(Running Vista 64-bit, Home Premium edition)
So, my PC decided to restart a couple hours ago to update or someshit. After that was done, I logged in and found a black screen, with no taskbar, no nothing, except my cursor. My first reflex was to hit 'CTRL+Shift+Esc' (task manager) and close, then fire up 'explorer.exe' again. But explorer.exe wasn't in the list of processes, which is weird. I went into "New Task.." and tried to run 'explorer.exe', and about two seconds later, I get a popup saying "Explorer has encountered a problem, etc."
The weird thing is that EVERYTHING works, except explorer. I can ctrl+alt+delete to bring up that menu, and restart the PC, log out and whatever from that menu.
I restarted the computer, and put it through Safe Mode, and logged in. Same thing, only this time, when I tried to run Explorer.exe manually, it didn't even start up.
Next, I tried doing the system restore thing, and restore it to BEFORE the update. It failed, and said something about the Drives not being ready, and deleted that point to restore to. There was another point, although it was after the update, I tried it anyway, and it restored correctly, but didn't fix anything.
So, I simply fired up "firefox.exe" through the task manager, and came here.
I'm running out of ideas, I'm about to shut off the PC through the power source and force it to do the system repair/checkup thing it usually does when that happens.
I'd love to avoid having to format completely, since I've got about 40gb of media work and projects that I've spent lots of time on, and haven't got to backup.
But, if it comes to that, I'm willing to do it if it means getting this PC back operational.
I'm not completely computer savvy, so I'd appreciate simpler explanations and whatnot.
Thanks.
Can you launch a command prompt? If so, you might want to back up your stuff from there just in case you're forced to reinstall.
I can do pretty much anything I could do before, except get the Taskbar and Desktop.
I can even pop up the actual folder explorer thing, if I type a directory into the 'Create New Task..'
here is my suggestion:
back up your data and reinstall.
Do you, by any chance have access to any other computer? If you do then you can go to [url]http://www.ubuntu.com/[/url] and download ubuntu as a .iso image. follow the instructions to write it to a CD and from there do this:
insert the cd into your computer and reboot. while booting press F5 or esc or another F key to go into one time boot options. select boot from CD and enter.
Ubuntu will start up, select "try ubuntu" or "use live CD"(i don't remember). From there you can access your hard drive and recover anything before reinstall.
Hm, I'll give that a try. I have to find my recovery CD first.. No idea where that is.
if you need help with the live cd you can just pm me.
Alright, thanks. Mind if I add you on Steam? I got some things that I need to do on the PC tonight, so I'll start recovery tomorrow, I guess.
This is really weird though, I managed to get a windows explorer thing open to my desktop folder [I]as[/I] my desktop.
I miss the taskbar..
I'm in the same situation, this black screen at startup, I've heard affects 60m Windows computers worldwide. It has happened to me, my brother, three of my friends, and this guy I was chatting with at GameStop. It happens for various reasons, but the most common I've seen is Malware. Some people might not even know it's Malware. This virus I got wiped my hard drive too. I record my gaming career and have had some funny stuff happen. :smith: Well anyways on to the fix. I would just recommend finding your OS disc that comes with most, if not all storebought computers. If you built your computer, you should still have an OS disc. When your compute starts up, press F8, (or F12, I can't remember right now) at startup. Launch your CD drive, and you should have some sort of Recovery option. You can either do that, or just reinstall your OS. Feel for ya man. Also, a warning for you all, I got my Virus from Encyclopedia Dramatica. It's a really nice site and it itself doesn't give people viruses (there's no way they would go that far to get lulz) but some assholes advertise on the site with popups, and they have viruses on them that wipes out the drive, and probably creates a Spambot of some sort. Well, I'm pretty sad about this, those files would have entertained a lot of people some day, and I hope to God you backed up anything important. :smith:
huh. I suspected it was some form of malware. maybe it could be restored if I found out exactly what the malware deleted... Ill see what I can dig up.
edit
I think i found a solution. Adding you on steam.
Alright, I'll try and fire up Steam now.
You might be able to get a working explorer.exe from your windows disk, it tends to screw over on updates for some reason
I can't find my disk, I'll go try and grab a copy tomorrow or something from Future Shop.
Would it work if I got someone to send over their copy of explorer.exe?
[QUOTE=venom;24098388]I can't find my disk, I'll go try and grab a copy tomorrow or something from Future Shop.
Would it work if I got someone to send over their copy of explorer.exe?[/QUOTE]
Maybe, but can't you run a system restore? try running rstrui.exe.
Shit, forgot to post here.
My compy fixed itself two nights ago. Middle of the night, it restarted and installed an update or someshit, and it all works again.
i think you have the csrcs.exe virus
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