04:42 AM

Hi guys

My dad is using an old dell inspiron pc, running windows 98 second edition. Last night he turned it on and it booted itself into safe mode (he doesnt know why, he uses it every day and didnt recall any problems with it). He turned it off, and now whenever we turn it on, it loads past BIOS etc, but as soon as it gets to the operating system, it loads the desktop image, and then explorer performs an illegal operation and thats that. none of the icons load, the start bar doesnt come up. If you close the error message the mouse and keyboard still work but theres nothing to do. pressing cntrl alt del brings up the task manager but there aren't any tasks to manage.

We don't have a windows 98 disc either because when it was repaired about 6 years ago the guy stole the disc and denied we even gave it to him, so we cant really do anything with the disc. the pc also has a lot of stuff thats valuable to my dad so we would prefer a solution that didnt involve the loss of data, but i guess if we must, we must.

thanks guys

jack

edit: in case the system specs are helpful
98se
2gig hdd
256mb ram
650mhz pentium 3

Codeman0013 · 08-19-2009, 07:38 AM

try pulling up task manager and giong to file > new task (run) and type explorer.exe and see what happens when you do this..

Jackarias · 08-19-2009, 08:01 AM

Sorry, that won't work. There is no start bar, nothing. Explore crashes before the desktop has loaded and that's that. Can't get to run because it just isn't there.

Codeman0013 · 08-19-2009, 08:16 AM

did you even try it... thats the manual way to start it and if its crashing what are the errors you are getting

Jackarias · 08-19-2009, 08:32 AM

Yes I tried it. It's windows 98. That option doesn't exist on it. It just says Explorer has performed an illegal operation and is shutting down.

**TheOutcaste** · 08-19-2009, 05:08 PM

Does it still boot to Safe Mode? Hold down the CTRL key as you boot to bring up the Windows 98 Startup menu and try Safe Mode.
Without a disk your options are limited though.

Win98 doesn't have a Safe Mode with Networking, so backing up files from safe mode may be limited to just what will fit on a floppy.

If you can connect the drive to a 2nd PC, either internally as a slave, or using an external enclosure, you should be able to recover the data.

Another option would be to download a Vista Recovery Console image and burn it to CD. When booted to the Recovery Environment you can copy files to an external USB drive.

If the system has a DVD drive, you can also use the Win7 Release Candidate which can still be downloaded until tomorrow.

Jackarias · 08-19-2009, 06:34 PM

Thanks for the replies

I tried safe mode earlier. The same thing happens, explorer crashes before the desktop loads.

With the other operating systems, do you mean installing a new one over the top and have done with it? i suggested that to my dad but he really wants to keep the data. that, and i dont know if the system spec will even allow new operating systems to run.

**TheOutcaste** · 08-19-2009, 09:35 PM

No, just suggesting you use either the Vista or Win7 disks to allow you to copy any files you want to save. I doubt a system running 98 would work with Vista or Win7 either.

Once the files are safe, there's a few things to try, like running chkdsk from one of those disks. Chkdsk can sometimes cause files to go missing, so best to back them up first.

08-19-2009, 04:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jackarias Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Explorer crash Hi guys My dad is using an old dell inspiron pc, running windows 98 second edition. Last night he turned it on and it booted itself into safe mode (he doesnt know why, he uses it every day and didnt recall any problems with it). He turned it off, and now whenever we turn it on, it loads past BIOS etc, but as soon as it gets to the operating system, it loads the desktop image, and then explorer performs an illegal operation and thats that. none of the icons load, the start bar doesnt come up. If you close the error message the mouse and keyboard still work but theres nothing to do. pressing cntrl alt del brings up the task manager but there aren't any tasks to manage. We don't have a windows 98 disc either because when it was repaired about 6 years ago the guy stole the disc and denied we even gave it to him, so we cant really do anything with the disc. the pc also has a lot of stuff thats valuable to my dad so we would prefer a solution that didnt involve the loss of data, but i guess if we must, we must. thanks guys jack edit: in case the system specs are helpful 98se 2gig hdd 256mb ram 650mhz pentium 3

08-19-2009, 07:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
Codeman0013 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Decatur Illinois Posts: 257 OS: Windows 7 My System	Re: Explorer crash try pulling up task manager and giong to file > new task (run) and type explorer.exe and see what happens when you do this..

08-19-2009, 08:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jackarias Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: Explorer crash Sorry, that won't work. There is no start bar, nothing. Explore crashes before the desktop has loaded and that's that. Can't get to run because it just isn't there.

08-19-2009, 08:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
Codeman0013 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Decatur Illinois Posts: 257 OS: Windows 7 My System	Re: Explorer crash did you even try it... thats the manual way to start it and if its crashing what are the errors you are getting

08-19-2009, 08:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jackarias Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: Explorer crash Yes I tried it. It's windows 98. That option doesn't exist on it. It just says Explorer has performed an illegal operation and is shutting down.

08-19-2009, 05:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
TheOutcaste TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 815 OS: MS-Dos 6.22 - Win7	Re: Explorer crash Does it still boot to Safe Mode? Hold down the CTRL key as you boot to bring up the Windows 98 Startup menu and try Safe Mode. Without a disk your options are limited though. Win98 doesn't have a Safe Mode with Networking, so backing up files from safe mode may be limited to just what will fit on a floppy. If you can connect the drive to a 2nd PC, either internally as a slave, or using an external enclosure, you should be able to recover the data. Another option would be to download a Vista Recovery Console image and burn it to CD. When booted to the Recovery Environment you can copy files to an external USB drive. If the system has a DVD drive, you can also use the Win7 Release Candidate which can still be downloaded until tomorrow. __________________ Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience Of course I know all the answers; I just don't always match the answers to the right questions. Rated R for Violence -- When your PC flies through a window, that's violent, right?

08-19-2009, 06:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jackarias Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: Explorer crash Thanks for the replies I tried safe mode earlier. The same thing happens, explorer crashes before the desktop loads. With the other operating systems, do you mean installing a new one over the top and have done with it? i suggested that to my dad but he really wants to keep the data. that, and i dont know if the system spec will even allow new operating systems to run.

08-19-2009, 09:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
TheOutcaste TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 815 OS: MS-Dos 6.22 - Win7	Re: Explorer crash No, just suggesting you use either the Vista or Win7 disks to allow you to copy any files you want to save. I doubt a system running 98 would work with Vista or Win7 either. Once the files are safe, there's a few things to try, like running chkdsk from one of those disks. Chkdsk can sometimes cause files to go missing, so best to back them up first. __________________ Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience Of course I know all the answers; I just don't always match the answers to the right questions. Rated R for Violence -- When your PC flies through a window, that's violent, right?