Desktop gone after removing Internet Explorer

[ron mcginnis]

I recently lost access to IE (http 500 error) I contacted Bellsouth and their advisor told me to remove my current IE version and reinstall it. I used uninstall on the control panel, at the end of the process there was a "Restart Computer" icon I clicked it and that was the last communication I've had with my computer. When it rebooted I had a screen full of background color but no toolbars or shortcut icons, I have a working cursor but nothing to pick. Is there any way I can reload Windows without wiping out my hard drive?

[Swimmfree200]

R u sure u uninstalled internet explorer and not just explorer. What version of windows are u running??

[not important]

This explains how to reinstall IE.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318378
I don't understand why you were told to uninstall it. Were you given a reason?

[avx]

Swimfree is right, this doesnt sound like something you would encounter when you remove *Internet* Explorer. But if you were End task on Explorer, this would happen.

What Operating System are you using? Are you absolutly sure when you went to

Start>>Control Panel>>Add Remove Programs>> and you removed Internet Explorer

Its impossible to actually end explorer.exe from add/remove programs list, so I dont think you did this, but it does seem like your computer is failing to load explorer.exe...

Have you tried a second reboot?

[ron mcginnis]

I'm running Windows ME.

In Add/Remove I selected Microsoft Internet Explorer v.6(?) from the list.

I've tried sevreal reboots.

[avx]

Ok, try this for me.

When your computer load up, and your sitting there looing at nothing, Hit CTRL+ALT+DEL

That should bring up your Task Manager. Im not on ME, so things might be a little different, but I want you to look under "File" and any other menu bar options you get, and look for something called "New Task" or "Run" and if you see it, select it, and you should get a window asking what you what new program you would like to run, type in "explorer.exe"

That should take care of it, because I just did the exact same thing to mys ystem, and it worked. So give it a shot, and let us know how it goes. good luck

[ron mcginnis]

First of all... thanks so much for the response, this is my first time dealing with an email forum and I'm quite imressed by all your support.
To "not important" I'm not sure why I was told to uninstall explorer but I get a feeling that the technician I spoke with was just trying to get rid of me, since she couldn't solve my problem.
To "avx" I went home last night and tried your suggestion but when I entered CNTRL+ALT+DEL all I got was the "Close Program" window, Task Mgr didn't open. If it's any help these appications appeared in the windowkservice, Csinject, Ati2evxx, Cmdninst.

[Redo40]

Try hitting F8 while the computer is booting to get the start menu to come up, select command prompt and type Scanreg /fix and see if that will help.

[GaryRouth]

. . . and, if you are able to get into Safe Mode (tapping the F8 key like Roger mentioned), if the Scanreg/fix command in the Start/Run box doesn't help, you can also try to use WinMe's System Restore feature while in Safe Mode. The details are in the Help and Support menus. Basically, you just start the program, and select a "restore point" from a date prior to your current woes. Windows will then do its best to rollback the system files to what was current then.

And in case you're wondering what those background jobs are:
dkservice.exe . . . . . Diskeeper Workstation (from Executive Software) - a defragment utility. Not really necessary, since the one built into WinMe is quite good.
csinject.exe . . . . . . Norton Clean Sweep (another utility which many folks happily do without, as it can cause trouble with some programs)
cmdninst.exe . . . . . WindowsMe program: Configuration Manager Device Installer (helps detect devices and load their drivers)
Ati2evxx . . . . . . . A "hotkey" program installed along with ATi drivers. Almost always a useless resource hog. When your system is working again, get rid of this (you can simply remove it from the HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run key) I love my ATi video cards, but the first thing I do after I install them is stop this little fellow from running.
_____
If neither Scanreg/fix nor System Restore get your system running OK again, you can boot from your Windows CD "start computer with CD-rom support", from the A: prompt rename win.com to win.bak - like this
A: C:
C: cd\Windows
C\Windows: rename win.com win.bak

then:

C\Windows: D:
D: setup

This will start an "over the top" reinstall of Windows ME. This assumes that your system has only one hard drive partition C: and that the cd drive is D: IF your cd drive is a different letter, use that one, and start setup from there. You will need your CD key handy. When Windows asks what directory to install to, it might suggest C:\Windows.000 respectfully decline by choosing "Other" and type in C:\Windows [with no .000 following] - then follow along with the prompts to reinstall. You won't need to reinstall your programs, and your data should be intact. The whole process takes about 30 to 40 minutes on computers built in the last year or two. You'll be left with the version of Internet Explorer that ships with WinMe (not sure which one that is - probably 5.5)

Sorry this post is so long, but you can always print it out, cut away the pieces you don't need or that didn't work and Voila! it's a short one
. . . Gary

[ron mcginnis]

Redo40: I tried the F8 key...no success.

Gary Routh: I'll try this tonight.
For what it's worth... my Safe Mode no longer works, I can open the window but the cursor is always in timeout. (hourglass)
Last night I went into the setup to check my CMOS data and while I was there I checked the other features (BIOS, Chipset, etc.) when I opened the "PNP, PCI & Onboard I/O" screen all the settings were gone. Does this have any bearing on the problem?

[GaryRouth]

You might want to try to get the Bios Settings setup up again & try Safe Mode one more time before going to the other fixes (by the way, to do an "over the top" I should have emphasized that you need a WinMe installation disk, or the "cab" files on your hard drive [usually in C:\Windows\Options\Cabs] . . . a "Recovery Disk", if it's a Norton Ghost/Disk Image type of disk, can't be used for an over-the-top)

If you still have your motherboard manual handy (or can download one) go back into Bios Setup & check each menu, following the manual instructions. If you're unsure about the settings for a certain page, you can choose to load the Default settings, usually by pressing a function key listed in a guide along the bottom of your screen. One default setting you may need to change will be that for any onboard devices that you aren't using (you'll set those to Disabled)

If your Bios Settings won't hold after you turn the computer off, you might need to replace the little CMOS battery - you should be able to find a replacement battery at your local computer electronics store for about $1.50 Try to find an exact match (most are this type: "CR2032" - about the size of a dime, usually will pop off/snap back in with a fingernail or small screwdriver - power off and unplug your pc during this, of course)

Best of luck, my guess is that Safe Miode might work OK once the Bios settings are OK
. . . Gary

[ron mcginnis]

Gary: Tried reloading the old setup pages but it didn't take, the old settings are stillin place, so there are no settings for the PNP,PCI etc. page. And consequently no Safe Mode I'm going to try downloading and installing the BIOS again to see if that works
I also tried the "Start Computer with CD Support" suggestion but DOS said it could not find the Windows info on my Installation disk.

[Redo40]

Try clearing the cmos first, either check your board manual for jumpers to do so or take the battery out for 5 minutes then put it back in. Be sure to unplug the power cord.

[GaryRouth]

Definitely try Roger's idea of clearing the bios settings with either the jumper (you remove it for a few seconds & replace it) or removing the battery [with power off and unplugged - anytime you're adding or removing things] - - - another thing to make sure of is that when you exit the Bios Setup program, make sure that you select the "Exit Saving Changes" option - since some exit options don't save your changes.

I'd try to get the Bios right before you try to reinstall Windows (you might not have to reinstall). If you've already renamed win.com to win.bak, however, you can either rename it back to it's original win.com (and try the Safe Mode fixes, if you can then enter Safe Mode) or proceed with another reinstall try.

Is your WinMe CD an installation CD or a "Recovery CD"? If it's a recovery CD, chances are that you might have the WinME cabs on your hard drive. Look in C:\Windows\Options\Cabs (you can do this from DOS with the dir command). If you cabs are there, you'd start the reinstall from C:\Windows\Options\Cabs>Setup

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[ron mcginnis]

After I move the jumper or remove the battery do I need to reload the BIOS from a floppy?

[GaryRouth]

After you've either removed the jumper (for about 15 seconds or so) or removed the battery (for about 5 minutes) you'll just put them back in. Then on reboot enter Bios Setup and setup everything as your motherboard manual instructs, then press "Exit Saving Changes" - or, if you'd rather not have to go through each setting you can select "Save Defaults and Exit" (but if you have onboard chips you're not using, you might want to change those settings manually - then 'Exit Saving Changes)
. . . Gary